First Post

The first round of chemotherapy is over and thus far mom is doing great. We have been told that more side effects are likely to come in the next two weeks, but rest assured we are all ready. We as a family have been coping much better with this crisis then we did in the first couple of weeks. Now that the initial shock has subsided, we are determined to beat this cancer with everything we've got. We have been very lucky with the support of family and friends and with the help of some of the best cancer doctors in the world, we are confident that we will get through this.

My mother was fortunate to get one of the largest hospital rooms in Princess Margaret with a beautiful view of the city. You can even see our neighborhood from her window, as she symbolically faces us, just as our house faces her. We have been in good spirits and my mother’s nurses and doctors have been fantastic. We have found a bit of a routine where every day as a family we get together in the room for a few hours of conversation and then a movie. I will admit that Liam and I are a bit proud of ourselves for coming up with the movie idea. When we first saw the room, we tried brainstorming ways we could use the large barren wall that stands on the opposite side of my mother’s bed. We decided to try and test out mom’s multimedia projector that she uses for her art lectures and through a bit of trial and error, we were able to turn the wall into a movie screen. Needless to say the nurses have been impressed with how we have been able to transform the room. This combined with my mother’s artwork, my brother’s photography and your generous gifts have made for a vibrant ambiance.

We are now going into a period where things will get to be more difficult, however we remain optimistic. One of the side effects of the chemotherapy is that mom’s immune system will be seriously depleted. Her doctors and nurses have told us that during the next two weeks we may have to restrict the number of visitors. It’s very much day to day, so if you want to visit mom, we’d suggest that you first send her an email, and if she’s up to a visit she’ll reply. Hopefully once she’s home later in January she’ll be able to see more of you again, because she does love hearing from you. She is hugely appreciative of your cards and emails. As she has told my dad, she is being told things that you usually don’t hear about someone until they’re dead. As you can see, she hasn’t lost her sense of humour.

Many of you have asked if you can help us in any way. Thankfully we’re pretty good at feeding ourselves (and buying slices) and my grandmother Dora has been busy preparing soups and other meals for us. Mom has asked me to pass along a suggestion. Right now there is a shortage of blood products because people stop donating blood over the holidays. So if any of you donate blood, now would be a good time to do it. If mom can get some platelets by the weekend, she might be allowed to come home during the daytime on Saturday and Sunday.

We thank everyone for all of your love and support. It gives us more energy to push forward and send this disease back from whence it came.


Love you all

Sebastian

p.s. Regarding contacting my mother, sending an email is still the best way of reaching her: luperodriguez@sympatico.ca or you can post a message on this website. Either way, we’ll make sure that she receives it. She can’t respond to all of the emails, but she is reading them all and they help to lift her spirits. We are grateful for all of your support.
We’ll be updating this site in the coming weeks.