Can You Hear Me Now?

Today I’m going to talk about my trip to southern California (no, I don’t have a different keyboard, but I’m too anal to keep typing with no caps so I’m going to do it sometimes. SOMETIMES). It was a fun trip and deserves some talkin’. And photos, but I haven’t even sorted/edited them all yet…

We (Shawna and I) arrived in Los Angeles at 1:00 in LAX on Sunday, February 27, the same day as the Academy Awards. Because of this, I am 99.9% sure they re-routed the “normal” people to buses to be brought in to a different gate. Or something. It was not a normal plane departure and this is a daily flight, so on other days you know it’s different. In fact, we saw that same flight arrive when we were leaving, so it was obvious to us. Re-route the little people.

Anyway, we arrived, caught an Enterprise bus to take us to the car rental place, and I sat outside in the nice sunny weather while Shawna went to get the van. It took a loooong time. At one point a guy came along and said “here, let me wheel you inside, it’s COLD out here!” I had to laugh. I guess the week we were there was “cold” to Californians but to us, it was nice spring weather (usually around 18-21° C and sunny). But I let him take me inside so I could watch some red carpet action.

Finally Shawna and the van were ready, so we headed for the freeway and Costa Mesa, less than an hour away. We stopped for supper and then checked into our room at the Ayres hotel. It was great except for the TV. It was in a cupboard facing Shawna’s sofabed, and could not be turned so I could see it. Plus the cupboard doors didn’t even stay open. So I got to HEAR the Oscars that night. It was pretty neat to know all that was happening so close to us.

The next morning we had a quick breakfast in the restaurant (awesome free breakfast buffet every morning) before my consultation with Dr. Arata at Pacific Interventionalists. I met Mark, a Facebook friend from Edmonton who was being treated the next day as well. Dr. Arata was very nice and professional, knows his stuff, etc. What did we do after that?? I don’t even remember. Oh wait, we went to the MALL. Of course! South Coast Plaza. The largest mall in California. Pretty incredible place, with all the big names you can imagine. Then I dragged Shawna to a Whole Foods to make her cry over all the gluten free stuff you can get in the States that you can’t get here.

By the way, our dollar was really good while we were there, and eating out and everything was cheaper than I expected! Also, since everyone is on some kind of special diet in CA, getting gluten free food in restaurants was a breeze and wheelchair accessibility was never really an issue. I want to live there.

The next morning was my procedure. We got to the clinic and I won’t go into details (it took several nurses and many painful pokes before they finally sent someone who would LISTEN TO ME about where the good IV vein is, the procedure itself was bloody painful and at one point I screamed and started shaking/crying until they drugged me enough to put me out) and while I was in the OR, Shawna took herself to the beach and spent a few hours cruising around there. I’m not sure how long I was at the clinic, but after 2 hours in recovery they sent me home (I was awake and coherent, able to pee, so good to go). I spent the rest of the day/evening resting in bed and I do believe we had In ‘n Out Burger for supper that night

The next morning, Wednesday, was my follow up with Dr. Arata. I didn’t feel any different. (Mark, on the other hand, was an entirely new person, able to walk without his cane, no headaches, and except for some numbness in his toes, had no signs of MS anymore. Sigh). Because I had a stent put in my azygos vein I was prescribed blood thinners for two months, told to take Ibuprofen for the tenderness in my neck, and “give it time”. So… the medical part of the trip was over, now for some fun!

The day after treatment you’re supposed to lay low and not be too active (not hard for me these days, anyway) and stay “in the area” so we weren’t checking out of the Ayres until the following morning. But that didn’t mean we couldn’t spend the day in HOLLYWOOD! So, we did. We did the whole touristy Hollywood Blvd. thing, walk of fame, Mann’s Chinese Theatre, saw the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars had just been a few days before, etc. etc. Then we got suckered into a tour of the star’s homes, but because the tour buses aren’t accessible we got talked into a private limo tour. What the hell, how many times in life does one get to do this? So we went out for a couple hours in a limo with a private tour guide and saw everyone’s houses (from Johnny Depp, Ellen and Portia, Jen and Brad’s house before they split, to the Playboy mansion’s grounds and Aaron Spelling, Christina Aguilera and many more) and realized how close together everyone actually lives; Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, all that Hollywood stuff. It was fun and interesting, our guide knew her stuff, and a lot of history.

