Friday, August 11, 2006

A word from THERE

I am posting this from my Brother in law, Norman's place. We have been staying with him this week. It was a 1400 KM drive to get here. We came the long way in order to stop in to see my family on the way. We travelled 5.5 hrs the first day and 12 hrs the second day. I love to drive and no road trip can ever be long enough. The scenery was fantastic, the weather was great and the music was sung along too! But this time it was different. We didnt stop to enjoy the lookouts and vistas. We didnt pack for leisurly picnics. We just wanted to get here fast in order to spend as much time in Edmonton as possible.
We had planned to come out here this summer since last year. But when we found out that Norms daughter was sick, it put a slightly different focus on our time here. We have been at the hospital every day, until today. This morning, Kayla didnt want us to come by as she was feeling ill again. She was doing so well and was able to enjoy her time with us during our first few days here. I feel so helpless. I want to be with her, even if its to just stroke her arm and help her stay comfortable. The Mom and the Nurse in me, is longing to be with her. After all, we didnt just come here for the good days. But her dad insisted that we respect her wishes to be left to the nurses. She doesnt want us to see her when she is having a bad day. I can understand that, but its still hard to take.
The thing with Chemo is she has a couple of good days, but then her blood counts crash and she has a few nasty days. My prayer is that the good days out number the bad. And that they are enough to keep her going.
The hospital she is in is an amazing place. If you have to be sick, this is a super place to be for kids. It is a bright and cheery ward and the care is excellent. Kayla praises the staff there and is appreciative of the fact that it is world reknown in cancer treatment. On the whole Kayla is doing very well, responding to treatment and looks forward to a bright future, although it will take a lot of effort and hard work to get there. Sadly, there are children there who dont stand as much of a chance. It makes me greatful that she will pull through this. But so sad for some of the other families.
All this also makes me look at my healthy kids with a whole knew appreciation for their good health. They have all been affected by their cousins cancer and I think they are all old enough to appreciate what she is going through and admire her tenacity and strong spirit.
Norm has been great having us here. Its nice to have him and Keith spending some brotherly time together. They are good brothers and I know they really feel the distance during this difficult time. I am glad we have the opportunity to be together even though it is only for a short time.
We set out for home on Sunday. Its been too short and I am already spinning my wheels to figure out how I can get back here before too long.
I have had some time today to visit some blogs. Nice to see that Deni is back on the scene and celebrating the safe arrival of a new grandchild. Monica is facing a set back with her health and my thoughts are with her and her family. Dick got reaquainted with an old schoolmate. Also, Carol had 10 kids in the pool.
Through all these ups and downs we face... life goes on. We must remember to relish every moment of it, the good and the not so pleasant. This is our life, its the only one we get. So we may as well keep our chin up and take it all in. Enjoying all aspects of life. Making the most of each moment.
Keep safe and Love one another.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...


Hi Susan, best wishes for Kayla!

Glad your enjoying the road trip too, if you don't have to deal with a lot of traffic, these trips can indeed be rewarding. Have a safe journey home. :)

Anonymous said...

My heart just aches for Kayla. She has to endure so much but am so glad that she has a bright future to look forward to. I'm glad that you got to spend some quality time with her.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip home. And bring back some sunshine as it's been pretty cloudy and rainy here since you left!

Anonymous said...

My heart aches for all the families and children touched by illness. Kayla will be in my prayers.

Anonymous said...

Prayers for your neice, Kayla. Glad that though she is suffering now she will have a future. Nice your husband and brother had a chance to spend together during this hard time.
Faye

Vickie said...

When I think of children and what they face it makes my days with Missy like less of a challenge. Kayla is always in my thoughts and prayers.

I am glad you have been able to share some good days with her and I pary the bad days are less in number than the good ones.

Please have a safe trip on

Fred said...

I'm glad the prognosis for Kayla is good. She is such a strong peron, I'm sure.

We're taking our first real lengthy road trip next summer. We're driving from Tampa to New York for my niece's wedding. We have friends along the way, so it should be a good time.

Anonymous said...

Hello fellow bloggers online

This is Kayla, the niece you have been keeping in your prayers and rooting hard for. I just dropped by to say how much I appreciate all of your kind wishes and thoughts and how I was absolutely over whelmed when I recieved papers and papers of messages from all over the world, never mind, the country!!! ^_^ It made me so happy to see the response from people and it totally gave me the boost I needed. ^^ Thank you, every one!! I am most grateful!!

Cancer has touched every individual in one way or the other. No matter how hard you struggle to avoid it, it manages to infect even the purest soul. =( But you know what? That's the thing with hope and faith. It never lets the darkness corrupt. It fights it until the very end. And even when fighting seems like the very last thing you'd want to endure any longer, even when the pain seems so undurable, innerly and physically.....You fight it. Why bother?

It's the only way to survive. Life has much meaning and I plan to decipher it through this battle. I promise you I plan on coming out of this as a gleaming champion because there is no way in hell I am letting a stupid, insignifigant tumor take me!! *kills it with sword* MUHAHAHA! DIE tumor!! ^__^ I may not look the same as I did before, but then again, I don't think the same either. o__O Funny how that works, yes?