My First Attempt at blogging

Hi Blog Readers - here is entry 1 from Meghan.
Things are progressing slowly but surely around here these days. Round two of chemo has proven to be a bit more challenging than round one. The doctors are working diligently to try to figure out what is going on - it seems Mark's kidneys are much less happy this go around than last. It sounds like it could be a one off, and that we 'should not necessarily expect this the next time'. Our oncologist is not taking any chances on anything and has been really great about sending in specialists and double and triple checking everything. There was even talk of a midnight email from her to the nursing staff. It needs to be said once again, that the care we are receiving has been amazing. It feels pretty lucky to have Mark's health be our main concern, not the competency or thoroughness of our medical team.

"the cocktail" choking all of these down several times a day can be challenging.

Mark is doing pretty well. His perspective and attitude impresses me everyday. He has been feeling a bit rough this week, it is actually the first time he has felt 'sick' since this adventure began. He is feeling better today, and is back to making fun of me which brings comfort and normalcy. Rest assured I continue to harass him every chance I get.
I have been doing my best at poking and prodding Mark to make sure he is eating and exercising a lot. We have a great work out program we have designed where I push his IV pole so we can get some pace going and walk in circles on the balcony like lunatics doing arm and leg exercises. We also stop to stretch regularly. Here's a photo courtesy of my mom.

We are going faster than it looks here - I swear

My folks have been here for the past week and have been a great help. They have been cooking and cleaning like mad. My dad even did a full english breakfast and brought it to Mark yesterday morning.

The Full English

Note the blood pudding, not recommended in every cancer cookbook one reads.
I am doing well, I have a great appetite and am sleeping like the baby growing inside of me. My belly is protruding nicely, it is a pleasant advancement to have strangers now comfortably commenting on my being pregnant, rather than looking with uncertainty as was the case a short two weeks ago. The "I don't think she is just fat" face is a very specific look I gratefully haven't encountered before this.

"Oh my - doesn't her hand look big"

In a perfect world, we would have left the hospital on Friday and headed up to Whitehorse on Sunday. Because Mark's levels are not dropping on the curve they need to be, we are staying in hospital until Monday and then (hopefully) heading up late Monday night. We are pumped to head up North, to reunite with our friends, see the fall, unpack and repack and mostly, to hang with 'the Carl' and Kitty. It's crazy how much we miss the animals - you should see us when we pass a dog on the street - what would be endearing and understandable to those who know us is creepy and uncomfortable to the poor owners trying to go for a walk. Mark is still planning to head out to the bush with his friends to look for some moose, and mostly just to be out there. Fingers crossed we will be out of here on Monday.

Here's Carl and Kitty, I tried to get a bit fancy with formatting and it has backfired. Mark (my tech advisor) is asleep so I am going to let this error slide. Apologies.

Mark wrote a nice letter to the editor that I thought some of you may be interested in reading so I will sign off with it. We will keep the updates coming. Much love and thanks to all of you checking in. The power of all your positive thoughts and well wishes is tangible out here... we love it and we know it is a vital ingredient of the smashing.


Dear Yukon. . . I'm not sure that a few words on paper can adequately express the gratitude, love, and humility that the past few weeks have drawn out in us. Ours is an unfortunate situation: at a pivotal and exciting time in our lives, a disease that affects so many entered into our consciousness and being and decided to wreak a little havoc. My wife Meghan and I were days away from a new beginning: at 6 months pregnant, the ink on a mortgage on a pretty little house in Riverdale not yet dry, and our future looking bright and beautiful and everything we wanted it to be, a brain tumour reared its ugly little head and put on the brakes. The last month has been filled with fear, anxiety and unknowns. Paradoxically, unbelievably, beautifully, it has also been filled with unparallelled generosity, selflessness, and a sense of belonging that is rare in this world. Family, friends, and co-workers have rallied around us in a raucous and loving web that will not let us fail on the path that lies ahead. Emotionally, spiritually, financially, our community has built a shelter for us in an unexpected storm. In doing so, they've demonstrated what it means to be Yukoners and confirmed for us our home here. In a place where so many live far from family, neighbours and acquaintances take on roles that are otherwise reserved for blood. From monetary donations to words and thoughts of support to logistical tasks, many of you reading this have offered us something at a time of real need, expecting nothing in return except our success in overcoming this obstacle. All we can say is thank you. And we will overcome it. With so much spirit around us, there is just no way we can go wrong. There are too many individuals that need to be thanked personally to list here, but to all of you that have put special efforts into organizing events, taken care of our Whitehorse lives, and offered particularly generous means of support: know that you have made an impact on us that we will never forget and that because of you we will never look at the world in the same way again. It's a far more giving place than we ever imagined. With all of our gratitude and love, Mark and Meghan Callan

Much Love to you all!