The next morning we checked out of the hotel and headed for Beverly Hills, 90210, where I booked us a few nights at the 5 star luxury hotel L’Ermitage (a favourite of celebrities like Leo DiCaprio, Shawna’s fave) which was, in hindsight, a mistake. The location was great, but the room was not set up for me AT ALL, and staying there was a struggle. Plus it is SO private (which is why celebs like it!) you wouldn’t be able to catch sight of a celeb if you wanted to (and we wanted to ) Only worth the money (and I got a great deal, but still, we could have stayed at a hotel in West Hollywood and been happier for less) if you’re able bodied, and spending a lot of time in the hotel.

Anyway, we got to the hotel, checked in, got a special key to the parkade because I’m in a wheelchair and couldn’t use their valet service at the curbed front entrance (saved on tips there, thank goodness), had a wonderful glass of complimentary lemonade (it was ridiculously delicious) then headed out to Burbank and Warner Bros. Studios for our tour.

We arrived at the parking lot for the tour, and I spotted a wheelchair sign and a ramp, so we parked close to that and headed towards it. There were a ton of people on this big outdoor patio and a band playing. We didn’t know where to go, so I asked some people where the studio tour was, and it was pointed out to us that we were at a private Warner Music party and the studio and tour was in a completely different place. Oops.

So we headed towards the big Bugs Bunny statue and the proper building to check in for the tour. After watching a short movie about the history of Warner Bros., everyone was loaded into the little tour bus (and me onto the back wheelchair thingy) and off we went. That was super fun and interesting! But because of the time, which I planned so carefully to be when Ellen was taping so we could maybe get a glimpse of her, or be a part of her pranks as she often does them on the lot, we were unable to go by her studio because she was taping. Harumph. We did see her office building and parking stall, but of course it was during a time our cameras were locked away. Due to copywrite concerns our cameras were taken at certain points. Like… we were able to SEE Clint Eastwood as he was directing his J. Edgar Hoover movie (missed Leo DiCaprio by 5 minutes) but no photos allowed. Or the museum where you can see the actual clothes worn by the stars of certain movies (Tom Cruise is super short; I mean, shorter and smaller than you can imagine. And Ellen Page must be the skinniest woman on planet earth). Or the set of “Chuck”. I did manage to get a few photos that day that have been uploaded to Facebook. The public album link, for now, is RIGHT HERE.

After the tour and gift shop purchases (Ellen T-shirt, Two and a Half Men coffee mug and Central Perk coffee-to-go container) we went to the Hard Rock Cafe in Universal Studios for supper. That is a pretty cool place!

By the next day, I was starting to fade. All the activity and not being able to sleep was catching up with me. I think all we did was visit Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills for the MOST AMAZING CUPCAKES EVER, drive around a bit, and decide on which apparently celebrity hotspot restaurant we should go to for a fancy dinner. One big night out in Beverly Hills; you only live once! We ended up at Morten’s Steakhouse where there were a million Sherri Shepherd lookalikes and a private dining area in the back where the celebs probably go. Next time I will do more research and read more gossip rags before deciding where to eat! But I think there are celebs around you all the time in that town but you just can’t recognize them in street clothes, hanging out with the rest of you.

Thinking back, dining at the restaurant in our hotel probably would have been best. Leo DiCaprio goes there all the time and Daniel Day Lewis was in there when we were checking out. So… yeah.

The next day, our last day in Los Angeles, we headed for The Grove. What a fantastic place!! Of course it was a Saturday so it was super crowded. But what a great place to spend the day. They even have a giant farmer’s market there, where they celebrated mardi gras. It was a mass of people and crowds so that part was gross, but it’s a really nice place. I totally want to go back on a weekday.

So I think that’s really it… somewhere in there we visited a Target and Trader Joe’s. We went back to the hotel exhausted and worn down. Shawna packed; I rested. The next morning we checked out early, got some gossip from the girls at the front desk (”come on, we’re leaving now, we can’t go stalking anyone anyway…”), filled the van with gas before returning it, hung out at LAX until our flight left.

Once I got home I had high hopes that once I got back into my regular routine of more water and healthier food, proper rest etc., that I would start to feel better, but that never happened. I’m now over a month on my new eating plan, but I feel no different yet (and I don’t think I’ve lost weight, either! Hmph) but I’ll stick to it for awhile, I know it could take several months for my body to rebuild from proper nutrition. I’m waiting for a doctor down there to review my recent ultrasound results against my pre-procedure images and see what he has to say.

