Part 3 - August 2015 - Feb 2016

This part of the blog is based on e-mails that were sent out to a group of friends and family.  These e-mails log my activities and progress  from  August 2015 to February 11, 1016.

August 28, 2015 – Note sent out from Tara-Lee

Hi All,

I just wanted to send all of you who have stayed close along Dad's journey a quick update on his surgery day. 

First and foremost I want to thank all of you for keeping so closely in touch with him along this journey. It has buoyed his spirits in many a quiet moment. As you all well know, Dad is a warrior and has kept a hugely positive, zen like head space as he's navigated the ups and downs of this journey. 

Today was a daunting day, but in true Paul Rodier style he embraced what was ahead of him with resolve and was met with great people looking after him along the way. Both his Drs worked very tirelessly on a long surgery to a good end. Dad will fill you in on more details when he is up to typing. 

We just wanted to take a quick moment and let everyone know he is doing well and resting. Thank you all again so so much for all of your love and support!! It means the world to all of us! 

 Love and positive vibes to all

Tara-Lee and Freddi 

September 10, 2015

Good day all, this is day 13 in the hospital and I have been pretty silent as they have managed to keep me pretty busy over the past period.

First I would like to thank Tara-Lee and Freddi for communicating with you after the surgery.  I was very happy they did that and have certainly appreciated their support over the past few days.  I have communicated with some of you through various means over the this period but feel I am strong enough right now to get out an update to let you know that I am OK and getting better daily.

The past few days have been a trial but rest assured that the actual surgery seems to have achieved the objectives.  Both Dr. Teams were able to have at me and do their necessary work.  It was an exceptionally long day of 18.5 hours from arrival at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) until I was installed in Room 7118.  Once I woke up the next day we started the road to recovery with the excellent help of the Registered Nurses, Technicians and of course the ever present Dr. Teams.  In the first few days I made some progress and even started to eat some small things but a turn of fate introduced some complications that required attention. 

I have had three issues to deal with that were not necessarily in the Plan.  I seemed to reject food, had an internal fluid mass that was of interest and I had some draining issues around my incision.  Each of these issues have been addressed over the last few days and the individual specialist have started me on a new course to recovery.  For example, today I will move from supported diet and liquids to add some whole food.  Granted these are small amounts and small steps they are movement in the right direction.  The fluid mass is still worthy of note and following but no radical actions will be required in the short term.  On the incision front I am equipped with a fancy new draining VAC that is drawing the unwanted fluid away and allowing and encouraging healing of the incision.  All three things seem to be working in harmony as I am feeling better today.

Although I am attempting to make this brief, I have to add that I am extremely impressed with the level of care I have received and the compassion and caring provided by the RNs, technicians and hospital staff.  They have been wonderful even when things looked grim.

My departure date from here is still a discussion point with the professionals but I now do see that I will be able to get out of here one day.

It is my sincere hope that this finds you and yours well and happy and I once again thank you for your continuing support.

With love ....... Paul

September 19, 2015

Good morning, I am so pleased to update you that I woke up this morning at Lake Bernard.  Freddi picked me up at the interim holding condo in Ottawa and we had a nice evening and dinner with Tara-Lee.  It has been 3 weeks since I left here and the fall and sunny weather has made some significant changes in the environment.  It feels very good to be sitting on the porch enjoying the view, the smells and the quiet.

Firstly, I would like to thank all of you for your support over the last period as I have received phone calls, e-mail and cards from many of you and I have enjoyed the visits I had in the hospital.  I can simply say thank you but remember how important it is to support someone who is sick and in need of stimulation.  Your continued support and interest is a very powerful thing. 

From a health point of view I can now officially report that I am significantly lighter than when I left here.  What with the removal of parts, lack of food for a 10 day period and laying about in various reposes for 3 weeks I have shrunk!  It is my serious target to reverse that over a period of time.  I am advised that I need to be cautious for 4-6 weeks and I respect their estimates on that front.  I am now learning about my new diet restrictions (low residue) but I do not see them as too restrictive – with the exception of no peanuts which are a favourite of mine – and Freddi and I are watching this area of mending carefully.

When I left the hospital on Tuesday of this last week, I was freed of all of the IV lines and for a short while I was limited to simply an ileostomy.  It felt so nice to walk without my stand and bags.  However, shortly after arriving at the condo a Community Access nurse arrived and connected a portable vac-bandage over my wound.  This machine draws away water and encourages healing.  It is an amazing device and my healing process will be reduced easily by 50 %.  In her most recent visit on Friday she told me I may be able to lose it next week.  It does restrict movement much but it is just one of those inconveniences with benefits.

So the upshot of this update is to tell you that I am making progress, understand what I must do next and to start the process of rebuilding.  I will be in the condo for another week or so and then will return to Lake Bernard to enjoy the fall season here. 

Once again, thank you for your continued support and I am happy to respond to your individual interests in my well being.  It is also my sincere hope that bit of news finds you well and happy and enjoying everything that you do.

With love ...... Paul

October 4, 2015

Good day to you.

