Merry Christmas

Hi Friends,
Merry Christmas and a festive season to every one of you. I wish I could reach out and hug and thank each of you. The past two months have been quite a ride but Pam and I feel lucky and blessed nevertheless. When you sit in the clinics in Halifax and see 7 and 8 year olds having the same treatments that I'm having, it puts things into proper perspective.

We feel blessed for various reasons. First of all, my surgery went along without any of the many
disastrous complications that could have occurred. Secondly, my treatments are being tolerated well. Next, we feel particularly blessed because of you people. Your presence, your thoughts, your prayers have provided Pam and myself with such an inner strength and desire. Your prayers and comments have kept me from getting the "poor mes" and instead make me feel how lucky I am. I am realistic about all this, but I truly do have a good feelinig.

Pam and I hope that your Christmas is as good as ours. Heartfelt love from the both of us.

May God bless you all,
Pam and Barry

Hi friends,
Pam and I just got back from a movie (The Holiday with Cameron Diaz). We really enjoyed it. It's a movie that all women and men with a soft side will enjoy. We loved it. Finished day three today with really no problems. I am taking a nap now and then which is unusual for me. Other than that, and a little nausea, I'm feeling fine. We're both doing pretty good in the sleep department. Looking forward to getting home tomorrow. Can't wait to see Lorie and congratulate her on being invested into The Order of Canada. Way to go, Lor.

Love to all,
Barry and Pam

http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story.html?id=49dba240-8392-4049-b02d-9d6d15e3da2f&k=66339

Update on Treatment

Hi folks,
The first day of chemo end radio therapy was a breeze. There's nothing to this foolishness. I'll sail through this for fun. Pam's doing great, too. Be back home on Friady for the weekend.

Love to all,
Barry

Phase II

Hi friends,

My chemotherapy and radiotherapy will begin in Halifax this coming Tuesday (the 12th). It's hard to describe the feeling that I have with regard to them. It's kind of like eagerly awaiting to get the crap beat out me. Seriosly though, I am very eager to start.

We will go over on Monday and we will be staying with Debbie and Joe Hyndman for the full 6 weeks. We are planning on coming home on weekends. In actual fact, Joe and Debbie are leaving to visit family in Africa on Dec. 18th for a month. So everybody is invited to their place for a big bash (the band is already booked). Don't let Joe know because he frets.

The chemotherapy consists of one pill per day, five days a week for six weeks (30 pills) for a cost of twenty five thousand dollars. Thank goodness for drug plans.

Nothing else to report. Pam and I are feeling well and looking forward to phase II.

Love to all,
Barry and Pam

This week

Hi friends,

Pam and I are having a wonderful time just living "normal" days. I'm feeling great and Pam is catching up on some much-deserved rest. We haven't heard from Halifax yet with regard to the start of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I would suspect that I will start in a week's time. Although the treatments will undoubtedly knock me down a notch or two, I am eager for them to start.

As some of you around Charlottetown may have noticed, I am not driving the car. That is not because of any physical problem. With this type of surgery there is the possibility of having a seizure. I am taking medication for this but nevertheless, I am fearful of having one while driving and hurting someone else. It remains to be seen when or if this will change.

Between Pam, Jacko and others there is no shortage of drivers. With regard to Beth's wonderful blog, because I am stable and doing well, what I plan on doing, is to write a note each weekend to update things particularly with regard to the treatments.

Once again, Pam and I love you all,
Barry