Pepper, my sweetie.

Pita crawled under the blanket I keep on the sofa to protect it from cat hair. Because she’s a smart ass.

*disclaimer* i’m still not doing caps because i’m one handed on a macbook and “shift/letter” is not often doable on this keyboard!

i have booked an appointment for Round 2 of angioplasty for CCSVI. i will say it now: i wish like hell i had waited and not spent all that freakin’ money to go to costa rica in july!! i really don’t believe they knew enough yet, and that entire experience has left a bad taste in my mouth. $18,000 later. i was definitely “undertreated” (as many of us “pioneers” were. no fault to the doctors, they just didn’t know better yet). not to mention they now have better accommodations and the transportation company is more organized and has more equipment. i did not have a good trip or experience there, to be honest. the hospital and care was fantastic, the people were lovely, but i had an awful trip and was mostly uncomfortable. when i just wanted to be grateful.

so, i’m going to try it again! this time i am going to a clinic in california where the doctors really know their stuff. i am very confident in this place, 100%. i know many people who have gone, too, and they’re all very happy. i am, once again, raising money to help fund this treatment and trip. can you believe we even have to leave the country and pay out of pocket for what would only cost our public health system about $1,500?? as opposed to the average $30,000/year, per MS patient?? it’s CRAZY.

Wendy said some good stuff during a recent meeting in Ontario:

i’m going here: Pacific Interventional

i have done my research, trust me! one thing i like about this place is that they are phlebologists (vein experts) and interventional radiologists and have been doing this stuff for YEARS. now they do about 20 ccsvi procedures/day, and the doctors are up on the latest of the latest techniques. i wish i could wait a year and go, when they know even MORE, but i can’t wait. i get worse every day i wait. (”time is brain”). i may need another treatment someday, but in the meantime i am confident further progression can be stopped by these doctors!!

my last ultrasound showed that my right jugular really needs to be ballooned (it wasn’t) and my left is “far from perfect”, although still better than it was. most of the subtle improvements i did feel are gone, some are still here, and my ms continues to progress as i’m able to walk less and less. i’m losing the feeling in my left foot/leg as well, which scares the shit out of me. so, i’m just doing what i feel i have to do to save my life.

If you can spare a few dollars, and I know most of if not all of you can, (skip your latte or brown bag it this week!), pleeeeease help me out. Fingers crossed by the time I need another angioplasty they’ll be doing it for MSers in Canada, but in the mean time… THIS IS HOW YOU CAN HELP. If you’re not a fan of online transactions you can EMAIL ME for my mailing address.

THANK YOU. AGAIN.

i’ll be doing other fundraising things in the near future that don’t just involve begging for money. watch this space!

Anyway, enough about all that. i haven’t even written since the new year! happy new year! seeing the polyjesters on new year’s eve was epic. they were fantastic, as always. sheldon, jason, and his wife karina opened a cafe in carstairs in january! that is now their full time jobs. i went for a visit opening week. it’s such a great little place, and they’ve got mom carol in there baking up a storm now! between her baking, the soups/sandwiches of the day, and the fantastic lattes, not to mention the best staff ever, it is THE place to be in carstairs. the cafe radio!

things are going well in the caregiver department. since hiring nancy and thalia, life is much better. i will cry if thalia moves!!! having her and her husband right upstairs is a godsend. her hubby has done so many little things around here that have made my life easier (he’s a woodworker) and they are SUCH a lovely couple. but they have a child and aren’t going to stay in this building long when you can rent an entire house for pretty much the same amount. and nancy is just wonderful… so positive all the time, she keeps me going. taking me out in her vehicle is awesome, too. how do you think i got to see the cafe in carstairs?! we also take regular trips to my chiropractor and my doctor. next week i’m going to get my hair done. so life is better, for sure, since i got the self-managed care going.

