- Fail Us Not

So some of you have been asking about for a health update. When we last discussed my medical status in this exciting Soap Opera life of mine, I was clinging precariously to life, in a full body cast, hooked up to life support, in need of a kidney, brain and liver transplant, while hospital staff were in the process of desperately seeking someone who had my blood type of OHT negative.

Wait a minute - that's my Drama Queen imagination; sorry. Although it makes for a much better story, don't you think? Oh, all right - so you want the true version....okay.

Well, it's a little duller than a full body cast. So last time we talked about my health, I had been diagnosed  Monday, December 14, with Small Vessel Vasculitis and had blotchy red spots all over my legs, as well as swollen ankles and wrists. It's a rare, moderately serious condition and so my chemo was cancelled for that week until the infection cleared up.

The swollen joints returned to normal within 5 hours of taking the first dose of Prednisone (steroids), and by Wednesday, the red spots had begun to fade. Thanks to one friend who suggested that, in the spirit of Christmas, I draw little green holly leaves all around the red blotches on my legs in order to look festive. I must tell you, though, that I passed up this particular temptation and instead, wore a red scarf for the week. But it was a nice thought.

So I finished up all my steroids on December 21 and went back to the hospital to see what my Oncologist had to say. Turns out they were completely stumped as to why I developed this viral infection in the first place and, since they were concerned that the AC chemo I'm on had caused it, they delayed my second chemo treatment another 2 to 3 weeks.

Not sure if that's good news. Sure, it's good that I'm not tired from another chemo treatment, but of course, I can't help but think of wild little maverick cancer cells naughtily running around in my body yelling, "Yipee!! We got a respite! Charrrrrgge!!!!" and multiplying their horrid little cells around different parts of me. Let's hope not.

The Oncologists had a consult about my case and none of them had ever seen this reaction before in a patient. Like I've said before, I do so love being special! So they're going to try and figure out their next move - either to risk giving me a second dose of the AC chemo, considered to be the most effective for my grade and stage of cancer, or switch me to another, less harsh chemo to reduce the risk of another infection. So I find out this Monday, January 4, what they've decided.

I don't call this blog "Adventures With Wendy" for nothing!

In the meantime, I got back the results from my chest x-ray and my CT scan, and they found a spot on my lung and another on my spine. This could be nothing, since these tests can show shadows that are innocuous, but the spots could also be cancer that's spread.

Oh, the suspense of it all! False alarm? Or cancer? Let's flip a coin to decide....no, no, no, there's a more precise method of finding out. What is it, you ask? Why, MORE RADIATION TO MY BODY!!! Yes, siree, let's find out if she has more cancer by subjecting her to additional tests that use radiation and put her at higher risk for cancer!!! Sighhhh. (This is not my x-ray on the left, by the way - it's a random Google search photo. Just in case you were wondering.)

So, off to a bone scan on January 22nd to see if anything's up, followed by other x-rays, etc. to monitor those two spots and see whether or not they are growing. If they aren't growing, they're probably just shadows, and if they are growing, then it's cancer. But then the chemo could end up eliminating them. So we'll see. I'm not worried - I've spoken with two other cancer patients who had spots show up on their tests, and their spots didn't amount to anything in the end. What will be, will be. I am at peace.

So that's my Soap Opera and I'm sticking to it. The Young and the Breastless....that's me. Well, 'young' in the sense that I'm under 60. I guess if you're, like, 20, you're thinking that 50 isn't very young. Whatever.

Just a note about this blog: I think it's so cool that so many of you from so many different backgrounds are reading my bloggy-thingy here! I'm very grateful that you think it's worthwhile stopping by to read it whenever I post something. Thank you for listening to what I have to say! To date, there have been visits from readers in all 10 provinces of Canada, from 37 States in the USA, and from 27 other countries in the world.

So many of you have sent me such kind feedback and you've left such great comments at the bottom, or you've emailed me privately with your comments, which I often cut & paste here onto the blog (sometimes I even ask for your permission - ha!)

Please take a moment to sign up and become a member. I've heard it can be pretty complicated, and I haven't a clue how to tell you to sign up, but take a stab at it, won't you? I also love when you leave comments at the bottom (although you won't be able to do that unless you've signed up to become a member.)

Any and all feedback is warmly welcome! If you do leave a comment, it will not show up immediately - it first comes to me via my personal email for approval & I'll post it later on. I do love reading your comments!

