About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Q is for QUESTIONS

Hi everyone!  As most of you know, I've been unable to continue on a regular basis with ABC Wednesday because of my husband's health issues.  I'm sure you're all wondering how things are going, so I thought Q is for Questions would be a good time to update you all. 

Back in 2010, Lorne was diagnosed with colon cancer.  He subsequently had surgery and a full series of chemotherapy.  He didn't do well with the chemo and ended up in the hospital a few times needing blood transfusions and ice packing for raging fevers.  However, he made it through and in 2012, he went to London to work for 6 months.  Upon returning home, he had a full check-up where they spotted 2 tiny tumours in his liver.  So again he needed chemo, but this time he had to have 3 months before the surgery and then 3 months after.  He was okay until he started chemo again about 6 weeks after his surgery...he almost died from it.  The oncologist was going to let him stop chemo completely, but Lorne wanted to do whatever was necessary in order to survive.  So the doctor gave him half doses of the chemo, but he had to go every week instead of every 2 weeks.  That was fine and he made it through, finishing at the end of February this year.

He had been left with a hernia from the liver operation and as soon as he finished chemo, they had him scheduled to get it fixed.  But...after we got married on May 1st, his abdomen started filling up with fluid.  The doctors thought the cancer had spread to  his stomach and we were terribly shaken.  (Three strikes you're out!)  But then when they drained the fluid, it came back non-malignant.  He has been drained 5 times now but it keeps coming back negative for cancer.  He's had the PET scan, blood work, etc. and no cancer seems to be there.  More tests are in the works now.

Lorne is willing to do chemo if they can prove it's cancer, but because he doesn't do well on it, he feels it's too radical a treatment just to eliminate cancer.  So his GP and his oncologist are going to be meeting to see what else they can do...a different specialist?  Whatever is necessary. 

Life is very stressful right now but we are both trying to hang in there.  He gets very depressed at times and goes into himself.  That's when I leave him alone.  But he is trying to eat more and exercise more and continue to do things around the house.  Every morning, he takes Tegan to the park where they play Frisbee and the dog does all her benches (up and down on the park's picnic benches) and they go walking through all the trails.  He's also been doing a bit more photography.  I am still tutoring, but my time is limited as a lot of my students are doing different books in literature and I have to keep up with them.  So for me, I'm doing a lot of reading and research.

I hope this answers any questions you may have had if you were wondering about us.  We'd still appreciate your prayers or good wishes for a positive outcome with all this. And I will post whenever I can.  Here's a shot of Lorne and Tegan when she managed to climb onto his lap last week (he NEVER allows that) and it looks like she's laughing about it.

Thanks to the quintessential Roger and all the gang for keeping ABCW going and to the quaint Denise Nesbitt, the creator of the weekly fun!

25 comments:

Reader Wil said...

Thank you ,Leslie for sharing your story with us. I think of you and my prayers are with you both.
Wil, ABCW Team

Roger Owen Green said...

Hello, my dear Leslie-
Thanks for participating this week, and sharing all the health news.

ROG, ABCW

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

Oh Leslie, it's so nice to hear from you. You and Lorne have been so much on my mind (and in my prayers). So glad the tests are coming back negative for cancer, although I hope you can have clearer answers and more closure soon.

In the meantime,so glad you have the books and tutoring to keep you busy. And, please know you are in our hearts and prayers, and we all look forward to hearing from you.

Hildred said...

Thank you for posting, Leslie, - you and Lorne have been very much in my thoughts and always in my prayers.

Anonymous said...

Hello Leslie, I've missed your posts for ABC Wednesday. Thank you so much for sharing. What a time Lorne and you have had over the past few years. I'm praying that the doctors will find a good alternative to stop the cancer and give Lorne some strength and energy. Praying for comfort and joy in the midst of the struggles, too.

Joy said...

Its been a long haul for Lorne no wonder he gets depressed. My prayers are with you both.

Susan Moore said...

Leslie, thank you for the updates, we miss you! Thinking of you and wishing you and Lorne all the best.

nancygrayce said...

Oh, Leslie, I'm so sorry to hear of Lorne's health issues. Praying for him (and you) now!

carol l mckenna said...

Leslie sending lots of healing hugs for all ~ Great shot of hubby and your beautiful doggie!

I have been through having husbands with cancer and other family members it is very trying and you hurt for yourself and your loved one.

Happy Week to you!
artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Hello Leslie, I know how much you and Lorne have been through , and I must say that you are holding up really well. I cannot add much to other comments, but sending prayers and hugs and love to you both xox anne

Shady Gardener said...

We never know the situations in which other people find themselves. Thank you for sharing all that BOTH of you have faced and continue to face. You have received prayer from this corner of the world, too.

lotusleaf said...

Leslie, thanks for sharing your concerns. My prayers are with you both.

Nabanita said...

I will pray for him and you too..Thanks for this...

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Thanks for sharing, you must have a million ?s in your head.

Powell River Books said...

Dogs are always the best medicine. I'll keep both of you in my thoughts. - Margy

Anita Sabat said...

Heartfelt prayers & the bestest wishes..
May all be well.

mrsnesbitt said...

Hi Leslie, Lorn and Tegan hugs and prayers from us all here in the Nesbitt household xxxx

Trubes said...

Hi Leslie, I can't believe I missed this update but like all of your friends I pray for Lorne's return to good health and for you stay strong whist faced with such adversity.
Forever in my thoughts,
'Lorne and Leslie',
love,
Di xx

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

I join everyone in praying for you and wishing you both all the very best. xx

Linda said...

Warm greetings from Montreal, Leslie. I will keep you both in my prayers.

Liz Hinds said...

Gosh, Leslie, I only just read this. I was wondering how things are. I'm sorry to hear life's a bit grim. It's good it's not cancer but not if it doesn't get better. Poor both of you. Lorne looks so thin. I pray for a solution and treatment and a full recovery for Lorne and for peace and assurance for both of you. xxx

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Thinking of you at Xmas, Leslie. xx

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Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I hope your husband is getting better.

Black Jack's Carol said...

Your site seems to have been invaded by a troll of some sort so I hope it will be okay to leave this comment, Leslie. You have been in my mind so often, but I haven't kept up as I had hoped with comments. As always, I feel great empathy for you and Lorne. Thank you so much for the forthright account of how things are. Our experience with chemo/surgery/doctors has led me to the personal conclusion that often, less is better. Sometimes, when people do recover, I have a feeling they did so in spite of the treatment. I'm pretty sure my own strategy as a senior would be to exercise regularly, eat nutritious, organic foods, do as many enjoyable things as possible and avoid all further medical treatment until such time as I am convinced palliative care or pain control is needed (hopefully a long time down the road). I'm not advocating this for you. We each have to make our own choices but those are the thoughts that I am left with after witnessing Bill's health journey (and those of quite a few others along the way). I know you are giving your ALL to support Lorne through this. My heart is with you both. Will continue to hold good thoughts that there is lots more happiness down the road for both of you.