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!!! 

Change is a good thing.

It's been just over a week since we found out George got the job in Vancouver. It's been 2 days since our for sale sign has been up, and in just over a week we will be looking at houses. It seems unreal, or like a dream. Everything is happening really fast, and if that sign wasn't in my front yard I still don't think I would believe it. This is going to be one big move.

From small towns to the big city. 

Our lifestyle is going to change completely, and it will be good as long as we focus on all the positives! We usually spend so much time down in Vancouver for appointments and such anyways, so instead of wasting George's holidays so he can drive us around, we can use them to go camping! We won't have to be away from home for a week or longer for appointments, I can be in my own bed every night. Wesley will most likely be able to have a longer baseball season. My mom could go back to work, and I could possibly even start college. I already have lots of friends in Vancouver for school or who are living there, so I think settling in will take no time at all. 

This is going to be easy.

It's just the big change in our lives that's slightly scary, and the fact that we have to leave behind a wonderful place that's been so good to us. Fernie has been our home for 5 years, and we have really grown to love it here. I know that it's 12 hours away but I will do my best to come back to visit Fernie. I know I'm going to miss it here, and if I do come back I know there won't be a shortage of people to stay with. Everyone here is amazing and I wish I could pack them all up and take them with me. Not to mention the amazing views around here! 

I'm excited, nervous, sad, happy, and a little scared about this move, but in the end I know it will be great! I can't wait to start a new chapter in my life. Bring it on Vancouver, bring it on. 

Miracle Weekend!

 Well hello there everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend, I know I did! It was full of so much fun and excitement!!! So grab some snacks and enjoy the photos and candid moments from this years Miracle Weekend!!

We arrived in Vancouver late Wednesday evening, and the madness began on Thursday. On Thursday morning we woke up and made out way down to the Secret Garden Tea House in Kerresdale to meet Elaine Yong for some filming for a news story. After having High Tea, we made our way over to the hospital for our appointment as well as more filming for the story! After that I had my actual appointment with my wonderful doctor. Then we finished taping with Elaine over at the set of the telethon and I got a quick tour! Next we picked up Ofelia and made our way over to the old spaghetti factory in Gastown. 

After we all went out to dinner, Ofelia and I got to go see Wicked!!!!! And to say that we were excited is a complete understatement.

We left the performance almost completely speechless, I think we just kept saying "wow"!! We give it 4 out of 4 thumbs up!!

Friday was totally jam packed with plans!! It all started at around 7:45am in Burnaby at the global studio! We went in to get make-up done and wait to be interviewed on the morning news. 

After the interview we went to visit Tiffany and her new baby boy!!! Baby Maxwell Hugh McFadyen was born on May 22nd at 11:11!!! He is absolutely precious and I loved the newborn cuddles!! It was so nice to see Tiffany is settling into motherhood just fine! She's going to be such a wonderful mom! 

After visiting with Tiffany and Max we went out to lunch! While we were eating I actually watched myself on the interview which I found on the global website! Also, is that really what I sound like?! Weird! 

Lunch was good and we then went to visit some friends we met through the Ronald McDonald house. Actually, 2 years ago today is when Muj had his accident that left him paralyzed. The thought of being in a chair the rest of his life had never crossed his mind, and his determination to walk again is astounding! He's made such incredible progress, from being told he would never walk again, to gaining some movement in his legs!! I was so glad we got to see him and his family. They are all wonderful and I'm so glad we are friends!! Go check out more of his story (after you're done here of course) at this link!! 

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/mujinmotion/?fref=nf

After our visits we went over to the studio for the rehearsal for the telethon!! Apparently I did great and I liked the crew, they a laughed at my jokes! 

Once rehearsal was done we were allowed to hit up the hotel and relax for the rest of the night! Phew! We definitely needed the break, well, my parents did! They fell asleep at 8:30!!! I had a bath and relaxed  and kept myself entertained until I fell asleep.