Also, as is obvious to many of you, I am a person of faith, but I try not to put too much here in the way of spiritual content, simply because I know some of you are not all that interested in reading such things.

Others of you, however, have expressed an interest in seeing more spiritual content, so I'm pleased to announce that in the New Year, I'll be sending out a weekly Devotional email on issues relevant to those wanting a deeper walk with God.

If you would like to receive the weekly Devotional, simply send me an email:
 

Your name will be added to the email list for the Devotional, and you'll be receiving the first one shortly.

Okay, so here's a neat song called Fail Us Not by the band 1000 Generations. It's a great song to listen to when we're in the midst of trials and difficulties.

For personal stories on the people in this video, go to:
http://vimeo.com/channels/failusnot

1000 Generations website: 

http://1000generations.com

Blessings, everyone, and hope you're having a great holiday season,

Love, Wendy

Fail Us Not     1000 Generations

Failure doesn’t phase You, worry doesn’t win,

Loss doesn’t leave You afraid to start again,

Our sin doesn’t shock You,

Our shame doesn’t shame You at all

Mistakes do not move You, terror doesn’t tame,

Death doesn’t doom You to life in the grave,

Our suffering doesn’t scare You,

Our secrets won’t surprise You at all

There is nothing above You,

There is nothing beyond You,

There is nothing that You can’t do…

There is no one beside You,

There is no one that’s like You,

There is nothing that You can’t do…

Chorus:

Whatever will come, we’ll rise above,

You fail us not, You fail us not,

No matter the war, our hope is secure,

You fail us not, You fail us not,

You fail us not…

Hatred doesn’t hide You, evil doesn’t ail,

Despair can’t disguise You and tell You that You’ve failed,

Our doubt doesn’t daunt You,

Our darkness won’t defeat You at all

There is nothing above You,

There is nothing beyond You,

There is nothing that You can’t do…

There is no one beside You,

There is no one that’s like You,

There is nothing that You can’t do…

Chorus:

Whatever will come, we’ll rise above,

You fail us not, You fail us not,

No matter the war, our hope is secure,

You fail us not, You fail us not,

You fail us not…

Whatever will come, we’ll rise above,

You fail us not, You fail us not,

You fail us not…You fail us not

You’re bigger than the battle,

You are bigger than the battle

You are bigger than the battle has ever been

Chorus:

Whatever will come, we’ll rise above,

You fail us not, You fail us not,

No matter the war, our hope is secure,

You fail us not, You fail us not,

You fail us not…

Whatever will come, we’ll rise above,

You fail us not, You fail us not,

You fail us not…

© 2009Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (ASCAP) / Simplistic Records

- Ah, Brahms!

I hope all of you are having a great holiday. I spent my Christmas semi-glued to the couch, which was just perfect for me...I'm not a big Christmas person. Not a Scrooge, hopefully, but not a Mrs. Claus, either.

The week of Prednisone I was on for the small vessel vasculitis revved me up higher than a kite, but now that I've stopped taking it, I'm down in the basement energy-wise, plus there's some chemo in the mix that's doing a number on me, giving me fatigue, so all in all, I'm doing lots of resting.

Oh, by the way, the Kitty Santa isn't Timmy, in case you're wondering...it's just a random cat photo that someone sent me the other day.

Well, if you'll recall, a couple of weeks back I briefly mentioned Brahms (that's his first name - cool, eh?), who is a Social Worker at the Jewish General. I told you I had some funny tales about him and that I'd tell you about it all in the near future. So today's the day - here we go!

The Jewish General has to be one of the most well-organized hospitals I've ever seen. My parents were in their early 40s when I was born, so they were older than most of my friends' parents and I guess as a result, I did a lot of hospital time with both of them before they died. My dad was pretty much healthy until his 80s, but my mother was sick on and off beginning in her early 20s, so I've seen a LOT of hospital waiting rooms, emergency rooms, cafeterias, bathrooms....etc. etc. And I have to say, the Jewish General is my favorite hospice so far!

But in all my years I have never - and I mean, NEVER - seen a hospital with the categories of Social Workers that the Jewish General has. What's up with that? I mean, they are hyper-organized! They are super-duper-organized!! They have Social Workers for different body parts!!!!!

I am NOT KIDDING! I just found this out last month! They have a Social Worker for Breast Cancer. They have a Social Worker for Prostate Cancer (would everyone please make sure you say "prostate" cancer, not "prostrate" cancer? They're two COMPLETELY different words!). Anyways, at the Segal Center (the area designated for cancer) I think there are six different Social Workers in all!

