Minister Bolduc is on the right track... I think!

Hockey season is in full swing and my taxi duties have resumed. Both boys are playing double letter hockey this year. It should be interesting... Mathieu is into his 2nd month of high school... So far, so good. Rich is in secondary IV and is (mostly) mature beyond his years. Something for which I am at times grateful, and other times worried.

I spent a few days in Quebec City this week. I volunteered to help the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada as they were organising a parliamentary breakfast in the National Assembly to promote awareness for colorectal cancer, the need for a screening program and 3rd line indication treatment. I met the wife of a local celebrity - Boule Noire - who died of colorectal cancer the same year as Tony. We shared stories... It was tiring and fueling couple of days. I met interesting people and hope to help the association put together an event in the West Island of Montreal to promote awareness. If all goes well, the event will happen during colorectal cancer awareness month, in March 2010. All that needs to happen between now and then is for me and you to raise the required funds, i.e. $20,000 or so. (Anyone wishing to sponsor or donate, please don't be shy...)

Honestly, I went to Quebec City hoping that the Minister of Health (who was one of the speakers) would announce the province's new colorectal cancer screening program. It didn't happen... However, Minister Bolduc seemed quite supportive of our cause and noted that he wanted to ensure that proper testing guidelines were in place before any program was launched and that they had to ensure that health institutions and centres were properly equipped and prepared to perform an increasing number of colonoscopies without insufferable delays. This is a good thing... As long as these problems are addressed without any further delay... Time wil tell! For now, I will give Minister Bolduc, the time to sort these things out. No sense in getting a positive screening test result and not be able to get a colonoscopy for 12 to 48 months (depending on where you live). If that were the case you'd be better off not knowing!

So for now... We'll let our friend Mr Bolduc figure these things out. But we will be keeping an eye on the situation and will certainly not forget about the need for a province-wide screening program.

Well, there I go again... getting carried away. I really must go to bed. Hope I haven't put you all to sleep with all the ranting...

Take good care!

Renée

P.S. I've actually already bought my first Christmas gift!!! Now let's just hope it'll keep 'til Xmas!

Maine was Great!!!

Believe it or not, 14 people (8 adults and 6 kids; mostly teens) in one house wasn't that bad! The house was 3-stories high with 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It was busy at dinner time; we all enjoyed our veggies and dips and a bowl of chips or two... Greg outdid himself again and amazed us all with his pork tenderloin and special sauce. Everyone chipped in and did what they could! We had one rainy day and went shopping - we shopped til we dropped, basically! Thank God it only rained for one day!!! Annie and the boys enjoyed the beach. They all threw the baseball, played pétoncle (boce), rode the waves. Mathieu and Benoit went crab fishing. That was exciting - the crabs were biting... Mathieu's fingers. We walked the Marginal Way, had dinner at Barnacle Billy's, visited the Candy Store and spent too much in Kittery! Now! That's a vacation! No?!

Above and below are some pics of our trip....

That's it for now...

Take good care!

Renée

P.S. The article that appeared in Canadian Living magazine 18 months ago has been re-publish in the Reader's Digest magazine's September edition which is out on newstands now.

More photos...

Weekend at the Rouge River

A good time was had by all. The weather held up; at least until Sunday... Which meant the boys did not get to go tubing, water-skiing or fishing at my cousin's. They did, however, play almost 8 hours of NASCAR monopoly! There is life without computers and the X-Box - who knew?!

I took a few a photos. I hope you'll enjoy them!!

More photos to come shortly...

Take good care!

Renée

Luke has arrived!

Friday's at Wild Willy's
(Home-made Ice Cream Parlor on Lakeshore Drive)


Sunday Afternoon BBQ with Friends and Family

Stéphanie looking good!

Maya looking pretty

Marie-Claude and Sharon enjoy the afternoon

Luke cooling off

Master BBQer Richard

Sharon, Linda, Huguette and Marie-Claude enjoying the day

Richard, Luke, Mat, Maya, Valerie and Antoine enjoying a BBQ dinner by the pool

Two years later...

Two years ago on this date, I wrote on this blog "Having a nightmare and can't wake up!". I have been fortunate in this difficult journey to be surrounded by very supportive friends and family, and to have an employer and co-workers who are kind and compassionate. Without them, I would most likely be in pieces. The nightmares come and go... And you just never know when they will be back. I guess this is a particularly difficult time as the anniversary of Tony's death is just two days away. That, coupled with the fact that everywhere you turn there's ad and talk about father's day... Tony passed away on father's day. I can't help but wonder how the boys feel about that. I'm almost afraid to ask! Yes, its true... I'm afraid to ask! I should be ashamed. ONE DAY AT A TIME. I must always remember and never forget. Anything more can, at times, be overwhelming.

On a positive note, Mathieu will be graduating from primary school. The graduation ceremony is this coming Thursday, June 18th. FYI, primary school ends after grade 6 in Québec. High school actually starts in grade 7, or what we call Secondary 1. I am quite proud on Mathieu... He has worked very diligently in the last few months to bring up his grades; working with tutors 4 to 5 times a week. This year was not easy for him... but he - like his father - is a tough guy and won't let FAP slow him down. FÉLICITATIONS Mathieu!!!! Je t'aime.

Tony would be very proud of both his sons. They have come through these first two very difficult years during which we have lived through many turbulent times - mourning, moving, surgery, teenage hormones, etc. - and have grown and mature into fine young men. A fine tribute to their Dad! He would be so proud!

Well, that's it for now.

Take good care!

Renée

Just back from 5 days in Toronto; 3 of which were spent in workshops with people associated with the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC). I am hoping to become a Cancer Coach... Although, I must admit that after spending some time with all of these amazing people, I'm not quite sure if I'm up to the task. Most of the people I met are cancer survivors or their caregivers, as well as the wonderful staff from the CCAC. I know Tony would want me to do this, however, if I'm going to do this, I want to do it right and make him proud. I might need a few weeks to digest all of this information and determine what is the best course of action for me to take that will have most impact and be of most use. For now, I will share with you some facts that I hope you will keep in mind and share with friends and loved ones... At the very least, you will be better informed and, at best, you could save a life!

• colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in Canada;


• an estimated 21,500 Canadians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer last year;


• approximately 8,900 Canadians died from colorectal cancer in 2008;


• if caught early, colorectal cancer has an over 90% cure rate;


• risk factors include age (50 and over), family history of colorectal cancer, personal history of benign polyps or colorectal cancer, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and inflammatory bowel disease (i.e. Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).

SYMPTOMS OF COLORECTAL CANCER

The following symptoms MAY indicate colorectal cancer. See your doctor.

• prolonged diarrhea or constipation


• narrower-than-normal stools


• blood in stool


• loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss


• feeling that the bowel does not completely empty


• constant fatigue, anemia


• nausea, vomiting


• abdominal pain or discomfort.

One of the problems in dealing with this disease is that people are not comfortable talking about their bowel movements with their doctors. Please don't let that stop you!! Remember, your Doctor has seen and heard it all and is there to help you. If you are 50 years old or over and have not yet had a colonoscopy, in Tony's memory, please call your doctor now, and book an appointment. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - and then some....

Take good care!

Renée