All Moved In

On Saturday May 31, Teresa moved into her new apartment at Holland Christian Homes. The move went very well, thanks to the combined expertise of the family crew: Marian, Lee, and James Dekorte (Ottawa), Robert Lassche (St. Thomas), Susan, John, and Ian Molendyk (Brampton). Many thanks to Lee for championing the idea, and to Ian for lining up the truck!

From left: James, Lee, Ian, John, Susan, Rob, Marian, Teresa

The weather was ideal – not too warm, and even though showers were forecast they held off until late afternoon, well after everything was safely moved in. Such a nice apartment! It’s a two-bedroom unit well appointed with a very large living room and balcony. The apartment is on the second floor, facing northwest and well shaded by trees. The new Mr. Slim A/C unit works beautifully, so it’s comfortable and cool even in the recent 32-degree heat.

Thanks to Susan for all her help on getting new carpet, blinds, and A/C installed on time. And thanks to Teresa’s church friends for preparing and delivering such a delicious hot lunch at 1:00, right on time as promised! There are quite a few pictures, so please click the link below to view. (Click in the middle of the first picture, on the big "i", for captions.)

The Big Move

It’s all a bit much for Teresa to get used to, of course. This is a big change, even though it’s a welcome step. A new environment always takes time to absorb – new faces, new routines, new living space. But as one of Teresa’s granddaughters observed recently, “Oma looks really good.” It’s true – the hair is returning, a fitting metaphor for this new chapter in Teresa’s life. Sure there will be lots to get used to, but Teresa remains optimistic about her future.

Final post – summer’s here, so this is the final post for the time being. Teresa Lassche’s Cancer is in remission, and with God’s help it will never return. Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support over this difficult and trying time in Teresa’s life. Your prayers, phone calls, and friendship have made all the difference. Please keep on praying, calling, and maintaining contact with Teresa in the months and years ahead.

May God bless you all richly!

Painting is Done

Theodore Lassche arrived this week from Vancouver Island to complete the painting of Teresa's apartment. Instead of a monotone beige, Theodore transformed the kitchen with a lovely terra cotta and bathroom/hallways with a darker tone. A very nice job! Theodore works fast and accurately, a real inspiration to those of us who aren't in the same league, decorating-wise. Many thanks to Theodore's wife Kathy and daughters Kara and Megan for lending him out.

Susan, Theodore, and Teresa

So now we're at T- minus two weeks. The big move takes place on Saturday, May 31. As Teresa puts it, "that can't happen too soon." Anyone who knows Teresa knows what a social animal she is, and being stuck alone in a house with no transportation simply won't do. There's always something going on at Holland Christian Homes, so there won't be any problem with social interaction.

On the medical front, there is (happily) no news to report. Teresa's hair is storming back, and the day is quickly approaching when the wig can be retired to a closet and forgotten. While we'd love to be able to say that Teresa Lassche's Cancer has been completely and utterly defeated, that's just not something that any cancer patient can say. "No current symptoms" or "in remission" is about the most realistic description. Cancer is a very tough opponent, and never to be underestimated. So please continue to keep Teresa in your prayers.

BBQ salmon - Food Network version

We're celebrating Victoria Day with a nice salmon BBQ. Special guests will be Theodore, plus Rob and Leslie Lassche from St. Thomas and their little son Nicolas. Should be fun!

The Countdown Begins

In three weeks the big move takes place, so to borrow from space program terminology we are at “T minus three”. Most activity now centers on packing, sorting, donating, and re-distributing material possessions. Paint colour selection takes place this week, plus acquiring the paint and other materials.

Two cousins – Bethany and Ian

Teresa’s hair is quietly making a comeback, and her energies are starting to return. The main challenges at the moment are emotional, since it’s always difficult leaving a place to make a new home elsewhere. Marian and Bethany travelled down from Ottawa this weekend to keep Mom company, help out where necessary, and generally lend their support.

Marian, Teresa, and Bethany (graduating from Grade 8 soon)

Another welcome visitor arrives this Thursday from Vancouver Island. Teresa’s son Theodore is coming to do some painting in the new apartment. Likely this will be mostly accent painting, since Holland Christian Homes already restored the place to it’s standard “builder’s beige” colour scheme. By the time Teresa moves in, the apartment will look grand – new carpet, updated colour scheme, new blinds, and new A/C.