Saturday was crazy! We had some time off in the morning and early afternoon so we checked out of our hotel and leisurely wandered around the mall and purchased a few shirts and such, then got to check in to the new Ronald McDonald house!! Although it is unfinished, it is still amazing, and even though we saw pictures, it wasn't what we thought it was going to be. I can't wait until it's actually finished and functioning! I made a little speech there, and we enjoyed the activities and a wonderful dinner!! 

At 7:15 (ish) I was back at the telethon for make-up! After I got all beautified for tv I was off to a quick photoshoot. After the photoshoot it was on set to get ready to go on live tv! Ahh! Thankfully I had Laura there to show me where I needed to be, and when! Yay for Laura! 

Apparently I did great, but man was I ever nervous!! 

Sunday was a little more relaxing for me, I just got to lay low behind the scenes until 5:30 when we announced the grand total! At 11:30 George got to go on the phone panel!

Thanks again to everyone who donated during the telethon!!! 

This year I saw many familiar faces at the telethon and of course had to get pictures with the people I saw!! I saw the whole Wright family this year, and Jemma was co-hosting Sunday! (Didn't she do awesome?!) I also saw Chris Gailus, who is always so nice! I also couldn't forget my annual girls pic with Addison!! I am so glad I could see all these amazing kids once again, and amazing volunteers who put in all their time to make this show what it is every year!! 

(The Wright family!) 

(Chris Gailus) 

(Addison and I!) 

All in all it was an amazing weekend!! I can't say enough how much we love coming down to Miracle Weekend and participating as much as we can!! I feel so grateful to be able to give back to a place that has given me so much. To donate my story, and a little bit of time to the telethon is the least we can do for a place that makes miracles happen every day. I know because I am one, and I've met so many! 

Thank you all for your love and support through this! 

Already kicking cancers ass, wanna be next?

Hello there folks! 

As a lot of you who read this know I recently had a PET scan. This scan helps determine how much cancer I have in my body. Below is a picture of my scan, one is from January (3 months ago), and one from April (last week). The picture on the right is the January scan. It was after I was really sick for a month and basically didn't have chemo. The picture on the left is the April scan, and wow! What improvement! All the black spots in the chest area is cancer, don't worry about the two big black spots at the top and bottom of the scan. It's just my brain and my bladder!! The focus of the pictures is to see what's hanging out on the left side of my chest, which appears on the right side of the picture.

I mean wow! What improvement!! It is definitely a reason to celebrate, so celebrate I did!!! 

I'm so greatful that some of my friends go to school in Vancouver! Ofelia, Julia, and I met downtown and went for dinner! After that Ofelia and I flew over Canada while Julia went home to grab her ID! Travis was also in town so we all met at the bar and just hung out!! It was great to be out and just be like your average 19 year old!  

Julia is missing from the photo because she was taking it! But we still love her!!!

I get to be home and not really have to worry, and not feel so sick all the time. It's nice to feel a little more free! 

I guess I should also mention that I get to co-host the BC children's hospital miracle weekend telethon!!! I'm on Saturday night, May 31st!! Make sure you all tune in, oh, and donate!! ;) 

See you all then! (Well, you'll see me then.)

Don't want to jinx it!

Well folks, it's been a while since I've blogged last but that's because things have been going quite well. I hate to say out loud how well I've been feeling lately because I don't want to end my streak of feeling this good! 

It's weird that I have nothing to report on! 

I'm so used to telling people that I've had a rough week or I've been feeling tired or that I was in the hospital for antibiotics. We've been out of the hospital long enough that we will have to hep flush my VAD again! I'm thankful we are able to do it at home too so I don't need to go to the hospital and be exposed to all the fun germies there. Also, when we are at home I can push the saline myself and it's more fun that way! 

Since things are going so well, and I'm feeling good, I'll leave you dear readers with an updated picture of my HAIR!! Yea, that's right. Hair. Can't wait for it to warm up so I can rock the pixie cut!! 

But that's it for tonight folks! Keepin it short and sweet again!!