i’m lucky in that the way it works for me is that home care still sends me someone every morning for exercises, shower/dress, lunch etc. so i don’t have to worry about hiring someone to do that. i know nancy and thalia could handle it, but 7 days a week i MUST have that help, and it’s just easier that i not need to worry about it. the girls home care sends 6 days/week are great, but saturday is my day from HELL. i never know who is coming or what time, and i rarely see the same person twice, and they rarely understand english or have common sense. it’s a nightmare. i wish i could skip that day altogether and just sleep through it lol

today my home care told me she had trouble getting paid for one of her visits here because according to the office i had “cancelled that day”. wtf? luckily she was able to make them dig deeper by reminding them that i DON’T cancel unless i’m not even here. “she can’t shower, dress, or even get food without help, so why would she cancel?” really. shitty reminder of my situation, but whatever. maybe that will change soon… i’m trying not to get my hopes up too high after what happened last time, but it sure would be nice to not need so much care every day.

i am down to 3.0 mg of my sleeping pill/night! from 15 mg. sometimes 22.5 and i’d been known to take even 4 pills in one night (30 mg.) i am soooooo happy i am getting away from that drug!!!!!!!!!

i’ve got the grammy awards on in the background while typing this (i recorded it to watch whenever). justin bieber is on with jaden smith and they are cutting to will and jada. i can’t help but think how dj jazzy jeff’s children feel. (”gee, thanks dad”)

also, i like justin bieber. i’m not a fan of his music, but i really quite like him! he’s such a little gentleman and so bloody talented.

speaking of music, duran duran has a new album! and it’s fantastic!! and john taylor talked to me on facebook AND twitter. it only took 28 years for him to notice me, but it happened. that’s right. thank you, social networking.

so, i’m going to go now… let’s be honest, i probably won’t update until after i get back. unless i get into a big photo uploading mood, god knows i have a ton. but it will be an AWESOME update because i already know this trip is going to be so much better and way more fun than costa rica!!!

I realize I am long overdue for an update! I had the angioplasty procedure for CCSVI over 3 weeks ago now, so I know you’re all wondering how I’m doing.

There are two parts to this… the procedure part, and the Costa Rica part. I’ll write about the procedure first, and about the trip itself in another entry.

I was scheduled to undergo testing (blood tests, EKG, ultrasound) on Friday after I arrived, and receive the treatment on Saturday. Since all the updates I was reading on Facebook from others in Costa Rica said they were being delayed for a couple of days, I fully expected that, too. I went for my tests and all was well, they still told me I was scheduled for the following day. The ultrasound showed a reflux in my left jugular and some stenosis in my right. But those of us in the know are aware that these tests are often wrong, the only way to REALLY know is by venography, which I’d be getting at the time of treatment.

Anyway, we went back to the hotel, went for supper, and it wasn’t until we got back to the room after supper that I received the message that my procedure had been postponed until Monday. I figured as much! So was Kim’s, the lady who had been scheduled for the same day as me. We are actually very lucky, because there was a problem with a batch of balloons they received (wrong size) and they only treated one other person after us! Every one else that had been scheduled for the rest of July had to cancel their flights and plans and and rebook for August. Can you imagine! So I’m grateful I was only delayed two days and not 3 weeks.

Anyway, we arrived at the hospital on Monday and were greeted by the beautiful Gloriana, who works for the international department of Clinical Biblica and walks you through everything and translates when required. Her and Isabel, who works evenings, are fantastic. After getting me settled in my room (there was even a futon for Heather to sleep on, the rooms are huge) and seeing my doctor, it was somehow decided that I would go first, and Kim second. Good thing for me, because apparently hers took many hours! She had 5 blockages, I think.

I was brought into OR, transferred to a cold operating table, and hooked up to an IV. There were nurses buzzing around me speaking in Spanish, prepping me. I felt the anesthetic and sedative going in (it stings) and then the next thing I remember was waking up back in my hospital bed and wondering how I got there, and being wheeled back to my room. The difference between treatment in Costa Rica and every other hospital in the world that does this, is that they knock you out. I mean, apparently I was awake and chatting the whole time, and I said it hurt when they ballooned me, but I have NO memory of that. I like the way other clinics keep you awake and aware throughout the entire procedure so you can see the monitors and know everything that is going on. Some friends even said they could feel sensations coming back into their fingers or something at the exact moment they were ballooned. That would be cool.

Anyway, Dr. Fallas has his reasons for doing it his way and I’m not going to argue with a vascular surgeon. The first thing I noticed as whey wheeled me back was that both my feet were sticking up. You know how, when you lie in bed on your back, your feet stick up, and it’s like two little teepees? Well, for years my left foot has been the teepee and my right foot laid flat down like it was just dead. So here they were, both making dents in the blanket. So I knew something good had happened.