But Brahms - ah, Brahms just takes the cake. Why, you ask? Well, what makes Brahms so special in my books is that he is a COLO-RECTAL Social Worker. Yes, indeed! A Colo-Rectal Social Worker.

Now maybe in your normal little brain (I am not suggesting your brain is unusually little - it's just an expression), this does not cause any type of hysterical reaction. In MY little brain, however, I can ABSOLUTELY tell you that this title inspires humor, mirth and comedy within me that knows no bounds!!! I mean, I am just about CONVULSING at this title!

Oh, listen, folks - who am I to malign a man's profession, noble (or ignoble?) as it is? And I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone who has this yukky type of cancer - I mean no harm. But I am sorry - if you think I'm gonna take this one seriously without making a single joke over it....? You're just WRONG!!! This is FUN TIME!!!!

What's even MORE fun is, Brahms is just as wacky as I am! I've found a kindred spirit!

We met like this: it all started off innocently enough. I dropped by the Social Workers' office late one afternoon to see if there was someone around I could chat with. Brahms was there and told me that Naomi, the Social Worker who I'd talked with once before, had left for the day. I asked if I could maybe chat with him.

And that's when he broke it to me. Very straight, he was. He looked at me, and said something to the effect of, "Well, I don't do breasts."

Excuse me, sir? "Yes," said he, "I'm the Colo-Rectal Social Worker." "Oh," I said, as if I understood. Our conversation had been going so well. And now this. He doesn't do breasts? No. I haven't got the right kind of cancer to talk with him. Wrong category. Not my day. Sorry, sistah.

Heh heh heh. I tried to keep a straight face; I really did. My mouth started quivering, which is how it usually starts when I'm about to go into high mania mode. But at least I gave him some advanced warning. I broke it to him that I'm a bit of a comedian. And then....it pretty much went downhill from there.

"So," I asked innocently, "Just how did you become a Colo-Rectal Social Worker?" And Brahms looked me straight in the eye again, and said, "I kinda came in through the back door." Badoom! Yessss!!!! A fellow comedian!!!! Ooh, the splendour of it all!!!

"Do you enjoy your job?" I deadpanned as I started to lose it. "Well," he replied, "I'd like to move up!"

"Ah," I said wisely, "You'd like to be an Abdominal Social Worker!" "Exactly!" he replied. "I have such a sh*tty job!!"

Oh, STOP IT!!!! YOU'RE KILLING ME!!!!

"So," I ventured, "when you're at a party and you've had a bit too much to drink, do you start mixing up your words and end up telling people you're a Colo-Social Rectal Worker?" Now Brahms was laughing harder than I was. We'd started and it was impossible to stop!!! "Does the end justify the means???" "No, the end IS the means!!!" And so on. It was a memorable meeting.

Two days later, we happened to meet at the hospital's Second Cup coffeeshop. We were adding milk to our teas, swapping Colo-Rectal Comedy and wheezing like idiots. A visitor overheard our extremely bizarre conversation and walked away quickly, eyebrows raised....and you could hardly blame the poor dear.

We were doubled over, not from our double lattes but from the sheer silliness of it all....a Colo-Rectal Social Worker. How anally retentive is THAT, Jewish General????

Does Human Resources have his full title on their files? Is he a CRSW for short? What if someone in our provincial government offices wants to know what the acronym stands for? Does Human Resources, like, tell them?

Oh, anyways....maybe you find this whole dissertation foolish, but I....well, I find it just hopelessly fun. And whenever I meet Brahms, which I hope is fairly often, I will continue to sharpen my wit at his expense (and with his full co-operation, I might add).

And besides, last time I bumped into Brahms in the Chemo Department, he came up with the idea that we should do some Colo-Rectal schtick somewhere at a talent night or whatever. I think it's a marvelous idea. I think if we did, it would all work out...in the end.

THE END.

Good night!

- God With Us . . . Immanuel

It's Christmas, and so I've been thinking about Jesus, the term "Immanuel", and its true meaning. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the name "Immanuel":

"Immanuel or Emmanuel or Imanu'el (Hebrew עִמָּנוּאֵל "God [is] with us" consists of two Hebrew words: אֵל (’El, meaning 'God') and עִמָּנוּ (ʻImmānū, meaning 'with us'); Standard Hebrew ʻImmanuʼel, Tiberian Hebrew ʻImmānûʼēl)." *

A fact I don't think most of us can fully grasp is just how deeply God longs for relationship with us, because the majority of us have this equation in our heads:  God = Religion. 

