The Beautiful month...

For a variety of reasons. Whats not to enjoy about Christmas? A season of hope, goodwill and celebration, made even more real if you believe in the Reason for the Season! A chance to get together with Family, share the great food, happy memories, many blessings - and for me, celebrate the LAST of the chemo sessions scheduled for 28 Dec - what a way to end the year! I'll be feeling halfway normal again by the end of January, all going well. Also a great opportunity for me to PERSONALLY thank all you guys, the faithful remnant, who have hung in there with me ALL YEAR! Its hard to believe i started this blog back in February, and you've put up with my journey, my anger, pain, treatment regimes, diet and supplement raves, colourful descriptions of the many side effects. Give yourself a standing ovation - you deserve it!
Still things to do before Christmas - letters, whanau celebration to organise, take delivery of the first two Hornsnoggle Ferret books, the inevitable round of Xmas 'do's, even a trip to Christchurch to see family etc,
If you're on facebook, catch me there with abbreviated versions of our journey, if not, we'll see you all early 2012 (inless I get the urge to post another blog pre Xmas!)
Be a blessing to others this Christmas - its the best gift you can give!
Cheers...

On the home run!

Whew! Six down, two to go - its a good feeling. Had the sixth intravenous chemo 'boost' on Wed, and as usual, feeling a bit wonky for a few days after. But still here, still upright, still plenty to give thanks for! Had a great 'This is your Life' dinner (night of the chemo!) for a friend who worked for a client from the agency days, Ziera Shoes, (ex Kumfs Shoes) and this weekend celebrate our 40th wedding Anniversary AND all going to plan, another grandchild from Leanne and Richard! Already a week overdue, so we may strike the double on the one day!
Being kept busy with Hornsnoggle Ferret, books, dolls, and hopefully other merchandise - depends on how friendly our bank manager is to come to the party with venture capital!
Had the chance to talk to other 'cancer sufferers' lately - always a challenge, when their reaction to the news differs so widely, but a great opportunity to give some hope and spread a little positivity into their journey to recovery. Pray for them, as I know you do for me. WIthout it, we have no hope. With it, hope abounds and the healing begins.

same old, same old...

Its hard to believe its been 10 MONTHS since I got life-changing news about my grade 4 cancer. If earlier predictions were to come true, I've effectively got only 8 months of life on this planet. Thanks to a host of reasons - chemo, supplements, diet, prayer, attitude, I've discovered we CAN make a difference - and isn't it a good feeling to prove the medical establishment wrong? The only news for Nov is that lot of guys are growing moustaches - for very good reasons - so if you get the chance, support them in their fundraising efforts to highlight and fund the fight against prostate cancer.
Otherwise, same old, same old - which I guess is good news! Next round of chemo is a week away, after that, only TWO more to go! Roll on 2012 I say!  Ginas birthday today (historic day 11/11/11) and hopefully another grandchild before the day finishes. Well, thats the plan anyway. Remember, I'm on facebook now, so if you want to connect with me there, I'd love to see you.
And as for the up coming elections, remember the old adage - 'Politics is like a babys alimentary canal, putting in as much as posibble at one end, and taking no responsibility for what comes out the other'
Vote wisely!

Blog or facebook - your choice!

After months of putting off the inevitable, I've finally joined the 'facebook' era. Blame Hornsnoggle Ferret - when you have a website, the logical extension is apparently facebook, as this is where most of the 'moderns' connect. So if you find i'm doing fewer blogs, its because I'm devoting that time to keeping up with facebook. You serious blog readers wont be forgotten - I'll continue to give regular updates on my cancer journey, but anything to do with family or 'business', facebook is now the venue.
Another 'chemo' burst on Wed, with the usual after effects slowly kicking in. but with only three more to go, I'm giving it my best shot to finish the full course. Thanks to John for his terrific little book 'Healed from Cancer' showing the remarkable faith journey of a woman who had metastatic liver cancer and was given only weeks to live. Here she is some twenty years later writing about the power of prayer and living out the scriptural promises she reads and claims every day from the bible. Inspiring stuff!
If you've read my book, you'll know my last 'annus horribilis' was 1987, when everthing that could go wrong did. Guess what else happened in in 1987? We won the RWC! And here we are, 24 years later, having another challenging year, and we win the Cup again! Sorry to disappoint you, but I plan to have a much better year in 2015! Carpe Diem, my friends!

2 great results in one week...

Some weeks are tougher than others - the only tough thing about this week has been the waiting! Thankfully, the ABs did the job on Sunday at a game which my bro and I enjoyed as much as any sporting event we've ever been to. Then, after a few very anxious days, the mid term scan results came back today with a really positive outcome - no more new tumors anywhere, and a sizable reduction in the current lymph and lung carcinomas.  FANTASTIC!
All you faithful bloggers, supporters, prayer partners, cafe companions, take a bow - you've proven your faithfulness by sticking beside me for the long haul, and for that I am truly grateful. A real, genuine, bona fide, answer to your prayers, and a wonderful testimony to a Loving God.
Four more to go - no, not four more years (like the Aussies), just four more treatments, and and the end, who knows - more good news, and a final scan showing the cancer has disappeared altogether. Keep the dream alive! Together, we'll make it.

Mid way scan -progress report

Friday is another D-Day, the day of the halfway CT scan. Is the chemo working? Are we making progress? Are the cancerous areas shrinking? Has the spread to the lungs been stopped? Have all the awful side affects over the past 12 weeks been worth it? Will the 'Rena' break up? Will the ABs win their semi? We might not get the answers to all these questions (as much as we would like!) but its good to know Someone knows, and cares, and our future is in His hands. Pray for a miracle (for ALL the above!) and enjoy the week - I know I will be.
Being kept busy with the 'books' and all the learning curves I'm experiencing, plus looking forward  to family calling for the RWC games.
(I havent decided if I'm more nervous about the result of the scan or the AB - Wallaby game on the weekend. All will be revealed - watch this space!)

HALFTIME!

Four down, four to go - I feel like a marathon runner whose reached the halfway point, and is now on the home run - a good feeling! The few days following the 'chemo blast' are not pleasant,but with four great RWCgames in the weekend, I'm sure it will help take my mind of it. Off to the quarters tomorrow night at Eden Park with Glen and Melinda, then the semis next week with brother Lawrence - isnt it nice to have generous family? Hope I can hack the pace.
Had some very good feedback on My Story - might even get a review in the 'Challenge' if I play my cards right.
Received my sample Hornsnoggle Ferret stuffed toy the other day - very cute. Sadly they arrive from China too late for the Christmas trade, even if I place an order immediately, but at least I'll have a couple of the books ready.
Game on - phones off the hook, 4 hours of Rugby Heaven - You'll need to pray doubly hard this week - for my coping with the chemo treatment side affects and for YOUR TEAM to make the semis cut! Go the ABs!