In honour of Mother’s Day, here are a couple from the archives:

Teresa and baby Susan - 1956

Susan as a mom, with Kathryn - 1987

No Wheels - Difficult

Now that her car is gone, Teresa is feeling its loss keenly. For the next four weeks, until the move into Holland Christian Homes, Teresa will be stuck at home without the option to just drive somewhere as the inclination arises. Once she’s moved into HCH, however, this difficult situation is likely to change. It’s always a party there!

No wheels = no fun

For the time being, Susan swings by to pick up Teresa and make a grocery run, or to drive her to an appointment. Teresa also appreciates the ride to church from her friends – that would hurt, not being able to get to her church on Sunday.

Improvements continue apace in the apartment. The A/C unit was installed this week, so there’s no fear of those hot summer days. Susan and Teresa ordered new blinds as well, which will be installed in the last week of May. Very nice verticals with a valance. If time allows this week, Susan and Teresa will look into paint chips for when Theodore arrives to paint in a couple of weeks.

Vertical blinds (sample)

Most days involves the packing, sorting, and sometimes donating of household stuff. Teresa’s grandson Ian has arranged for the rental of a cube van at the end of the month for the big move. The computer got a repreive, and will remain on the “keep” list for the time being. If there’s good internet access at HCH, Teresa may just get back into e-mail.

The wig will soon be history!

There were no medical appointments this week, but here’s an interesting development – Teresa’s hair is growing back! The eyebrows are already in place, and scalp hair is coming back steadily.

Planning the Future

Now that the house is sold, Teresa is turning her attention to getting the new place in order. This week she ordered new carpet, which will be laid in late May, just after Theodore finishes the painting. It’s a very attractive berber!

Marian, Bethany, and Teresa – reading their (ahem) favourite blog

In addition, Teresa ordered a new air conditioning unit for the apartment. It gets warm in Hope Tower during the summer, and the original towers don’t have central A/C. The apartment did have an old clunker, but Teresa junked that in favour of a brand-new “Mr. Slim" unit from Mitsubishi. This should keep the place plenty comfortable.

Teresa’s new A/C (inside unit)

This was a Herceptin treatment week, and Susan provided her mom with a ride back from the Credit Valley Hospital. Apparently the volunteer cancer drivers become a bit scarce once the weather warms up, so Susan may be helping out with this a bit more over the coming months. Teresa got rid of her car, remember, so she requires a lift to these important medical appointments. Since Susan was the one who acquired her mom’s car, Teresa still gets to spend time with that dependable little red Echo.

A good deal for someone willing to fix it up a little

And of course there is always packing and giving stuff away to occupy any of Teresa’s free time. Fortunately she lives in a neighborhood where “sidewalk donations” are cheerfully accepted. For example, we leaned an old bike against the tree by the curb, and it disappeared overnight.

Please keep in mind that it’s a very stressful time for Teresa right now, and she really appreciates your supportive telephone calls and prayers.

Breaking Camp

This past Monday marked the end of Teresa’s radiation treatments, so that’s another milestone achieved. From here on in the only cancer treatment left is the intravenous Herceptin every three weeks, which keeps up until January. Teresa’s oncologist also ordered an echocardiogram every three months or so, just to make sure that cardio heath remains solid.

Granddaughter Bethany – a big help!

With the radiation behind her, Teresa’s weekly agenda now looks something like this: packing, packing, and more packing. Teresa’s daughter Marian and granddaughter Bethany came down this weekend from Ottawa especially to help out. It’s amazing how many things a person accumulates over the years, isn’t it? Besides just moving stuff, there’s also a downsizing element. Some of Teresa’s possessions won’t make the cut, and will have to find a new home.

Memorabilia’s all packed

Maintenance staff at Holland Christian Homes finished cleaning and painting the apartment, so it’s ready for occupancy. Teresa’s verdict on their work – “it’s beautiful!” She took possession of the key this week, so the deal is sealed.

Now Teresa has six weeks to gradually shuttle boxes over to the new apartment, which will minimize the load on moving day at the end of May. This also provides time to replace carpet, hang drapes, paint selected walls, and install a new air conditioner. Nice to have the luxury of time, which minimizes the stress of moving. Along with death and divorce, moving is one of the top three stressful events in life.