How tragic to relegate God to a man-made structure, full of rules and regulations, many of which are lifeless, meaningless and useless.

When you think about it, we humans are wired with equal need for structure and for creativity. We can witness the human need for structure in that we are creatures of habit; we fall into repetitive modes of behavior fairly easily; we crave predictability (to a certain degree), and we can feel insecure and threatened in its absence.

On the other hand, when there is too much structure and predictability, the human spirit grows restless and agitated....feelings of claustrophobia and boredom set in and we begin to feel stifled, suffocated.

We need to experience that sense of wonder and unpredictability in order to enjoy the freedom and wildness of life that inspires and enthralls us.

From my perspective, organized religion tends to stifle, to deaden the human spirit. Rules tend to rise to the surface while spontaneity and thinking for oneself is discouraged or even forbidden.

In religion, God is often seen as a punitive, disapproving Being Who does not celebrate life nor its joys and pleasures.

Of course, the other side is equally dangerous. Declaring there is no God, or believing that God is detached and aloof from the human race, people can end up living their lives with a diminished commitment to morals and principles.

I wish there was proof in our society that this was not true, but from what I can see, the more secular our nation becomes (I am talking about Canada in particular here), the more I see moral decay setting in and values diminishing.

I don't believe there are many of us today who were alive in the 1960s who can say that our nation is in a better place morally today in comparison with 50 years ago.

So back to Immanuel - God With Us....if there is a God, Who is He and what does He want from us?

I believe He wants relationship with us. I believe He wants to walk with us; to commune with us. I believe He wants to show us the wonder and awe of life, and of Himself, and impart His truths to us and His ways of thinking, feeling and acting.

Does God Himself approve of religion? Read these verses from the Jewish Bible - the "Old Testament" for Christians (quoted from a modernized version)....God is addressing their ritual of fasting / depriving themselves of food in order to fulfill religious requirements:

"They're busy, busy, busy at worship,

And love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people—

law-abiding, God-honoring.

They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?'

And love having me on their side.
But they also complain,

'Why do we fast and you don't look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'

"Well, here's why:

"The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
Won't get your prayers off the ground.

Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
A day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
And parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
A fast day that I, God, would like?

This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
To break the chains of injustice,

Get rid of exploitation in the workplace,

Free the oppressed, cancel debts.

What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
Sharing your food with the hungry,
Inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
Putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
Being available to your own families.

Do this and the lights will turn on,
And your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help

And I'll say, 'Here I am.'"

- Isaiah 58:2-8

Yep, it's all about relationship - with God, with our fellow man, and yes, even with ourselves. 

There were only a few times recorded in Scripture where Jesus became seriously angry  during his brief stay (33 years) here on earth, and that anger was generally leveled at the religious leaders for their hypocrisies.

So this Season, my special request to all of you is that you would consider the awesome wonder and privilege of entering into a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the One Who created us!

Lay aside any meaningless rituals and the hurts from organizations that have misrepresented God to you.

Dare to forget for a moment the people who have behaved badly in the name of religion, and  the shiesters who have tried to sell religion, and simply focus on HIM - Immanuel - God With Us.

He came to earth for a reason: "God in a Bod", I used to tell the teens when I worked as a pastoral animator in high schools. He came simply to exemplify the heart of God the Father to us - to heal, to deliver, to set free from our burdens.

He came to earth to reconcile: to clear up the thousand-and-one misunderstandings between us and Diety....so that we could enter back into relationship with Him and find our true purpose, in His arms.

He came to earth to redeem: to take the negative, sinful parts of our personality that can hinder and destroy our relationships with others, and make us whole again, in the image of God.

He came for relationship....with us! Immanuel!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

May there be peace on earth, and much peace in your hearts,

Much love from Wendy  xoxoxo

Bald is beautiful!  :)

GLORIA   Music: Michael W. Smith
 
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the pains
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains
Gloria O Gloria in excelsis Deo

Come to Bethlehem and see
(Gloria O sing Gloria)
Him whose birth the angels sing
(Gloria O sing Gloria)
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King

Gloria O Gloria in excelsis Deo

Angels we have heard on high
(Gloria O sing Gloria)
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
(Gloria O sing Gloria)
Jesus Lord of heav'n and earth
With us sing our Savior's birth

Gloria O Gloria in excelsis Deo

Alleluia!

* Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel

- TV Is STUPID! By Timmy

Hi, it's me, Timmy. So CTV News came here last Monday to take some cutie-pie shots of me being nice to my Mom. I was really happy they were coming so that's why I practiced A LOT before they came here.

I got my pictures taken in lots of different poses and stuff like that:  

http://wwwadventureswendy.blogspot.com/2009/12/timmy-prepares-for-his-screen-debut.html   

I look pretty hot on camera so I wasn't worried.

So they came here - a man and a lady - and at first it was okay and I kinda liked them. They were nice and they didn't seem too stuck up like some movie people. But then the guy pulled out THIS BIG BLACK CAMERA and STARTED POINTING IT AT ME AND I HATED IT!!!!

I bolted into the other room and dove under the bed to get away from him. AND MOM CAME AFTER ME AND DRAGGED ME out from under there and tried to make me lie on her lap AS IF EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL!!! FORGET IT, BABY!!! NOT WITH THIS KITTY, YOU DON'T!!!!

I tried hiding under the rug.....  

I even thought maybe I could make a quick escape by jumping out the second story window.....that woulda taught them not to mess with me!!!

SHEESH!! So for the next half-hour, we played hide-and-seek. I was the one hiding and Mom would come running to find me. IT WAS AWFUL!!! I HATE TV!!! I HATE SHOW BIZ!!! Stupid camera.

Finally, they gave up and started interviewing Mom (as if this is all about HER).

Ya, the lady's name is Tania and the guy with the STUPID CAMERA is Rudy. See how big that STUPID CAMERA is???? 

Anyways, so then the camera guy got the idea he would hide in one room and Mom would pick me up and hang onto me in the other room and he'd shoot me (with the camera) from the other room when I wasn't noticing. FAT CHANCE, BUB!!! I NOTICED!!! Anyways, I decided to act a little calmer just so they could get their shots and GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!! 

They took pics of me sitting on Mom's lap while she blogged on her computer, and then they took pictures of me lying on the couch with her (Mom gave me some tuna as a treat to bribe me to behave, which was cool).

And FINALLY they LEFT ME ALONE and they all went to the hospital to do some more films WHICH WAS FINE WITH ME!!!!

I HATE TV. It's STUPID!!!

Love, Timmy

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yep, so that film shoot went over like a lead balloon. Timmy was forever traumatized but I think they got some usable footage for their news piece.

Actually, it wasn't all THAT bad. I could see the headlines as they were trying to film him: "Timmy the Tabby Terrified By TV". Someone should have told him show biz isn't always all it's cracked up to be. Guess that someone should have been me.

Anyways, the piece will be airing on CTV Local News Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 6 pm and then again the next day, Monday, January 4, 2010 on the noon news. I'll post a link to the story here on the blog (if Timmy allows me, that is....)

Here's Tania Krywiak of CTV News interviewing Liliana Komorowska about her film, "Beauty and the Breast". We came to the Jewish General Hospital so CTV could shoot some additional footage of me getting chemo, only I didn't get chemo this day, so we had to fake it!

Timmy doesn't know it, but in the New Year, Liliana's coming here to film Timmy and I blogging together. I can only imagine what THAT'S going to be like (please....don't tell him.) We'll have to figure out a way to break it to him gently sometime soon.

Have a wonderful evening!

Love, Wendy (AND TIMMY!!!!)

Here's the link for the CTV story:

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090107/montreal_above_and_beyond20090106/20091013/?hub=MontrealHome   

Click on: "Jan. 3, 2010: Breast cancer patient uses humour to fight illness", under the video cube.

- More Wigs !

Sassy wiggies for you to see, courtesy of Hope & Cope's Wig Room in the Segal Center at the Jewish General Hospital.....

Yes, sirree, these wigs are going to take my career to the next level, I can tell you! (I wonder what level that could be.)

I think I'll stick with the one I've already chosen . . . .

Liliana & crew come to Westview Bible Church with me tomorrow. They're gonna film me prayin' with my gals in the kitchen, rockin' out to the tunes of the Westview Worship Band, and hugging everybody in the place...cuz I lu-u-u-vvv my Westview peeps.

Have a blessed Sunday!!!

