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!