You know it’s real when there are no grandchild pix on the fridge

Teresa is getting used to life without a car. The restricted mobility is tough, since she could always just hop into her little Echo anytime and scoot around to visit friends, attend church, buy groceries, or whatever. Still, Teresa knows that giving up the car is the right thing to do at this point.

For the past few Sundays she’s been blessed with a ride to her Brampton West Alliance Church with some fellow church members. This means so much to Teresa, since she wants to keep participating in the life of her church. Many thanks!

The Age of Enlightenment

Teresa’s life is starting to resemble a Herman Hesse novel, in that she has actively renounced some of her most significant personal possessions. In one week, Teresa has made major moves to unload house, car, and computer. There’s nothing like shedding one’s material possessions to finally resolve the duality of unfettered spirituality and earth-bound nature, eh?

Remember this IBM ad campaign? - never did make much sense

The end result will almost surely be a more enjoyable life at Holland Christian Homes. If asked to find the common thread among house, car, and computer, most of us would quickly respond with “they all break down.” Exactly right! Teresa has very little need for a car in HCH, and when you’ve got all these excellent long-distance phone plans, who needs a computer to communicate? Just pick up the phone!

If you really want to sell something, put a baby in the ad

Radiation treatment ends on Monday April 14, so all that’s left after that is the Herceptin every three weeks. Then it’s time to swing into move preparation full-time. Teresa takes possession of her new apartment on April 15. With six weeks to go until the move date, she’s in good shape. Teresa also had chest x-ray and bloodwork done as part of the HCH tenancy requirements this week.

Time to lift some mom and baby pix from the Hartwick blog …

Sold!

The sale of Teresa’s house is complete. After a satisfactory home inspection, the deal closed early this week. So that’s a major milestone realized, and a significant reduction in the overall stress involved with moving. We’re all grateful to God for such a quick sale – the first offer came in a day after listing, and that prospect ended up buying the house! Many thanks for Robert Lassche for handling the sales details.

Teresa passed the mandatory health assessment at Holland Christian Homes, so the new apartment is hers as of April 15. The maintenance team at HCH has already started to prep the apartment for its new tenant. Typically that means removing all the wallpaper, filling in nail holes, repainting the walls, cleaning the floors/carpets, and whatever else needs doing. HCH has an excellent reputation, so we have no doubt that the place will be in pristine condition by mid-April.

We may rent a more practical moving truck

As to the actual moving-in date, that’s looking like the end of May. The current plan is to assemble a team of family members from Ottawa, St. Thomas, and Brampton and move all Teresa’s belongings in a rental truck. Thank goodness there are some strapping young lads on the crew to handle the heavy stuff! At least none of the major appliances are coming along, so that will keep things manageable.

It’s good that Teresa has a few weeks yet to pare down the list of items that will make the trek to HCH. Downsizing can be tough, as there are so many decisions to make (keep .. sell .. keep .. dump .. keep .. give away). Hmm – garage sale?


On the health front, Teresa completed her second week of radiation treatment this week, so there’s only one more week left. She also had an echocardiogram to check how her heart is taking the radiation – seems like no problems so far. After the radiation treaments wrap up, Teresa can turn her attention more completely to the business of getting ready to move. Please keep those prayers coming!

Easter Celebrations

The Easter celebrations went well last weekend – an enjoyable time of feasting and getting together with family. On Saturday we travelled to North York to celebrate Nellie DeJong’s birthday (Teresa’s younger sister). Such a great time! After a lovely lunch featuring food from Mandarin, there was no need to consider supper later on.

Easter Sunday – a break in the action

Easter Sunday was the dinner at John and Susan’s place. With Teresa’s help, Susan created a marvellous ham and scalloped potato feast, followed by chocolate mousse and an entertaining DVD. Miss Potter is the story of children’s author Beatrix Potter; a beautiful and engaging film. Spoiler alert – there are horses and carriages, plus no stuff blows up, so it may be unsuitable for younger male audiences.

Miss Potter and her publisher examine a proof

The festivities continued on Monday at Teresa’s place, when son Robert came by with his wife Leslie, daughter Charlene, and toddler son Nicholas. This was a full turkey dinner, another very successful joint effort. For those of you who may not know, Teresa makes an absolutely fabulous Dutch apple cake. A warm slice of that topped with vanilla ice cream, and you’re experiencing dessert-y perfection.

Not exactly as illustrated, but pretty close - mmm!

