Philly Grad

Kate Graduates!

The day has finally arrived and Katie donned her cap and gown for the presentation.  She looked so beautiful and Mary and I are so proud of her.  She is now  Kate Elizabeth McDougall  BA, MA., but the titles mean very little because she is Katie, our Katie. It was most important that she was a friend and made friends, she was a student and honoured her professors.  She loves God passionately and loves others.  She extended her love to all she worked with  and they responded to her as well.  We thank the Lord daily for saving her life when she was only a week old and know that God has special things in store for her.

The Urban Studies Department of Eastern University Philadelphia recognized her work and she was presented with the award of Outstanding Thesis of the Year.  I know that she would like to thank all of her professors, advisors, clients, and friends in this accomplishment.  We are so proud!  I guess I already said that.  We  can never say we love her too much.

Mary was unable to travel to Philly for the grad but Katie's Aunt Mary-Jane and Uncle Dennis as well as I made the trip.  I took some pictures of the event for Mary and would like to share them with you.  We arrived in Philadelphia Friday morning (May 13) and meeting Katie and Jared at "MugShots" across from the penitentiary. We spent the day touring and seeing where Kate lived during her time in Philly.  We met a lots of fellow students and family as a get together Friday evening.  It was great!  The music excellent.  Saturday we woke up to a dull overcast day but that did not dampen spirits as this was graduation day.  After a short tour in the morning we made our way to Eastern University Campus in St.Davids.  The campus is beautiful and we had a chance to look around.  Just before the graduates arrived for the presentations, the rain began.  Quickly rain gear was used to protect us from the elements and we went on with the presentation.  Thousands of students graduated that day but we only saw one  and she was most important to us.  That evening Jared's mom and dad, Charlotte and Dan took us all out to the London Grill for supper.  It was so nice and we would like to deeply thank them . 

Sunday morning we headed back north arriving in Thessalon  about 8pm.  It was wonderful to see Mary and give her all the news.  We looked at the pictures and went over every part of the trip.  Mary and I pray that Katie will continue to follow her heart and love God with all her might.  We love you Kate!

Spring Wedding

May 7^th 2011 was a milestone in our family.  Our baby  Alyssa Mary Rose got married today.  How can that be?  It seems that it was only yesterday that I held this little baby in my arms coming home from the hospital in Sault Ste. Marie.  This little girl had changed our lives as Josh and Katie were almost teenagers when she came into our lives.  We had almost forgotten about diapers, baby bottles, tricycles, kindergarten and childcare.  We must say however that this little girl was the best for us, helped us to stay young and extend our joy. 

The wedding was another joyful experience for us and a wonderful time.  Aly said it best "This wedding is all I've dreamed of".  The day was beautiful and seemed to be ordered.  Friday had been a cool wet day, dull and overcast.  When we woke Saturday morning it was evident from first light that this day was special.  The wedding was held on the farm of Tim and Judy Stewart in Thessalon.  The ceremony was on the front yard, with hay bales as seating and cows grazing in the field adjoining.

Matt, our new son-in-law was nervous and excited.  Matt's family, "the Clarks" from Moosonee,  were present in force, helped so much with the preparation and the wedding from start to cleanup. As you see from the pictures it was a joyful, casual and wonderful occasion. 

Mary and I would like to thank every one who helped with the wedding and it made the day so special.  It was the eleventh day since Mary's last chemo treatment and she was feeling well but tired quickly. At the end of the day she was just elated that things had gone so well.  It will be a very special memory for us and time when we saw the blessings we have in our Lord.  Thanks for your prayers.

Mark back from Chitokoloki

Mark returned home Saturday night with tales of a long trip to Africa and back.  He was tired but enjoyed the six weeks at Chitokoloki.  He spent most of his time drilling wells with Ken and Steve but was able to use his welding skills fixing ox carts.  I have included some pictures.  It is a nice change from talking about Cancer.  Mary is doing well but seems to be tired more than last treatment.

Beginning of April

This has been an eventful week and overall a good one.  We are official resdients of Thessalon now with the papers signed and keys in hand.  April 2nd was packing day for Chitokoloki.  The folks here at Thessalon had been collecting clothing, food items, shoes etc for Africa and some got together on Saturday to pack the boxes.  We sorted everything in the gym at the Bible Chapel and then sealed up the boxes.  Turns out we will need quite a few more boxes to complete the job.  I hope to deliver them to Toronto on the 21st of April.It is great to see the believers here get behind the Malnutrition Program at the Chitokoloki Hospital.
It was a bit of a tearful week for Mary as on Tuesday and Wednesday she noticed her hair coming out in large clumps. On Thursday I did a bit of a barber job to even things out.  She said that the hair loss was more traumatic than the mastectomy.  I guess your hair is a visible thing and so much a part of your visage.  For me hair loss is a slow gradual process.  Mary says she thinks it is a pride thing.  She was alway kind of proud of her full head of hair.  She says the Lord must be teaching her something in this.  Anyway our shampoo use will decline and I am glad the warm weather is coming.
We head to Sudbury tomorrow for treatment #2 and are praying things go well.  They want us to stay at the Hospital at Daffodil Lodge overnight Monday.  I am really glad about that as perhaps they can help with the vomiting.  I am not looking forward to next week very much and I am sure Mary hopes things go better than last time.  Thanks again for your prayers and kind notes.