 It is Sunday morning and I am enjoying sitting at home after a great family breakfast.  It is a cool September day with only occasional sun breaking through the clouds.  But that is not why I am keying this note today.

As you might recall I was released from the hospital after 17 days of care by the good folks on 7East of the TOH.  For my convalescence I chose to utilize Tara-Lee’s condo in Ottawa as everything is on one floor and it was convenient and available.  I stayed there from Sept 15^th until September 30^th.  On the last day I migrated to the cottage to continue my convalescence enjoying the transition of the seasons.   While in Ottawa I was visited by the community care nurses regularly to change the vac-bandage and teach me about the maintenance of the Ileostomy.  In what seemed like no time the vac-bandage did its magic and sealed the wound in record time.  I was able to shed the portable vac-bandage by Sept 24^th.  One more attachment left behind.

Being at the cottage has been a very inspiring and I find that my energy level is creeping back up but naturally not fast enough.   I will be seeing a Physiotherapist this Tuesday to try to get some muscle re-built and start a regular exercise program.  This operation and hospital stay has left me very weak and down approx 20 lbs from my normal weight.  As a result I tire easily and am not getting the restful sleep I require.  My approach to this is to resist the temptation to get involved in boat activities, fall cottage activities and minimize my list of things that I would like to see done.

A recent visit with Dr. Auer gave me some insights as what my immediate future will be.  The next steps commence on Oct 8^th when I will start another 6 rounds of Adjunctive Chemo which is the insurance chemo treatment administered after surgery.  I think of it as the last rinse of the cycle before normal life can be resumed.  These sessions are targeted at two week intervals and hopefully my WBC count will support the shortest overall timeframe to get through these rounds.  Dr Auer suggested that once complete and out of Chemo for a month she would be reversing my ileostomy and starting a normal body function again.  If I see this timeframe correctly and all the stars align I should be ready for a vacation in Hawaii for early March 2016.  One always needs goals and that is mine at this point.  I have been in this process for the last 12 months so getting through the next 5 months should not be too hard.

In addition, I would like to express my sincere thanks for all of your inquiries, cards and thoughts as they have made this much easier knowing that you are in my court.  Thank you.

One last point, and an important one for sure, we are going to be having our Thanksgiving dinner here at Lake Bernard with our entire family together as Gray, Bree and Skylar are coming next week to spend a peaceful week with us.  We are all very excited to have them visit and know that we will share some great times during their visit.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all of you and I hope that the weekend will bring great family times for all of you.

With love ...... Paul

November 5, 2015

Good morning to you from beautiful Indian summer soaked Lake Bernard.  It is a sunny warm (for Nov) day in a quiet calm environment that so differs from the busy summer timeframe here.

It has been a while since I wrote to you as there has been little to write about.  However I have had some update requests and felt it was now time to update all of you about my rather routine schedule these days.

First I want to update you on our Thanksgiving timeframe as we had Gray, Bree and Skylar here for the week starting on Thanksgiving weekend.  We also had Tara-Lee home for the period and Brehn dropped in later in the week.  It was a very busy but fun filled family time.  We managed to eat well, laugh lots and we managed a couple of cool boat tours of the fall colours.  We spent the time just being family and tackling some of the fall projects.  Overlapping the final day of their visit was a visit from my brother Richard, Barb and Tiffany who dropped by for a couple of days.  That was also a very low key visit but most enjoyable as we do not see that part of the family very often.  It was a busy time but most enjoyable enjoying family time.

My treatment plan is around the adjunctive Chemo which is very routine as my Chemo starts on alternate Wednesdays for 3 days them 11 days getting stronger again before we start the process again.  That process will continue for the next 8 weeks.  My first Chemo session in this round was a little tougher as I was weak and run down as a side effect of the surgery.  To that end I have started a Physio Therapy program to re-build my strength and muscles that were zapped while in hospital. Tuesday was my best day for a long time but I am now in the Chemo cycle so I cannot say that about this particular day as I am in day 2 of 3.  During the days at home with Chemo I have a bottle which is emptied into my blood stream through this miraculous little heat pump that is affixed to my chest.  That is a 46 hour process that causes some inconvenience ass it is yet another appendage on my body.  The system is removed on Friday.

I am trying to move up my next sets of appointments to ensure we get through this program at the earliest date possible.  I am not sure how successful I will be but the end is in sight and perhaps I should be more acceptant of the schedule that my Drs have in mind.  Both Freddi and I are ready for a post program vacation as this has been a stressful year.  We shall see what we can organize for the New Year.

Thank you for your continued support and taking the time to read this update.  Now get back to whatever you were doing and make it a great day.

With love ..... Paul

December 22, 2015

Good morning, I hope this day is a good one for you.  As I look outside and see white stuff all over the lawn and in the forest behind the house.  Today is the first full day of the Winter Solstice and the days will start to get longer starting today.  That is good news to me and I hope it fills you with hope that the dark season is retreating.