Back to my room for the night. I was sleepy from the sedative. Heather came in to spend the night with me after going out for the evening (she made friends with our cute driver, and he took her out and about a few times!)

The next morning I will say I thought my vision had improved, everything was brighter and clearer. This gives me hope that I WILL get that back… at the time it didn’t last long, by the time we got back to the hotel and the humidity it was back to it’s old self. I blamed that, and feeling crummy, on the humidity and discomfort I felt in Costa Rica, but I have been home for 2 weeks now so I can’t blame that anymore.

Dr. Fallas came to visit me that afternoon with his Macbook, to show me all the images from my venogram and ballooning. As I had suspected, there was stenosis in my left jugular and NOTHING wrong with my right one (he looked at every possible angle and was surprised by that, but I assured him all my problems are on my right side so I expected that the blood flow to my left side was normal). He said my jugular ballooned very easily and stayed open, so no stents were used. They only use them if the vein won’t stay open. I also had 40% stenosis in my azygos vein, which he also ballooned. I had told him pre-op to put a stent in and signed a waiver and everything, but he said it wasn’t bad enough to warrant a stent, that he wouldn’t even put one in an artery with 40% stenosis. The re-stenosis rate on the azygos has been 0% anyway, so I’m not worried. God intended for us to have 100% blood flow through our veins, so 40% less is a lot, even if it’s not “bad enough” to warrant a stent (my friend Tessa had 95% stenosis there!) He gave me a copy of the DVD so if I ever want to see my veins I can watch it.

I was back at the hotel by Tuesday evening, and physio started Wednesday morning. Claudio worked with me mainly, as Gaby is a tiny woman and although she is strong, I need a big man to work with me! Someone who could hold me up if I was going to fall… Gaby would be crushed by my weight! Not safe for either of us. My daily exercises were great, and torture, but great. I do wish I could have brought Claudio back with me!

A week later and two days before I left I had a follow up Doppler by Dr. Fallas. It only took him a few minutes to show me how my blood was flowing nicely through my jugulars! He gave me his card and told me to keep in touch, to keep him updated on how I’m doing in months to come. They are keeping good records and will publish their results, as other doctors around the world are doing, so soon we will have the documented results the MS Society and neurologists and nay sayers keep saying are needed, not just “anecdotal”. Because a billion before and after videos on You Tube will never be enough.

The differences I saw in CR were that sitting to standing was easier (I could usually get up on my first try instead of 2-3 and often needing help), I could take deep breaths, and my sense of smell improved. These improvements sort of came and went over the past few weeks, but now that I have been home for awhile and living in my new body I can say the following improvements seem to have settled in:

• Sitting to standing is easier
• Foot spasms have decreased
• My voice is stronger
• There is more colour in my face
• I can take deep breaths, oxygen is better
• My sense of smell is better - I can smell my own B.O. now
• I can scratch; it used to be every time I had an itch down my right leg or the right side of my groin or pretty much anywhere on my right side, I would break into these painful seizure like spasms with my right foot, leg, arm, hand… it was so annoying. Now I can comfortably scratch an itch without the spasms. I did scratch the right side of my back yesterday, and spasms broke out, so perhaps the blood flow hasn’t reached that part of my brain yet!
• Yesterday I had my first pedicure since the treatment, and for the first time in YEARS my right foot didn’t jump uncontrollably when she went to trim the nails and push back the cuticles. Normally she has to be very patient with that foot as it would jump in her face every time she tried to do anything. Yesterday she held each toe to do her thing, and we were both amazed that my foot behaved, didn’t jump or flicker, nothing! It was as calm and normal as my left foot!
• My balance does seem a bit better.

The above are all things to celebrate, and that is what I am trying to focus on. What makes it difficult, however, is that some pretty major things are worse: my bladder is crazier than before, my vision is worse, my walking is worse, I’m weaker, my feet are more numb, my energy is… I dunno… I think my vision makes everything seem worse because I don’t feel safe to move. The double vision is worse than before, although my dad swears when he looks at me, my eyes are lined up better. So I don’t know.

What I think is going on is that my body A) doesn’t like these blood thinners (I have about a week left I think) and B) needs time to adjust to the new blood flow and heal. I know I don’t like the blood thinners because I have bruises all over my legs (and my belly, but that is the pin cushion so it’s expected), I wake up every morning with insane dry mouth, and no matter how much water I drink (which is a lot) I can’t get clear urine, which is my goal. Then I read blood thinners make your urine dark and your mouth dry, which explains those things!