This was the first full week of radiation treatments, and they came off without a hitch. Well, the transportation to the hospital was a bit of a hitch, but Susan helped to cover on Thursday. These are stressful times – radiation plus selling the house and moving is a potent combination. While the layout of the new apartment is quite attractive, the actual décor isn’t. Once Holland Christian Homes brings the place back up to regular move-in condition, Teresa’s son Theodore plans to visit from Vancouver Island and update the colour scheme. That should take place on the Victoria Day weekend in May.

The logistics of packing and moving are still under discussion. The major appliances stay with the house, but whatever goes into HCH needs to be packed and moved. Hire a moving company? Put a crew of family members together? We’re just not sure yet which way to handle it. In the meantime, Teresa really needs your prayers for strength to get through these difficult days. The enemy loves to kick us when we’re down, so let’s support her enthusiastically!

Selling the House

Discussion has become reality – this week the “For Sale” sign went up on Teresa’s front lawn. As of Friday, at least one offer has already come in. Not too surprising, really, since the house is clean, bright, and attractively laid out.

Teresa’s place – 28 Acadian Heights

Of course with the sign comes a significant amount of anxiety. “For Sale” means a major interruption of familiarity, security, and even happiness. After all, this was the last home that Teresa shared with her beloved husband. Moving away from here means leaving behind many cherished memories. Geert put in this shelf, trimmed that bush, built the backyard shed, and stored his tools under that stairwell. Everywhere Teresa looks she sees her late husband’s fingerprints. It’s not easy to think of leaving all those touchpoints behind.

And yet that’s life on earth. We arrive with nothing, we leave with nothing, and all the stuff we accumulate in between is temporary. The only thing of any real permanence and lasting value is our relationship with God and our loved ones. By that definition, Teresa is most definitely blessed. She has often experienced and greatly appreciated the support of her family, her friends, and her God. Once the house sells, she’ll need an extra measure of strength and support for the big move into Holland Christian Homes.

Radation machine

On the medical front, Teresa’s radiation treatment started this week Thursday. The treatments are short, not longer than half an hour. They continue for three weeks, once a day from Monday to Friday. Radiation treatments directly assault the targeted area of the affected breast.

Teresa also attended the Look Good Feel Better seminar at Credit Valley Hospital with Hennie Bultjes this past Tuesday. She reports that it was much like a regular makeup seminar, except that they paid special attention to methods of enhancing the eyes to reduce signs of fatigue.

This weekend offers a welcome dose of familiarity, enjoyment, and good food. Teresa plans to attend her sister Nelly’s birthday lunch in North York on Saturday, and then two Easter dinners: at John and Susan’s place on Sunday (ham), and at her own place on Monday (turkey). Attendees for Monday’s dinner are son Robert with his wife Leslie and their son Nicholas, plus John and Susan.

Forget all this stress for a while – let’s eat!

Onward, Ever Onward

On Wednesday, Teresa went to Credit Valley Hospital for her first Herceptin treatment. Like chemotherapy, Herceptin is administered intravenously. Unlike chemotherapy, the Herceptin session lasts only half an hour, and comes with zero side effects. The next Herceptin treatment takes place on April 2.

CT scanner

After mentioning that she was sometimes dizzy and lightheaded, technicians performed a CT scan on Teresa’s head. This only took a few minutes, and found nothing to be concerned about. CT stands for “computed tomography”, and is sometimes called a “CAT scan”. For more information about CT scans, click here .

Other than the hospital visit, Teresa had a quiet week with no outings and no visitors, although there were several phone calls. She even opened the patio doors one afternoon and caught some welcome sunshine! That’s how you tell that winter is on the wane in Southern Ontario – you can start working on your tan while there’s still two feet of snow on the ground.

25 cm fell in Brampton last weekend

At this point, Teresa has finished with chemo, has started Herceptin, and is going to start radiation next week. She sometimes feels impatient, and wonders “will this EVER be over?” Besides the cancer treatment, Teresa has to deal with the upcoming sale of her house and the move to Holland Christian Homes. Hunting up old legal papers, signing new ones, and planning a move are all very unsettling, especially since her husband is no longer there to help out. All this anxiety does result in the odd stomach ache.