Changing Residents

Mid March we changed our address from Constance Lake to 153 Ontario St. Apt1.  I thought I would show you some pictures of the transition.  Cottage - quiet, wood heat, creation, beauty of nature    Apartment - warmth  bills (water, electric, phone, internet), town.
Life is a continual change.

First Chemo Treatment

Here it is March 23^rd and this past week has been a bit daunting.  We travelled to Sudbury a week ago Monday for the first chemo treatment.  It was a long day as we left early in the morning and we got to the hospital at about 930 and waited.  The chemo started about 11am and took about 2hrs until all of the chemicals were pushed into the port in Mary’s chest  Before the chemo started they gave Mary some anti- nausea drugs that were to last 24 hours.   At about 1:30 we stopped for some lunch and then headed home, but we were less than half way home when the nausea hit.  That night was a bit overwhelming for me as Mary was feeling rotten  and there was nothing I could do.  Tuesday to Friday was a bit of a blur but Mary did get progressively better.  By the weekend Mary thought she might survive!  Here is a note she sent in an email on Sunday.

“We are surviving the first of the chemos- barely! i think this is as hard on Tim as me as he has to watch/listen to barfing!  This week has been pretty rough but hopefully the next two weeks will be better before they do the next treatment. This afternoon we went out for a ride and i lost a handful of hair- not a dry drive by any means!  We had Aly and Matt (  Clark) here for the weekend so it was really nice to see them even though I couldn't do much. It was so encouraging  to hear them talk of their wedding plans and hopes  and dreams for the future!  And Matt made me some creamy mashed potatoes  which went down well!”
“Our new address is 153 Ontario St. Apt #1  P.O. Box 493 Thessalon, Ontario  P0R 1H0
we are settling into "Normal" life- phones, internet, electricity, running water and bills!!
I feel claustrophic at times but hopefully will make the transition gracefully. This is our path at present and we want to be found faithful.”

Today was a good day and we had a nice visit from Burnley and Zoe.  Mary ate well and did not have nausea  at all.  This is the 10^th day of the treatment when her blood count is supposed to be the lowest.  We will have to careful with people who are sick and guard Mary from infection.  I take her temp twice a day.  If it is 38 degrees C,  I am to take her to the emergency dept. immediately.    We have a video conference with the oncologist on Monday and hopefully we can deal with the nausea and vomiting for next time. 

Thanks so much for all the notes, emails and phone calls.  We really appreciate all the support and the prayer. 

Off to Sudbury Again Tomorrow

This has been a busy week again.  We travelled to Blind River Monday to see our family doctor and have an ultra-sound.  Mary had been fasting since Sunday evening for the ultra-sound which was to be Monday at 1245h.  We had our doctors appointment at 10am and then went to Tim Hortons.  I went in to get a coffee and when I returned Mary was eating an orange and some crackers left in the car.  It.didn't twig with me until we got to the hospital for the ultra-sound.  Then I asked Mary, "Aren't you fasting?", then it hit her as well and she said she must have just forgot and ate the orange.  Needless to say the tech would not do the ultra-sound so we had to book again for Wednesday.  Tuesday we went to Sault Ste. Marie and then back to Blind River on Wednesday.  Thursday we travelled to Sudbury for the surgery to implant a port in her chest.  I will let Mary tell you about that day.
This is Mary now! I have  been very unsettled about whether to do the chemo or not as I have been feeling so well and have lots of energy again! Why would I want to do something that would make me sick?? We had a frank discussion with our wonderful family doctor on Monday morning who listened to our fears and doubts  and encouraged us to make our own decision.  By Wednesday we were still unsure what to do, so I started praying specifically for an answer.  The weather report on Wed evening was not good- snow storm followed by freezing rain overnight. So I decided that if the roads were closed on Thursday morning, I would take that as a sign that we would not do the chemo! Roads were not closed on Thursday morning so off we went.  But the roads were slushy and slippery- so I decided that if we slid off the road and missed the appt., I would take that as a no to chemo. We arrived in Sudbury without incident.  Then the nurse told me that I was no longer on a surgery list. I was now on a wait and see list as some emergencies took precedence.  I decided that if I didn't get the port in, I would take that as a no to chemo.  Tim and I went sound asleep in the waiting room and then the fire alarm went off!! The doctor came in and got me and said as soon as the fire alarm went off she had 45 mins before her next surgery and she would do my port!  So I climbed up on the operating table and she did the surgery as soon as the alarm quit!! You would really think that I would quit putting out fleece but no!! Friday morning , I woke to the question again- should I do the chemo or not? Lord please give me peace about this. Probably a couple of hours later, a friend of ours who had been through breast cancer 4 years ago phoned and we talked for quite a while. She was such an encouragement and gave me lots of ideas about what to do during the treatments.  Best of all, she had the same type of cancer- HER2+ and had the follow-up treatment for the year.  She assured me that the year long treatment was not as bad as the first chemo treatments and that I would be okay!  It was an answer to prayer and I now feel ready to go ahead with this tomorrow.  I am not looking forward to it but I am ready to get on with it.

 Tim again.  On Saturday we moved into a little appartment here in Thessalon and got settled in.  It felt good to have a place of our own again and try to get ready for the chemo treatments.  It is a quiet basement apartment with two bedrooms.  Mary got a red sofa in the Soo on tuesday and it is the only furniture in the living room.  I am sure it will get a lot of use.

Please keep us in your prayers as we head to Sudbury tomorrow.  Thanks to all.  Tim