Love, Wendy

- Timmy Prepares For His Screen Debut

Oh, dear, it's going to his head already. He's asking to go to the groomer the day before the film crew arrives. He wants to become a member of ACTRA. He's asked me to do several head shots of him for his "pawfolio". He's acting temperamental. What's a mother to do???
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My PAWFOLIO   by Timmy

Hi everybody. Well, as you've probably heard by now, I'm gonna be in my OWN movie this week. Okay, it's not really a movie...but almost!. CTV is gonna come to my house and do a news story about ME! ME, ME, ME!! So I'm preparing a Pawfolio for all the important TV people, just in case....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, here's my first look....it's my Marlene Dietrich pose:

....and here's my gopher impersonation....good, eh?

 

  

(I figure they want to see depth of character if they're going to cast me in a movie like Mom.)

Ok, next is my George Clooney look:

And to show my funny side: a particular favorite of mine, Mr. Groucho Marx (I saw him on TV one afternoon, but he was borned a LONG time before I was!!)

 

 

Okay, and this is my moody / broody look....
.....gazing out the window wistfully....

SO??? Whaddya think? Huh? Huh? 

I have LOTS more photos where these came from! (I just have to ask Mom for help putting them on this crazy computer...)


Well, finally.....here's my sleepy look:

I'm tired. GOOD NIGHT!!!!

(PS: He-e-elp!! Signed, Timmy's Mom)

- Timmy's Big Break

Well, it just gets crazier around here by the minute, I tell you. A month or two ago, I emailed the SPCA (where Timmy used to live) to tell them that we had adopted him in November 2008. I figured the SPCA adopts out a lot of kitties and doggies and probably wonders where they are and how they're doing, so I thought I'd drop them a line.

So I emailed them with the link How This Blog Is Done, By Timmy (click on it to take a peek) and told them what a little sweetie he is; how he is comforting me through my cancer journey.

I didn't hear back from them....until last week. I received this email from Alanna Devine, the SPCA's Public Relations person:
________________________________________________________

Dear Wendy, Thank you so much for sharing your touching story with us. It certainly makes our day when we hear incredible feedback from our adopters!

I was actually approached by CTV, who wanted to know if we had any special adoption stories. We have several special stories, but I certainly feel that your story would be a wonderful one to share. Would you be OK with me forwarding your story and contact information to CTV?

Thank you so much again. I am so happy that Timmy could bring so much joy and comfort to your life.

Looking forward to hearing from you,  
Alanna Devine, B.A., B.C.L., LL.B.

________________________________________________________

Can you imagine - TWO actors in one family! It's like Donald and Keiffer Sutherland, or Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, or....

Anyways, I spoke with Timmy about it, and he was over the moon. He raced around the house for 5 or 10 minutes with sheer joy, then had to rush to his litterbox to pee from all the excitement. Does he want to be filmed just like his Mommy? Of course he does!

So, I emailed to accept on Timmy's behalf (he's not all that computer literate yet). Here's Alanna's next email:

________________________________________________________

Hi Wendy, That is such fantastic news! I am so happy Timmy has agreed to appear on TV ;)

It is for the local news. Karla from CTV should be in touch with you shortly. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us!

All the best with your recuperation and big hugs to Timmy from his family at the SPCA!

Warmest regards, Alanna and the SPCA team

________________________________________________________

But it gets bigger. When CTV found out Liliana is filming me for her documentary, they decided they'd like to include that bit in their piece, too, so on Monday, if all goes according to plan (a bit of running around by Liliana trying to line up permission for this), the Jewish General has agreed to let both film crews follow me around for my delayed Chemo 2 on Monday, December 21!

Can it get any more exciting than this? Can I be any more conspicuous? Shall we just move in and take over the whole hospital?

And no, Timmy will not be at the hospital Monday. His turn comes Tuesday, December 22, here at home, when CTV will come to film him being cute, cuddly and adorable - unless, of course, he freaks out and hides under the bed or something.

Of course, they'll want to get some good footage of him snuggling up to me, looking concerned about my health, and doing a trick or two, and those are generally things Timmy only does when he feels like it and is in the mood.

So, if you're thinking of him next Tuesday around 11 am, send some good thoughts this way that he won't blow his screen audition, if you know what I mean. I don't think he realizes how much co-operation is needed in Show Biz...listening to the Director, taking suggestions, facing the camera (with your face, not your tail), and so on.

But I think Timmy's up for the challenge, so stay tuned for exciting pictures from both Monday's and Tuesday's events!

(PS from Timmy: I know how to act in front of a camera! Mom's always sticking hers in my face, y'know?)