But alas, that is not why I am tapping out this note today.   I am writing today as it has been several weeks since I last wrote to update you on what is transpiring in my challenge with my health.  In my last note I explained the routine process I was embarking on and some thoughts on what might be the subsequent process.  Well, the picture is a little clearer but there still are some factors which could alter my optimistic view of the days/months ahead.  Most importantly, last Friday was the end of my last scheduled Chemo treatment for this cycle.  The treatment was routine with some nausea and listlessness and the requisite lack of sleep.  However, it was the last one and that is very welcome news for me as I now will not have to be exposed to this treatment in 2 weeks hence.  The current view is that I will have 6 weeks where my body can expel the remnants of the Chemo uninterrupted before I have my next CT Scan.  The scan is input for the Medical Oncologist (the Chemo Guy) to assess the presence of any of the “bad guys” and then decide if all the elimination routines over this year have been successful and I can be declared “Cancer Free”.  That is the ultimate goal and to hear that phrase from Dr. Jonker will be very welcomed.  The test and subsequent meeting with Dr. Jonker will happen during the last week of January.  They are scheduled and in the interim I will continue to build mass, strength and eliminate the remnants of the Chemo.  That means regular diet, exercise based on my Physio Therapist program and drinking lots of liquids, some of which will come in colourful wine bottles.

Once I am finished with Dr. Jonker I will be meeting my Lead Oncologist (Dr. Auer) who will then decide upon the reversal process for the Ileostomy that she created when doing her surgical procedure back in August.  It is my hope to have that done and over with prior to our Hawaii vacation at the start of April.  That will mark the removal of all physical evidence of the health challenge and start a new phase as a Cancer Survivor.

All is very positive at this juncture and I thought it was a good time to share this news with you.  Also I would like to thank you for your interest, support and messages over the last period.  It is always nice to hear from you and be assured that your attention and support has helped me to get through this rather lengthy and trying year undertaking some rather demoralizing, inhibiting and in some cases humiliating experiences to achieve this rather sought after goal.  My spirits are very strong right now as I enter the “Wait” stage in anticipation of a good result.  And I have you to thank for the support that bolstered me through this last year.  Thank you.

I include here my best wishes for a Happy and healthy Christmas holiday and my sincere hope that the New Year brings much happiness and great moments for each and every one of you.  I hope this time is filled with great family events and the exhilaration that come with the Christmas season.

With love ...... Paul

11 February 2016,

Good evening from a cold Lake Bernard.  I hope this note finds you well and happy.  Since I last wrote to you Freddi and I managed to get away for a short Dominican Republic vacation.   We flew down on a Saturday in January and relaxed at an all-inclusive Lifestyle Holiday and Vacation Club in Puerto Plata.  We have never been to an all-inclusive but we got a handle on how to benefit from such a program pretty quickly.  We managed to eat well, drink tropical drinks on the beach and rest and read.  It was a truly a relaxing time.

When I last wrote I was entering into a period of “wait” for results of treatment and tests.  That period is now over and we are settling into a different routine.  On Monday this week I met with Dr Jonker to get the results of my CTScan and blood work from January.    The results were very positive news as I was told there is “no presence of Cancer” based on the testing that was done.  That means that I am now on the watch list for every 3 months for a period of time.  I am very pleased with that news as it tells me that the last year of treatments and surgery have paid dividends and I can start to resume my normal patterns.  There is only one thing left to remind me of the surgery and that is the ileostomy.

Today I met with Dr. Auer to get the disposition of the ileostomy.  She was very happy about my test results and then she asked me if I was ready to have my ileostomy reversed.  I asked her if she had time this afternoon but then she explained that it isn’t that simple and that there are a few folks ahead of me on the list.  However, she did do the documentation to get me in the queue and to start with a test that will determine if I am ready for reversal.  I do not have the dates but suspect that the test will happen pretty soon with the operation for reversal to be sometime in late April or perhaps a little later.  Her scheduling person will reach out to me in the near future.  This means that this will not happen before our early April family vacation in Kauai but it is in the works.  Apparently, the surgery is tricky and there will be some time to re-adjust to normal bowel functions but Dr Auer was pretty confident that my surgical effects will be marginal as I am in pretty good health and fortunate enough to have had a successful August surgery.

 As an aside, I have recently undertaken a Gov’t contract for a short period at ESDC (Economic and Social Development Canada) to provide some strategic advice for a large crown project with multiple stakeholders.  I started two days ago so I do not have a fix on the work yet but long enough to know that this will be a challenge for all involved.  This opportunity was presented to me by one of the members of our networking group and demonstrates the power of networking. 

All of this news is very good news to me and my family as it clearly indicates that the time invested in treatments and surgery were worthwhile and that we are heading to a better time ahead.  The last year has been stressful, uncomfortable and difficult for many of my close family members but I have to salute them and you for sticking with me through that year.  It was very reassuring and comforting to have you in my court and I will treasure that for a long time.  Since I will likely have little to write about after the reversal of the ileostomy I will likely not be a regular in your “in” box but that will not mean that I have forgotten your investment in my year.  I thank you for your support throughout this period and wish you nothing but good health and happiness as this year unfolds.