Relay for Life Results

Thank you all who supported Kim during the Relay through donations or just being there during the event. The Lakeland Relay raised over $250000 to go to the Canadian Cancer Society so research for a cure can continue. Way to go for all the participants who stuck it out through the cold, wind, and exhaustion. Here is a picture of Kim walking the track after all the luminaries were lit and the luminary from the kids.





I am getting to go out with Kim for a bit today and leave the hospital. Still really tired all the time, but it will be nice to get a change of scenery.

Feeling Good

well not much to say. The day went okk as ok can be being here. Got some good news that my white blood cell count jumped from 1.7 to 3.1, thats great news. Also looks like I will get out of here for a while tomorrow on a day pass. Got to go for a walk outside this morning, a bit different. Been aa while since outside.

Relay for Life

Hello everyone. Feeling ok today, except restless. Last night was the 1st nihgt in a few nights where I didn't take a sleeping pill. Needless to say did not sleep at all. Got a little sleep in today though. If anyone is still wondering looks like my 1st treatment session worked 100%. If anyone is bored relay for life is today at school grounds, go and cheer them on.

Howdy

Hows everyone doing, I'm doing ok. My energy level seems to be coming up, still getting some nausea once and a while. It was the boys bday today, the big 2. Kim took out to Dairy Queen wich they enjoyed. I should be gettting out next week at some time, still to early to tell when at this point. For me to be sent home my body has to hit certain White blood cell counts, etc. and then maintaim them.

Gag reflexs

Took a sleeping pill last night. Boy do those things work slick. The only problem didn't want to nap as much during the day so it made for a bit of a longer day. Feeling run down, which is normal. Got sick tonight but that was due to gag reflexection. Trying to spit out some food that was agreeing and I got more than I expected.

Tummy upset

Didn,t do much today. Seems like I am getting nights and days mixed around. Swore to myself that wouldn't craw into bed today. AT lunch threw up, stomach has been upset all day. I also threw up late last night. Reason my be was becasue weening myself off of the anti-nausea drugs because seemed to be feeling ok. got a bit of a fever this afternoon so getting some anti-botics. Otherwise things progresssing as supposed.

Got a new mattress

Got a new mattress yesterday. This one has memory foam and is much better. My knees and hips are really sore, but I think its from the treatment and cancer. Sleeping a lot these days which is why the posts are few and far between.

My labs show that my counts are still as low as they can go so the transplant hasn't started working yet. I am getting a platelet transfusion today. Just waiting for the doctor to do rounds and get it ordered.

Still hoping that I'll be able to come home the first week of June.

Still Tired

Didn't realize I'd have to have physiotherathy when I was done here. What I really mean is the bed I sleep in really sucks. Talking to the nurse she said that people actually buy thier own matress's. Might haave to sendKim shopping ?

As the day went it went ok. Ate some today but didn't push myself. A couple of times had gotten some nausea, the latest being just a few minutes ago out of the blue. All in all doing ok. Progressing as expected.

Tired

Wednesday - Real tired today, having a hard time keepingmy eyes open. The only problem is I don't want to lie down, can't seem to get comfortable. According to the doctor I am progressing as expected. The good news is I am doing quite well compared to some people. Supposedly going to get another blood transfusion, my hemoglobin level is low again. Was supposed to get a pint today and another tommorow. Hopefully if I am going to start today will be fairly soon. otherwise could be a long night. Still not feeling that well. Didn't eat really anything today, tired some supper. Wasn't a good idea, came up on me.

Tuesday - Didn't do much tuesday. Felt like lying in bedso I pretty much did that all day. Only problem was when came to sleep had a hard time getting comfortable, who woulda' thought. Had trouble eating all day. All 3 meals had to visist my porcelin friend.

Manic Monday

Sunday - Not much to say about Sunday other than had a good day. My day was better than the weather outside. In morning looked super nice outside but by afternoon really windy and plain old crappy weather. Didn't have any stocmach problems at all. Was able to eat something at all 3 meal times, mind you nothing fancy.

Monday - The title is a bit misleading, nothing for exitement today, just liked the sound to 'Manic Monday'. Started day off by looking outside and see it is snowing. To bad for some about it being the long weekend but at least the meterologists called the weather forecast correctly for this weekend. Not much to say about the overall day other than went ok as ok can be. Supper came and once again nothing fancy, ham sandwhich. Unfortunately stomach though different of sandwich and decided that it shouldn't stay down. You guessed it, just call me 'up-chuck'. My nurse gave me some gravol to help with my stomach so I know this will be an early evening. Stomach seems ok because I ate some honeydew and had no issuse's.