Next week will be a full one: on Monday, Teresa’s son Robert is coming to get the paperwork in order for the house sale. Then on Tuesday Teresa is off to Credit Valley Hospital with Hennie Bultjes for a “Look Good, Feel Better” seminar on how cancer patients can use makeup to their advantage. The first radiation treatment is Thursday, and then it’s Easter weekend.

Teresa’s house should be on the market either shortly before or shortly after Easter, so if you know anybody who’s looking for a well-kept and attractive townhouse in south Brampton, spread the word.

A Good Week

Teresa had a good week, and marked a full three weeks living at her own home. Even though the chemo is finished, the fatigue remains a constant fact of life. Thank goodness for Teresa’s neighbor who does such a good job of shovelling out the driveway for her. That’s a much-appreciated service in this record snowfall winter!

Radiation treatment is scheduled to start on Thursday Mar. 20, and continue for three weeks following, Monday to Friday every week. Teresa went to Credit Valley Hospital for an orientation on Wednesday, and was very impressed.

Certainly looks like a nice facility

Two outings this week involved visits to Tim Horton’s. On Tuesday, Gayle Pilling picked Teresa up for a bible study at church and then lunch at Tim’s. Then on Wednesday, Susan and Mom took a stroll around Shopper’s World mall, and popped into Tim’s for coffee.

A sure sign that Spring's coming soon

It’s RRRoll up the Rim to Win time again, but Teresa finished out of the prize money this week. However, both of her coffees had encouraging messages to “please play again.”

So life continues. Teresa planned to visit Ottawa this weekend with Susan and John, but the trip was scrubbed because of the TWO big winter storms expected to blow through the Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal corridor. Certainly there are better ways to spend time than sitting on the highway in a heavy snowstorm waiting for a collision to clear up. By comparison, a cozy evening at home looks very attractive.

Ice Scene - Otterlo, by Hendrick Avercamp

Two Weeks Home

Teresa’s been living at her own home for two weeks now. Marian visited from Ottawa for the first week to help with the transition, and had a great time. “Visiting with Mom is like a vacation!” Part of the relaxation involved watching DVDs: Saving Private Ryan and The Pursuit of Happyness, a nice balance of weighty and light fare.

Sophia's blanket is coming along nicely

Since Teresa went solo during the second week, it was somewhat different from the first week. It takes about 10 days for the effects of a chemo treatment to wear off, so Teresa was still a bit fatigued. Plus the house is distinctly quiet – when you’re alone anywhere, the silence can be deafening sometimes. Teresa is still not well enough to leave the house unassisted, so there’s an element of cabin fever as well. You can get a closed-in feeling unless you escape those four walls once in a while.

From the archives: Christine (left), Teresa, and Theodore

Still, Teresa likes being at home. Cooking her own food in her own environment is a simple pleasure. Sometimes a bit of loneliness creeps into the mix. The pastor of Mom’s church dropped by this week for a visit, and Teresa appreciated that he took his time. Pastor Dan suggested that maybe Teresa was feeling a little blue because she had been looking forward to returning home for so long, and the reality didn’t match expectations. That old Peggy Lee song comes to mind –
“Is That All There Is?”

Summer '07: Teresa's sister Corrie (left), Teresa, sister Mary, niece Miriam (front), sister Nelly (rear), daughter Susan (shades), sister-in-law Shirley

Teresa plans to stay at home for as long as possible. Once the radiation starts she may return to John and Susan’s for a week or two as necessary, but that would likely be short-term only. Next week Teresa expects to get firm dates for her course of radiation treatment, which will probably start up in late March. The radiation will involve four weeks of treatment (Monday to Friday each week) at Credit Valley Hospital.

A Welcome Visitor

Teresa has been living at her own home since Saturday Feb23, enjoying the independent life for a week or two. Marian is visiting from Ottawa, and provides welcome support for tasks like meal preparation and grocery shopping. Back at Susan and John’s place, we’ve noticed a significant drop in the number of incoming phone calls this week. Coincidence? I think not!

Marian (left), Teresa, Susan

The final chemo treatment took place on Wednesday, an important milestone in Teresa’s battle against cancer. Towards the end of March the regimen switches to radiation. Teresa will receive four weeks of radiation treatment (Monday to Friday) at Credit Valley Hospital. Unlike chemotherapy, the only notable side effect from radiation is fatigue. There’s no hair loss, no cankers, or any other unpleasantness. That’s certainly a welcome change from the many and varied side effects of the last five months.