Friends have been telling me they have heard about people who, after the treatment, saw no improvements for months. Some were getting worse and thought they had re-stenosed, until weeks later they suddenly started getting better. So I strongly believe that is what’s going on with me. I went to my own doctor last week and got some blood tests, which all came back normal, so I really think once I’m off blood thinners and give my body time, I’ll feel a lot better. I’m also taking some parasite cleanse supplements from my chiropractor, because that can’t hurt. Parasites don’t show up in regular blood tests. I’m also seriously considering chelation therapy.

As for the colour in my face, let’s compare. These pictures were both taken by Heather with the same camera, no make up:

Obviously, the lighting at the airport before we took off (left) and the doctor’s office (right, 10 days later) are different, but I still think there is a big difference. Everybody who sees me now says something, so it must be true!

I live in hope that my worsening symptoms must improve, because proper blood flow can NOT be a bad thing. The only logical explanation is that my body is adjusting and trying to figure out what to do with this blood flow. And since my very first symptom back in 1987 was problems with my vision, I am expecting that may take awhile to correct. But it WILL.

To brighten up this entry a bit, I will leave you with this photo of the garden outside our hotel in Costa Rica, and to see my collection of pictures (I didn’t take as many as I would have liked, my camera wasn’t always with me) here is the link to my public album on Facebook. Remember that link will expire, so look now!

(ETA: The You Tube videos didn’t embed while I was working on the entry, but they did when I published. Go figure).

This will be my last update before I go to Costa Rica for my treatment! It’s angioplasty, by the way. We are no longer calling it liberation treatment (as much as I love that name) or CCSVI treatment because that just continues to allow the government and the medical community to call it “experimental” and “new”. It’s NOT new, it’s angioplasty of the veins. The same procedure is done every day for cancer patients and kidney dialysis patients and others. It’s only when you have MS that you are denied the treatment. And part of the problem is the new name it has been given for when it comes to MS. But it’s not a new procedure, so we need to stop calling it that.

I’m traveling to Central America and spending $20,000 to get angioplasty, a treatment available to anyone else for any other reason, in their own country. How fucking ridiculous is that?!

So, I moved last weekend. What a chore! My friends and family are amazing. They worked their arses off. We had Jackie, her husband Robin, their two kids, Jason (and he brought two teenagers to do some heavy lifting, Seb and Nick), Sheldon, Damien, Shawna, and later on Kim and Rob joined us at this end for picture hanging, fix-ups, last minute bring overs, etc. My mom supervised the furniture arrangements at this end. Shawna was in charge of the cats, which worked out well. First we locked them in my office at my old place until my bedroom was set up over here. Then they were brought over and locked in my bedroom until all the furniture was moved in. Then the door was opened and Pepper, traumatized, stayed in my closet, while Pita came out and snooped around and hissed at everyone. Business as usual.

I can’t believe they got pretty much everything done! I mean, pictures hung?! And thank God Kim was here for that, as she is an interior designer and has a great eye. My walls have never looked better.

It took Pita a couple days to calm down and get used to this place, but she seems fine now. Pepper hid in my closet for a few days, only making an appearance on my bed at night, then she slowly started hanging out in the main rooms. But only when it’s me, with or without my home care only. She hasn’t come out when other people are around. I feel bad because I’m going away, and she’s going to hide in my closet forever! She’s so sweet, I wish she wasn’t so skittish. I don’t know where that comes from. Pita’s personality I understand. She’s psycho, and it totalhy makes sense. But Pepper? I don’t know.

On moving day Jason was showing me how to film myself on my Macbook (for pre and post procedure videos) and it turned into an impromptu interview:

I can’t get videos to embed on here for some reason so here is the link: Pre-CCSVI “Interview”

I’d love to say I’m much happier here, in new and fresh surroundings. I do love the floors and counters and all that. But I HATE the fact that everything is backwards here. Everything is on the wrong side. Light switches. Doors. I can’t get to my fridge. My exercise table is turned around (it has to be) and it’s harder to get on and use my chi machine. Because the bathroom is bigger and set up differently, there is no counter beside the toilet to push myself up. A pole can’t go in there because it has a drop ceiling and the pole would go right through, so I had to get bars installed around the toilet. This is a pain because… well, I need room to position myself for wiping, and I no longer have that. My bedroom is smaller and it’s harder to get to my bed for some reason. I don’t know, it’s just all very upsetting right now. I’m hoping all this stuff won’t be an issue when I get back. I can’t use a walker and be able to get to my fridge. So… that has to change! I need to be able to get around my kitchen without a walker. Or get a new fridge. I know what I’d rather do!

