Mini-vacation!

It's that time of year! Time for pools, parties, sun, and fun! And what's a little fun without friends or family?! Well, that's not as much fun  now is it.

Our little 6 day vacation started extremely early on Canada day. Like 3 am wake up call early. Yup. But we really wanted to be there for my grandmother's birthday and eventually we made it!

We spent 3 days without cell service and with family! It's nice to be able to put down the phones and just hang out together! We hadn't seen my grandparents in a few months, and even longer for my aunt and uncle and 2 cousins from Lethbridge! We were worried about Rocko being around the kids and so many new people but he did amazing, and barely barked! Plus everyone just loved him right back!

Next we headed to Kelowna to visit some of our favorite people! They sold their house so we came to have a pool party before they move out and to their new place! Our big love ball had a great time in the pool, and surprisingly so did the dog! He didn't really want to swim, but he wanted to be with everyone so he rode on people's shoulders! We also spent the night with another life long friend before heading to Merritt for a quick visit with Georges mom, then finally coming home today. I was a little sad to leave. I absolutely miss everyone already and I am secretly trying to plan a trip back to Kelowna.

I am so blessed to have the friends and family that I have. I had nothing but fun and was surrounded by love the entire time. As much as I am glad to be home and continue on with things I have planned here, I am a little heavy hearted to be leaving such a great time with such great people behind me. We will be together again soon, I promise!

Until next time! xoxo

Living list

A living list is essentially a bucket list.

I'm just not calling it that.

My living list mostly includes concerts. I love concerts, I love music, and I love hanging out with friends and family, and concerts are a great excuse for a "date night".

Last night I had an amazing date night with my momma! We came into town early, and visited part of our wonderful RMH family and their brand new baby who is absolutely adorable! Then we met with some of our foundation ladies for a quick visit! Next was downtown for appies and a drink at moxies, then Shania Twain!!!!

Holy crap did she ever rock Vancouver! She really knows how to put on a show and I loved every minute of it! I was even impressed with Wes Mack as an opening act, he has quite a versatile voice and was also awesome to watch! Both were such amazing performers!!!!

I can't wait to cross off more concerts on my living list!

Oh the people you meet!: part 4

My morning was an early one. I was in Vancouver at BCCH early enough to be on the morning news. Since we were done so early, we decided to do some visiting, and I got to see my wonderful friend Danielle Hoult (although she slept through it, but my oh my did she ever need to rest, dumb fevers).

For those of you who don't know, in 2012 at just 11 years old my darling Dani was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). After almost 2 years of treatment Dani was in her final months before finishing, but leukemic cells were found in her cerebral spinal fluid. In 2014 she relapsed (yes, relapsed while still in treatment) and has been placed on a very intense chemo treatment. She will be on chemo until 2016, and will also be receiving cranial radiation in July!

My sweet, darling friend Danielle is full of attitude, love, strength, and resilience. She has a huge heart, and an old soul, and is full of passion.

As she was resting today we visited with her incredible mom Nadine, and she told us about how Dani was fighting through pain to get through her play rehearsal. All year she has worked hard, and she just couldn't stay away from the stage. Her peers were so thoughtful and accommodating though, she got to sit by the director and perform her lines from there the rest of rehearsal! She is missing opening night, but I did see a message of love and well wishes from her cast members. She will be there in spirit tonight. I have absolutely no doubt she will be sprung from the hospital ASAP and prance, perform, and perfectly deliver her role on that stage.

Dani is a source of determination, inspiration, and dedication. I can't help but smile every time I see her, even when she's hooked up to IV poles. Even when she's asleep.  This beautiful young girl can conquer the world, and I know for a fact that she will.

I am honored, proud, and humbled to call this incredible young gal my friend. Keep smiling. I love you Dani Banani.

The Brooke Army!

I cannot believe how many people have my back!  I have never felt more loved, supported, and humbled than I have in the last 4 years now.

Yep. 4 years.

May 30th marks the 4 years since rediagnosis. Every year I've had many ups and downs, but I've mainly tried to focus on the ups.  It's impossible not too. With being diagnosed with cancer I feel like I've created an army! It's not just me who's fighting this awful disease any more. It's everyone. 

I love reading all the amazing, kind,  and thoughtful social media posts. I may not always be able to see you, or physically hug you to show you how much I appreciate you all, but I do. I do more than words can say. I appreciate my family and friends and even strangers who keep me in their thoughts.