After radiation's done, Teresa is slated to receive Herceptin treatments every three weeks for one year. Herceptin is administered intravenously at the hospital, and promises no hair loss or nausea. This therapy is supposed to prevent the growth of new cancer cells. For more info about Herceptin, click here.

Relocation plans – well, that’s enough with the house maintenance. Teresa has taken an apartment at Holland Christian Homes here in Brampton, a lovely two-bedroom unit on the second floor of Hope Towers. She plans to move in the spring, exact date to be determined because of uncertainty about the radiation treatments. Life at HCH will be much simpler - no snow to shovel, no water heater to fix, no skunks to evict! Just one call to maintenance does it all.

HCH has six towers, and over 1,200 residents

Teresa already has three sisters living at HCH, and she is well known there from her years of volunteering. As any HCH resident will tell you, it’s a great place to live. For more info, click here.

Reminder - spring is around the corner!

Final Chemo Treatment (#8)

Yep, the end is in sight – Teresa goes for her FINAL chemo treatment next week Wednesday. It’s been 21 weeks since she started chemotherapy, a pretty difficult road that has involved hair loss, fatigue, and shifting residences for a few weeks. In late March, radiation treatments start up and hair growth should return.

Teresa is feeling pretty good right now. Energy levels are up slightly, and she’s able to handle light housework such as ironing and washing dishes. Last Saturday, Teresa had a great time at her church’s ladies potluck lunch. That was one of the few non-medical outings that she’s had in the last couple of months. Many thanks to Sherry Grant for providing transportation.

Sherry Grant and Teresa - off to the potluck lunch

On Saturday, daughter Marian arrives from Ottawa to spend a week with her mom at Mom’s house in Brampton. The prospect of moving back home for a couple of weeks is exciting for Teresa, since of course there’s no place like home. When Marian returns home after a week, Teresa plans to try going solo for another week. This is one tough lady!

Susan's orchid - not as cute as baby Sophia, but still nice to look at

Next Tuesday will be a medical double header; besides the usual pre-chemo treatment bloodwork, Teresa will meet with her doctor to discuss a series of injections that she’ll receive over the next year. Once the chemo treatments are over, Teresa is supposed to get these monthly injections at the hospital to keep the cancer under control – kind of a “chemo lite.” We’ll have more info on these injections next week.

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Marty’s Funeral - here are some photos John took of his brother’s funeral service on February 5 in Thunder Bay, plus other related events. You can review the pictures by clicking this link:

Marty's funeral - pix

If you click View as slideshow you can view the pix quite nicely. You can see the captions for each photo by clicking the “i” that appears in the middle of the first photo.

February Blahs

The watchword for this week was “tired”. Might be the weather or might be the chemo, but whatever the cause Teresa was rather sapped of energy. However, Teresa has much experience with fatigue at this stage of the treatment, so it’s nothing unusual.

With all the snow in Brampton this past week, Mom’s quite happy to be living elsewhere for the time being. Her neighbour agreed to keep her driveway clean of snow, which has been a real blessing this year. Unfortunately, the big storms last weekend made it impossible for Marian and Lee to visit from Ottawa, but that’s life in the snow belt. The new target for the Dekorte visit is later this month.

Teresa actually ran the show here for a couple of days while John and Susan were up in Thunder Bay for the funeral of John's brother, Martin. Susan flew up with John’s mom on Thursday January 31, returning Saturday evening February 2. In situations like this you can certainly see the difference that experience makes!

New and Improved - due to file size limits, last week’s George Lassche slide show only contained four slides. If you click the link below, you can view all the slides in the original PowerPoint show.

George Lassche slide show

The link opens a new browser window and takes you to John’s Flickr account. Once you are there, just click View as slideshow (just above all the picture tiles, on the right) to see all the slides in order. Once the slideshow starts, you’ll see a circled “i” in the middle of the photo. Click the “i” to display captions. When the slideshow is over, you can just close the browser window.

Also, note the new link to the Family Hartwick blog, in the Links section on the right of this page. Just click that link to check on the latest happenings with baby Sophia, Christine, and Mark.

Chemo #7 - the Home Stretch

First, a very sad piece of family news. John’s brother, Martin Harry Molendijk, went to be with the Lord on January 31 after a short battle with cancer at the age of 52. Martin is survived by his beloved wife Lori, and children Emily (21) and Sam (18).

