Tranquility, Trails, and Therapists

Laptop all snug and secure in its case, I vowed to write many posts over the long weekend. However, here it is, Tuesday morning already after a long and eventful weekend, and I didn't get ONE written -- actually didn't even take my laptop out of its case.

Monday and Tuesday last week were spent in glorious seclusion!  Now, please don't get me wrong -- particularly those precious friends and family who have been my company -- my days in Kelowna have been stupendous, fun-filled, and memory-making.  However, I do occasionally need some moments of peace and solitude -- a vacuum in which to unbend, unwind, and let my soul and spirit breathe.

I thought that venturing out for some exercise directly from treatment would be a perfect opportunity to let my mind wander and would help me feel rejuvenated to face another week. However, it is difficult for me to muster the same enthusiasm to go walking or running alone, particularly in a city I am unfamiliar with.  Bound and determined to push myself, I brought my runners along in the car to avoid the possibility of ditching on the idea altogether if I had to stop back at the trailer. Each day, I headed for one portion or another of the Mission Creek trail system (Mission Creek Greenway Trails). Managing to log 5+ km each day, I was fairly pleased with myself and even remembered to sunscreen up most of my face and body, carefully avoiding my radiation site.  It is my neck and upper-chest area that I find the most difficult to keep covered – July in Kelowna is not conducive to wearing turtlenecks J At one point, on a particularly sunny stretch, I even had to cover part of my chest and neck with my hand.  Here’s a few pics from my strolls last week.

After arriving from Alberta on a Thursday-afternoon flight, on Friday morning, much to his chagrin, David came with me to my treatment appointment. This man detests hospitals, and it has been an undeniable indication of his overwhelming love for me to see him attend so many appointments, scans, surgeries, and treatments faithfully by my side when I know it is truly out of his comfort zone. Since David can be a bit of a busy-body, it was interesting for me to have a play-by-play of what goes on "inside the booth" -- where all the computers, screens, cameras, controls, and therapists are when I'm actually getting zapped -- as he stood at the doorway, eavesdropped, and asked questions during the entire process.

Relieved that Chris’ face was back last week, I worked hard to be the epitome of pleasantness and cheer, attempting to reach deep inside his psyche and find some joy in there somewhere. ... Ok, I just looked back to the beginnings of the Kelowna posts, and it looks like I didn't tell you about Chris. Cheryl and I determined, after an extremely stoic-faced meeting, lining up, and treatment session with Chris at the helm, that my personal goal over the next six weeks would be to GET HIM TO SMILE -- at least once. ... He was moved down the hallway for two weeks and, as a result, I was running out of days to be able to say “Mission Accomplished!” regarding getting a genuine smile.  On Tuesday, it happened – TWICE!!!! Although David described him as an “odd duck” when I introduced them on Friday, Chris continued to give me at least one from-the-heart smile each and every day last week.  PS:  He was nowhere to be found this morning – likely got moved about again.

As I left the Cancer Agency today, I spotted Leanna, one of “MY” therapists, in another treatment wing.  I gave her a questioning “Whattup???” look and she skipped over to chat with me.  Her first words were, “I know!  I didn't want to move! I promise!” We had a several-minute conversation about the need, for both patients and therapists, that they NOT be moved about.  Greatly encouraged by Leanna, I WILL write a letter to the Cancer Agency expressing my opinion, as a patient, that therapists be left in one spot.

I have many, many more thoughts and events I need to get caught up on.  I will attempt to get at it tomorrow.