Category: Uncategorized

(Editor’s note: I’m still sort of figuring out my ‘voice’ when it comes to writing about my journey, so please forgive any wild swings in tone between posts)

This week I did the radiation simulation to prepare for my treatments later this month. After arriving at CancerCare Manitoba in Winnipeg, I was told to use the bathroom and then drink a fairly specific amount of water with a bit of contrast fluid inside. The amount of water — 325ml — will be a part of my daily treatments, as they want my bladder to be roughly the same size each time they irradiate me. After waiting an hour in their (comfortable, spacious) waiting area for the contrast to settle in, I was brought in for one more CT scan.

These images will help them shape the radiation beam when treating me, and it was also a trial run at aligning my body on the table. You can see laser lines in the second image that were for this purpose, but also, I got my first-ever tattoos; a tiny dot, the size of a freckle, on each hip. These are permanent, and will make it easier to get me lined up perfectly each day. 

Everyone we’ve met has been patient and gracious so far. I’m trying to reflect those qualities back!

In other news, folks can sign up to drive me to treatment appointments in Winnipeg! I’ve added a bunch of dates to the Calendar area of this site, and though June is covered, there are still several open days in July. If the promise of sparkling conversation isn’t enough, South Central Cancer Resource reimburses clients for mileage and parking, so I can pass that benefit along and offset some of your costs. Thanks One Million to them, and to the volunteers who have reached out to us so far! I’m honored!

On May 3rd, I underwent a colonoscopy that found a growth in my lower intestine, very near the exit. The doctor was extremely confident it was cancer, and the test results on the sample taken would later prove her correct: rectal cancer, stage 3.

While I had been experiencing relatively mild symptoms since the beginning of the year, this discovery certainly came as a shock. Our plans for travel, for home renovation, even for summer activities were upended as we faced a new reality of tests and treatments. We still grieve that other version of 2024.

As it stands, I am scheduled to begin radiation and chemotherapy simultaneously on June 20th, followed by another round of chemo and ultimately bowel surgery in which they will remove what remains of the growth. I’ve been told this cancer is serious but treatable, and we are aiming to eradicate it completely. 

A lot of new information has come at us pretty quickly, and it has been challenging to keep up and keep others in the loop. I knew right away that I didn’t want to take this journey alone, so this site is intended to have regular updates so folks can follow along with us as we go through this. 

These last few weeks have been a flurry of tests and consultations. Lori and I have treasured the moments of joy, calm, and connection in our home as we awaited a more definite treatment plan. We are continually humbled and encouraged by the words, deeds, thoughts, & prayers of folks supporting us. Thank you all so much!