Update #12 - June 14

Dear Family and Friends,

Life throws us twists and turns when we least expect them. One day you are fine, planning dinner parties and heading off to Florida, and the next you are worrying about when your hair will fall out and whether you have enough energy for a walk around the block. Life lessons like these teach us things. Like how it's so important to take each day and live it to the fullest. How the old cliché about stopping to smell the roses is not only true, it's one of the most important things we can do. Like telling our friends and family how much they mean to us, and how lucky we are to have them in our lives. But my mom is one of the lucky ones -- she already knew this little secret, and she has spent her life already doing this. In fact, she has always taught me how important it is to stop and enjoy the sunset, to open your heart to new friends and cherish your old friends, to show our loved one's how much they mean to us every day, and that it's the little things we say and do for people that matter most. She knows that friendship isn't a big thing -- it's a million little things. And my mom feels so lucky to have each and everyone of you in her life. She was honored and surprised that so many of you made the effort to come out and see her over the weekend and spend such a wonderful day with her. And she was also so happy that her brother Ron and sister in law Betty, came down all the way from Ottawa for a visit a couple days before the party and shared a wonderful afternoon together. And she knows those of you who couldn't make it to her party were thinking of her and sending her positive vibes from wherever you were. The flowers you brought for her look beautiful planted together -- and my mom is already enjoying looking at her friendship garden and feeling such gratitude for the many amazing friends and family she has in her life.

I'm pleased to say the chemo #5 went really well for my mom. She held everything down for the entire cycle and had some amazing days of getting out of the house and feeling just like her old self. And today my mom is off to chemo #6 -- her last scheduled chemo treatment before testing! She has made it this far, and just has one more to go. Way to go mom -- you are doing fantastic! We all knew you could do it. And we know you can do anything else required of you in order to beat this thing, because you are a strong amazing woman who is meant to be here in our lives for many many years to come. We're so proud of you.

After this last treatment is behind her, my mom will go for her CTscan on Thursday June 22, followed by a consultation with her doctor in London on Thursday June 24 to learn the results and find out what comes next. It will no doubt be a nerve racking time for my mom as she waits to find out how the chemo has been working, but we are all staying positive and just know that it is doing it's job. So please send your most positive vibes and prayers our way for some fantastic results in the coming weeks. We believe in the power of positive thinking and just know every thought and prayer is making a difference.

I've posted some pictures from my mom's Friendship party here. http://lindascircleofsupport.blogspot.com/2010/06/lindas-1st-monthly-mix-mingle.html
She had such a fantastic day visiting with all of you!

"The warmth of a friend's presence brings joy to our hearts, sunlight to our souls, and pleasure to all of life."


Lisa