It is March, 2016. Five months shy of 16 years as a survivor!! I still consider myself very lucky.
Since my last update in 2008 I have kept very busy – retirement can be exhausting sometimes, what with all the jobs occupying the summer and winter months. Just like everyone else there is always work to do. There is getting the lawnmower ready; planting a vegetable garden and keeping it (or trying to keep it) weed free; cutting the grass and planting trees. My wife, Dale and I spend a lot of time working together. As much as I enjoy being outside doing this work, by the time summer is over I’m actually looking forward to winter.
Of course, then another set of jobs take over like putting everything away and getting the equipment ready for the snow when it comes. It’s never dull, that’s for sure! Winter is for pushing snow and relaxing indoors. Spending time on my computer and doing small inside projects that no one wants to tackle when the weather is warm and sunny.
In spite of all the summer and winter projects that keep us busy we do manage to go out and enjoy oursleves. We meet with family members for lunch once a month – good company and good food ! Our favourite pastime is going for long drives, taking roads we’ve never been on (usually off the main highways) just to see where we end up. Often times finding a new restaurant to try out for lunch. Makes for a nice outing.
As far as my health goes, I still see my oncologist once a year and my scans have been good so far.
To wrap things up, I would like anyone who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor to know that you can beat it and there is hope for a very productive life. Your life may not be the same as before (mine isn’t). I’ve lost most of my periferal vision which makes it difficult to read and I can no longer drive, but I’m alive and it sure beats the alternative!!
Update June 2019
It's just 2 months shy of 19 years as a survivor!! Up to this point my MRI scans and appointments with my Oncologist have been scheduled for every year, but in October of 2018 I was a surprised when he said I didn't have to have an MRI or see him for 2 years.
No one can be more thankful than I am.
There have been some changes in our life. Dale and I decided to sell our house, buy an RV and travel full time. We picked it up in July 2017. Packing up what we needed we've been to Prince Edward Island, Arizona, California and Mexico. Spending most of our time in Arizona. Camping in the desert a couple of miles from town was a new and fun experience. We met so many new friends from Canada and the United States. and look forward to meeting up with them again this winter as planned.
I hope by writing about the experience of my tumor and the subsequent life I'm living gives those who are reading this and who are experiencing the same fears, confusion, and wondering what will happen to them (as I did), the hope that you can and will be a survivor. Not everything is set in stone and no one knows how long my good health will last, but in the meantime I'm living each day to the best of my ability and enjoying every one of them!