Saturday - just pluggin' away

Saturday morning started off a bit better. Ate a little breakfast and it stayed down, if you didn't already know I have been throwing up a bit. Seemed to be feeling a bit better this morning, likely the fact that I got some food in me. Got some good news, was told that if I was feeeling up to it that I could go out for a few hours on a day pass. Of course I jumped on that opportunity like white on rice. I ended going out with my little brother and his wife. Didn't do to much, just sat in veh with my brother while his wife did some shopping. Was sure nice to get out though.

Well evening was little more exciting, not really. Got sick after trying to eat my soup that came with supper. It seems anything warm with an odor sets of my stomach. But have faith was able to eat a little bit later on. Kim was still out so she picked me up a sandwich and some 'melon' fruits. 'Melon' fruits taste awesome right now.

Well everyone I bid you fairwell for the evening. Holly, my nurse, just stuck a bag of liquid Gravol into my IV line. Love the Gravol, makes me sleep like a baby.

Chemo seems to be working

Well the Chemo seems to be starting to take effect. Wallace has been a little sick and quite tired. We should see the worse of it this weekend and then he will be on the mend. If anyone is in Edmonton after the long weekend please pop by and visit. Wallace would enjoy the company as I think he is sick and tired of me already.
Kim

Stem Cell Transplant

Hi Everyone. Its Kim again. Unfortunately Wallace isn't quite up to writing on the blog today. He does finally have Internet in his room and can receive emails, facebook messages and of course comments on the blog and enjoys the messages (I think he is bored of me already)

Wallace had his transplant yesterday and it went fast and easy. He didn't feel that great afterwards....almost flu like, but started getting a bit better in the evening. The doctor doing the transplant told us that this type of transplant is no different than that of a liver or kidney transplant. The only difference is that he won't have a scar. The trauma to the body and recovery is the same, but so far he has handled it well.

Today he was feeling a bit better and his blood counts were still ok, so he was permitted out of the ward for 5 hours, but we had to return after 3 because he was too worn out and sick. He started getting sick after lunch and hasn't really eaten today. We hope that this is temporary although they keep warning us that he will get worse as the week progresses.

Thank you all for your prayers, we appreciate them all.

Melphalan Chemo is Finished

Hi Everyone this is Kim. Unfortunately we still don't have internet capablilities in Wallace's room so I am posting for him so you can stay up to date on his status.

Monday we arrived at the Cancer Institute and got Wallace all settled in his room. He is in a temporary room and will be moved once a window room opens. Please check with the nurses desk as to which room he is in if you visit. The day ended with a blood trasfusion which kept him up most of the night.

Tuesday was filled with hydration and the large dose of Chemotherapy. He is starting to have waves of nausea, but hasn't started to get sick yet and we hope it continues like this.

Today is the transplant and hopefully Wallace will be able to post on his status soon.

Wallace is permitted visitors, but anyone who visits should ensure they haven't been sick or around anyone who was sick for a 2 week period prior to visiting. He is on Station 31 - Special Care Unit. Please follow all the handwashing instructions prior to entering the ward. This coming weekend we have been told is the worse time for visitors as he probably won't be awake much and will be most vulnerable to germs.
Kim

Call me 'Patches'

Well its finally Sunday and a weeks gone by since since I have arrived home. Home sweet home as the saying goes, nothing nicer than to put your feet up in your own home. It was really nice to she the kids the kids again. Kim and I didn't get home unitl late Thursday night so the kids were all in bed. Would like to have known what the boys were thinking when they saw me. They had both crawled into our bed in the morning and had given me some strange looks, but were very welcome to see me. Taylor was also happy to see me, although she had just seen me over the weekend. The week seems to have gone by fairly quickly. All I seem to be doing is sleeping alot. Finally sleeping through the nights, likely been a couple months since I have done that. by the time 12:30 - 01:00 I'm on the couch again for at least another 3hrs on average, sometimes longer. Went out to work a couple of times and got to visit quickly. Seems strange because this is the first time in about 2-1/2 months I'm not on any form of meds.

I have been feeling good other than being tired. Did find out that I have zero energy level. Went outside the other day to kinda just putz outside around. Should have taken me like 15min and I'm sure hour later I was done. Thats when I realized that I have no energy level at all, got burnt out pretty fast.

CAll me 'patches' one might ask. Well if no has guessed hair started falling out. Noticed this Saturday after a shower and I was covered in hair. At this point just the hair on my head was coming out. Now Dave when you read this this you will probably shake your head and say "you are bald, when are you going to except that". After many numerous conversations Dave I have excepted this some time ago. So D ve I have done what you have suggested many times and shaved the old coconut bald (been there before anyways). Just so everyone knows I'm not not as good looking as Dave but damn near close.

Well everyone since its playoff season keep your sticks on the ice. Another week to go and I get to be hang out for 3 weeks at the cross cancer institue. Its got 5 stars from the service I have received already. Talk to you all later.