Bob has now been off of chemo for a whole week. It is so great to see him become himself again. The only side affect that we can "see" and put a finger on is the neuropathy. Bob's right leg is affected the most and he can feel (sense) that a lot. Not sure if all that nerve damage will or can repair itself. His walking is generally pretty good. It gets even better the more days he is away from the chemo.
Case in point: while we were in Niagra Falls we decided to walk that walkway along the river and falls. I am thinking that it would be at least a kilometer one way. That was pretty brave of us considering we haven't done much walking at home, mostly because of the ice everywhere as winter melts away and then freezes again. The day at the Falls was below freezing and windy. We have learned that to do this walk in the winter wear rubber boots--the warm ones, wear wind pants, a nylon type jacket with a hood and nylon covered mitts. A wool jacket quickly smells like a sheep, leather shoes are soon white from the salt slurry that is everywhere, a toque or hat becomes wet and mittens don't keep the wind out!!!! Even so, Bob and I had so much fun being out there. It was raining for a ways as the mist from the falls comes down like rain fall. Yet, we could see that things would get better as the folks returning from the far end were carrying Tim Horton cups.....and yes there was a Tim Horton's so we had hot chocolate and a sit down before we started back. We had tried walking on the warmer side of the street.........across the road from the falls walkway but sheesh the cars just had no sense of dignity and splashed the sloppy road slush up on to the sidewalk. There were so many people out on that walkway that one could almost think it was summer. We could hear a rather large number of languages.....couldn't place very many tho. In Bob's wisdom and from our experiences Bob thought that these folks made Canada their vacation destination in the winter because well.......it is winter.... and the rates to travel here may be less in the "off" season. 'Course they could all be going out west to ski!!! There was lots of ice especially along the American falls and in the river---no Maid of the Mist for sure. We had never been to the falls in the winter and we now can say that the falls has its own breath taking beauty in every season.
Bob very quickly got back into the rhythm of returning to chemo, doctors and needles. The day after we came home from Niagra Falls, Bob saw the oncologist. Dr. Bahlis was pleased with the numbers from the blood tests done earlier in the day. He is going to set up a PET scan to see what has happened to the cancer lesions. The best part is that Bob will only have to go to the hospital once a week--on Fridays for the velcade injection. Friday will also be the day that Bob will take the dex. The revlamid continues every day. Only the rotation changes---3 weeks of chemo and one off. Bob was so thrilled that he got feeling so well while we were away that he is encouraged that he won't be feeling so horrible---always -----that he can get to a point of wellness again and with that thought he can continue with the chemo. So far so good with the reactions this time around, not as debilitating as 2 weeks ago.
Have to say that our trip to Niagra Falls was very good in all respects. We celebrated Bob's dad's 90th birthday. Dad and Reta are both very well and look great. We got to spend time with Bob's brother, Gerry and his wife Claire who came from Manitoba. So glad that we all came the week after the BIG party as the week before was the snow storm that closed the airports and delayed flights into Toronto and Hamilton. We also got to reconnect with lots of family on a couple of different days as they came to dad and Reta's home.
A Joshua Liebman is quoted as saying: "Treasure each other in the recognition that we do not know how long we shall have each other."
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