I never felt like I was doing anything to make a difference. I was always the one who was in awe of all the superheroes I came to know through my travels. Yet here we are, and here those words are. Everyone tells me I'm an inspiration, I'm strong, and I'm someone to look up to. I never thought I'd ever become this type of role model, I never saw myself as a leader.

There are young kids out there who need a voice, and I am more than willing to step up and do that for them.

When my superheroes need a side kick, I'll be there to get the job done.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for supporting me, and creating what I now wish to call TBA (the Brooke Army!)

I love all of you, and appreciate you more than words can fathom!

Regrouping.

Let's start fresh.

I've been told that my writing is good but I've been so distracted that I haven't blogged in almost a year. Woops. I'm making a promise to myself to get back on track. I can do this.

As most of my readers know in September of 2014 I was classified as being palliative. Which means there is nothing more my doctors can do except keep me comfortable and healthy for as long as they can. I can no longer beat this disease. I can only prolong the inevitable.

And I've accepted that. It took a little while to really accept it. But I do. It was so hard to because of how great I look and feel most of the time. I don't look like someone who almost literally has a chest full of tumors, a sore shoulder, and an arthritic hip (although when I am over worked I do limp slightly. Damn hip).

There also an ulterior motive to my blogging again. Yes, it's my favorite time of the year next weekend! Miracle weekend is coming up on May 30th and 31st and yours truly is co-host again this year!  I hate having to fundraise for myself and my family... it feels so selfish, even though we do need help sometimes. But there are thousands of other families who need help also, and I feel much better if donations go to research, equipment, or for the new hospital! That way you're helping not only me, but so many other kids, and families, who rely on BC Children's every year. I encourage you to help, even the smallest amount. No donation is too small, because no act of kindness is ever small.

I promise I'll blog more. If I don't just remind me. Chemo brain makes me forgetful!

Also, how about cute pictures of my fur baby to keep you smiling throughout the day... I am so happy to have Rocko in our lives! His little attitude has us smiling or laughing every day.

Summer

Summer is coming to an end, boooo. But the plus side to that is that we get to move in our house in a week!!! Yay! 

Summer in Vancouver means the fair at the PNE is happening, and yes, we went. I had such an incredible time, and I'll always ride the old roller coaster at least once even though it feels like I'm going to fall out of it. I was there with Ofelia, Giles, and my family of course, and I went on a bunch of rides, ate good food, and enjoyed a few shows!! Thanks to the summer night concerts we got to see Air Supply perform, and it was so cool!!! They totally rocked! 

We also had so much fun at Rena's wedding! She was absolutely stunning and she sure knows how to party! I'm probably going to get her to plan my wedding, she had so many fun cute ideas! I also got to emcee the reception, thank goodness for public speaking skills! 

I've also been hanging out without my wig on, and it's been ok so far! Went to the PNE, and the mall without it on. I don't think I'll use it as often anymore, maybe just to keep my head warm in the winter. ;)

Responsible!

How great is it to be normal? 

I mean, besides the 3 pills twice daily (5 twice on weekends... stupid septra) I've been living quite normally! 

Besides the fact that I'm not in my own home. We don't even have a house yet in Vancouver! But that's besides the point. I've actually been a horrible blogger due to the fact that I have been responsible! Not just for myself, but other people even!!

It all started when my mom needed to get to Vancouver to look at houses, but we weren't all going to go! I went once before, and decided that I, one lung Brooke, could use a break from looking at town homes! So Wesley and I stayed home. Alone. And we had to clean the house so the inspection could be done. It was a neat little vacation almost. Until it had to end and chaos ensued. Moving out is definitely easier when there are movers there for you, but there's still a LOT of cleaning involved! I've never scrubbed windowsills harder in my entire life. I was tired just watching grandma clean! When all was said and done we hit up our hotel in Fernie for put last night there as a family. Weather was pretty severe in Alberta so Wes and I got to spend a night with our wonderful amazing friends Kevin and Shawna! Then it was off to Calgary! Here we have been for about 2 weeks at my uncle and aunts so someone is home with the kids while they work! I feel like I just got here still! I can't believe that on August 10th I'll be making my first 10 hour road trip with just my brother!!  Then it's up to Quesnel for Rena's wedding!! I am so excited to see my step sister get married, and spend time as a family and camp! It's going to be a blast! I love weddings! I don't have anything medical going on until the 20th and 21st of August! It's been nice to have a bit of a break and be able to live a slightly normal life!

I'll do what I can to blog more about the normal things I get to do and not just the medical things!! Also might make them a little shorter and more fun to read!!!