A busy week for Teresa – there was blood work on Monday, chemo treatment #7 on Tuesday, and then a radiology appointment on Wednesday. Still, the effects are less overwhelming than at the start of the treatments four months ago. The idea is to hit the patient hard at the start, and then ease off towards the end. For Teresa the light at the end of the tunnel continues to grow brighter.

Radiology is scheduled to begin around mid-April, about one month after the chemo treatments are over. Unlike chemotherapy, radiation therapy targets specific cancer sites, more like laser-guided missiles than chemo “carpet bombing” approach.

Since she’s feeling pretty well, Mom is thinking about taking that weekend pass to her own house on February 2 and 3. Marian and Lee are planning to drive down for a visit, as long as the threatening winter storm does not scuttle the trip. You sure don’t want to be on Highway 401 during a big snow storm.

This week we offer a trip down memory lane, and a tribute to Teresa’s late husband George. Click the left and right arrows below for some PowerPoint slides that Mom’s children created as a memorial to their dad.



Teresa’s grandson Chris Sloan recently wrote a touching essay remembering his grandfather. Click the link below for the Word document. (To return to this blog afterwards, just click the BACK button on your browser.)

Chris Sloan’s OPA essay

The Best Week Yet

Chemo session #6 was easily the best one so far. Teresa has been feeling more energetic than usual, to the point where she spends more time up and around than reclining in bed. Her projects include knitting a sweater and cleaning up the kitchen periodically. This week, Teresa even ironed a few shirts! John was delighted to see some of his favourite garments back in the closet and ready for action.

Keeping the next generation nice and warm

Mom’s recent energy spurt may have more to do with her new grandchild than anything else. Sophia Claire joined her parents Christine and Mark Hartwick on Friday, January 18. Now really, is there anything more energizing to a grandparent than a new grandchild? And such a cutie!

Mom with baby

Teresa’s planned weekend pass on January 26-27 fell through, unfortunately, since daughter Marian and her husband Lee had to postpone their visit from Ottawa. Maybe this is for the best, since now Teresa can conserve her energy for next week’s chemo treatment. It’s always tempting for patients to start acting healthier than they actually are, especially after a couple of “good” weeks.

So if Teresa is starting to feel better, can she receive visitors? Teresa certainly appreciates your generous and kind spirits, and is touched by any efforts to contact her. If you’d like to visit Teresa, please call in advance (905-456-7757) and make arrangements with her. Please keep in mind that Teresa is still quite weak overall, and tires quickly. Also, if you have a cold or the flu, it’s best to wait until you’re over it.

Here’s a question for all you blog readers:
In your experience, what are the best things to say when speaking with a cancer patient? Most adults these days have at least one friend or family member who’s battling some type of cancer. The various cancers range from those with a high degree of recovery to those with a high degree of mortality. What tone should the conversation take?

If you have an opinion, please leave a comment where indicated below or e-mail me at jcmolendyk@rogers.com . We’ll summarize the discussion in a future post.

Once more an Oma

** First, breaking news from Kelowna! Christine and Mark Hartwick celebrate the birth of their daughter Sophia Claire early Friday morning, January 18. Mother and baby are both doing great, and dad is well enough to spread the good news. **

Teresa is thrilled, of course – the roster of grandchildren is now up to 15! She’s also glad to be feeling well enough to enjoy the glad event. It’s been a good week on the health front, with no significant discomfort, pain, or nausea. In anticipation of little Sophia’s arrival, Teresa even took up knitting again. Currently taking shape on the needles is a lovely little white sweater.

Admiring her flowers - some last quite a while

Mom wants to thank her church community and small group for sending so many thoughtful tokens of their love over the past weeks. When the doorbell chimes these days, there’s a good chance that we’ll open the door to a smiling member of Teresa’s church who bears flowers or a card. These gestures are so touching, so greatly appreciated. John enjoys answering the doorbell for these deliveries also; it’s far more pleasant than having to blow off a sales person who’s pushing some kind of energy savings plan.

Teresa wants you all to know how much she appreciates your prayers on her behalf, since it’s not always easy to pray for someone over the long haul. Some people become discouraged when a prayer isn’t answered quickly, and then give up that particular prayer thread. Now that she’s feeling better, Teresa asks if you could please pray that this treatment will prove successful, that God will remove the cancer from her body permanently. And of course your supportive phone calls and e-mails always provide a welcome uplift.

