MY FINAL POST. ENJOY. The Family Room Sometimes as I sit here, in my family room – I’m convinced there isn’t another room anywhere in the universe that would ever be capable of offering me the comfort that this one does. It reminds me of all that I have – when I look up on…
Upon arriving to my assigned hospital room on the night of Saturday, June 5th, I was groggy and unsteady – having just spent the past 24 hours in the ICU following an arduous 14-hour surgery to have a tumour removed from the right side of my face. While I knew I had roommates – it…
On June 4th, I underwent a gruelling, 14-hour surgery in Toronto to remove a rare and aggressive tumour from the right side of my face. During my brief hospital stay, I developed a fool-proof method in separating the wheat from the chaff when it came to my assigned nurses. Each nurse, upon starting his/her shift…
I’d like to say Monday dawned a beautiful day. But I’d be lying. Sunday was a horrible night mainly due to a not-so-great nurse on duty. Let me catch you up – on Friday I had undergone a gruelling 14-hour surgery to remove a tumour out of the side of my face. After having spent…
I wish I belonged here in the hospital – only not as a patient – but as one of the many nurses coming and going in the hallway. They all walk along briskly, shouting out pleasantries to one another – bustling along with purpose – heading somewhere for a reason. Not me. Poor me. My…
Trippy. That’s a word I can safely say I’ve never used before. Until now. Trippy is the perfect word to describe my first cognizant moments waking up and finding myself in the ICU after my 14-hour surgery. Coming off heavy sedation, I am a warm and damp log covered in blankets with a head like…
Two nights before my surgery, I lay at the bottom of a shadowy pool. When I looked up, I could see my family room mantle with framed photos and Jack White posters – bending and swaying as the water lapped gently on the surface just above my head. “Oh man,” I thought with relief. “I’m…
Post #4 in Cancer Culture The man who told me I will never hear out of my right ear again looked an awful lot like the actor Jeremy Strong. If you don’t know who Jeremy Strong is – he’s an actor – like I just said. Look him up. First, Doctor Strong (not his real…
Post #3 in Cancer Culture Cancer is a lonely business. Despite other people going through something similar; despite the family at your side; despite the friends checking in; despite the onslaught of well-wishing messages; despite the seemingly never ending parade of prepared foods and desserts appearing on your doorstep. Despite all this – there is…
Post #2 in Cancer Culture “I’m kinda worried.” My 11-year-old son is lying in bed as I’m tucking him in. He’s lifted one of his pillows up to cover his eyes – as he tells me this. Maybe he doesn’t want me to see his eyes or maybe he doesn’t want to see mine. I…