Teresa's amaryllis bloomed just in time to welcome baby Sophia

If she keeps feeling well, Teresa is considering a weekend pass on January 26-27 to spend a couple of days at home when daughter Marian and her husband Lee plan to visit from Ottawa. This would be the first time in six weeks that Teresa has spent a night in her own home, certainly some kind of milestone.

Hives, Chemo #6

Last Saturday, Teresa came down with a case of hives – the nasty red, itchy body rash that progresses into significant swelling of different body parts. Teresa's hands, lips, and eyelids swelled to twice their normal size. Doctors were concerned about her throat swelling shut, which would be very dangerous in her weakened condition. However, Benadryl (antihistamine) resolved the problem by Monday evening.

The Hives - but not the type Teresa had

This week’s chemo treatment (#6) went quite well. Teresa’s blood hemoglobin was so good that a transfusion wasn’t necessary. Instead of the expected post-chemo “crash”, Teresa’s been feeling pretty good. The anti-nausea drugs work wonderfully, and Mom’s appetite is returning. She’s enjoying applesauce again, something that’s been off the menu for months. Teresa also raved about John’s turkey pot pie, which was a smash hit all around. Many thanks to Lori Molendyk for the recipe!

Teresa is getting strong enough to do the dishes now and then, or sew on a button. These might seem like small things, but recall the massive impact of these powerful drugs on the system. The cells in our bodies are always dividing to create new hair, renew the skin, and produce new blood cells. Chemo drugs are constantly on the hunt to attack dividing cells. These drugs don’t discriminate between “good” and cancerous cells – they are all caught in the same purge. No wonder you feel lousy.

Please keep those e-mails and phone calls coming, since Teresa enjoys them tremendously. For Susan and John it’s like having a young teenager in the house again – now when the phone rings it’s very often not for us! It’s important for Teresa to have contact with others, since prolonged isolation from people has a detrimental effect on patients. Personally, I know Mom to be a highly social person who greatly values her relationships with family and friends. There’s nothing like some good laughs over the phone to lift a person’s spirits.

Teresa - looking good, and ready for your call

Special thanks to Mom’s church community for sending along a bouquet of flowers and a lovely card, which contained approximately 30 small personal messages. It means the world to Teresa, to know that people are thinking about her and praying for her recovery. And thanks to Eveline Sloan (daughter #3) who sent along a lovely white chemo hat. Teresa’s got stylin’ headgear for every occasion!

There are two more chemo treatments to go, and then Teresa gets a breather before the radiation therapy starts. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Turkey Again! Terrific!

The year 2007 ended on a positive note, since its final few days coincided with the last days of Teresa’s chemo session #5. Since our local grocery store was selling off fresh turkeys at a great price, Susan produced another marvellous turkey dinner on New Year’s Day. Happily, Teresa was feeling well enough to help out with a large chunk of the prep work, since poor Susan got floored by the upper respiratory infection that’s been going around.

Teresa’s chemo cycles last three weeks - the first few days are the toughest, followed by a gradual improvement in overall health as the drugs wear off. As John’s Uncle Jake observed, “chemo is a dirty business.” And he would know, having gone through it himself last year.

This week Teresa was even feeling well enough to indulge her grandson Christopher Sloan with a special photo opportunity. She agreed to model John’s much-admired FIDO hat, only because Christopher asked if she could. Mom gets two thumbs WAY up for being such a cool grandmother!

Oma sporting the FIDO hat - everybody should have one!

On Thursday Jan03, John's cousins Ed and Anneke Lukawitski were passing through on the way home to Edmonton from Savannah, Georgia. After a lovely lasagna dinner, Teresa felt well enough to join a game of Rummikub, and even wore her very best “public” headgear:

Susan, Anneke, Ed, and Teresa

Chemotherapy session #6 is scheduled for next Tuesday, Jan08 (bloodwork on Monday). After that we can expect the usual cycle of enhanced sickness and weakness to kick in for a good week, and then the gradual reduction of symptoms. Teresa appreciates hearing from all of you, and especially appreciates your prayers.

** Life goes on, chemotherapy notwithstanding. In a couple of weeks, Teresa’s daughter Christine Hartwick and her husband Mark are expecting their first child! How’s that for motivation to get well soon? **

Just a few weeks to go!