I made a pre-procedure walking video:

And since I can’t embed, here is the link: Pre-Procedure Walking

Ah, Pepper has joined me for a bit. It’s nice to see her out here.

Then today I recorded myself in what was supposed to be me talking about my current symptoms and how my life works, but I ended up babbling mostly about my chi machine. There was a lot more I wanted to say about my mobility and needs, so maybe I will do another one. I just want my pre-procedure stuff on record. So there is this for now:

Aaaaaand since it won’t embed (all the coding is there, it just doesn’t show up for some reason) here is the link: Pre-Procedure Babbling

That was all written yesterday! Then my mom and Bob came over and we packed. I think I’m pretty much ready to go except for the last minute stuff. My dad picked me up the nicest hot pink suitcase with a matching carry on tote. I love it, and it sticks out! No man will try to steal it and it won’t get lost amongst all the black luggage.

Today I went to the bank to deposit more money and pick up some US cash. And test out my new credit card, I just activated the replacement and had to make sure it worked! I am now set for anything… lots of room on the credit card for the hotel, meals and related expenses charged to our room (like the driver for extra trips outside of what is covered) and cash in the bank for grocery shopping (we have a suite with a kitchen) and emergencies. And tipping. Now I just need to hear from Heather so I stop panicking. What if she died over the weekend?? WTF! She has to be fine and ready to come over Wednesday and leave with me at the ungodly hour of 4:00 am.

And spend the whole freakin’ day traveling and sitting in the Houston airport for 6 hours. Thursday is going to be the longest day of my life!

I have had many pre-Costa Rica visitors. Lisa, Russ and Lisa’s mom Maria even came over on Wednesday and brought supper (and a Costa Rica contribution!) Yummy chick pea curry, with leftovers for the following day.

Heather just called. All is well. I didn’t realize my voice mail is screwed up since I moved and I had no idea there were, like, 10 messages in there.

I fell. Went to the bathroom, and on my way out, I just toppled backwards and fell. No tripping, nothing to blame except my bad balance and the awkward position of the bathroom door. Sigh. So I fell backwards and landed on my ass on the bathroom floor (lucky I am cushioned there) and hit the back of my head. I managed to sit up long enough to grab my cell phone and call my dad. Then I called the rental office and told them what happened and asked if they could send Matthew over, as I knew it would take two. So they arrived around the same time and got me up. Now I’m sitting in my chair with a headache, but I have pee’d twice since then with no more falls so I think I’ll be okay. That was the LAST FALL OF MY LIFE, I promise. Looking forward to bed tonight!

Anyway, what was I saying… oh yeah, visitors. And phone calls. Lots of well wishers! I hope to see my other friend Lisa tomorrow.

My head hurts so I’m gonna go breathe with my eyes closed for awhile. See you on the other side, healthier and happier! YAYAYAYAY!

There are so many people on my Facebook friends list that are getting Liberated these days, I can’t keep track! I feel bad for the people who are just looking into it now… the waiting lists are insane. I was relatively late in the game to sign up for treatment but at least I’m not trying to get on lists now and being told I’ll be waiting until 2011. I’m sure Dr. Simka in Poland (the most well versed in this) is 2012. One month for me! One month until Liberation! Hopefully more clinics keep opening. It doesn’t look like they’ll be allowing it here anytime soon.

With the help of family and friends I have received about $8,000 of the approximately $20,000 I need for this life saving procedure. It’s like I read in a newspaper article yesterday, the 5-10 years of research they want to complete before they’re willing to make it available to us is JUST.TOO.LONG. “People will be in wheelchairs by then, and those already in wheelchairs will be dead”. Enough said. I’m going to save my life. I swear I am getting worse by the day, especially if the past 24 hours is any indication, so Liberation cannot come soon enough.

Besides the crapfest which was the past 24 hours, a new symptom has reared its ugly head in a whole new way (it used to pop up sometimes… now it’s life altering). OXYGEN. By the end of the day or when fatigue sets in especially, I’m not able to hold a conversation. The exertion is too much for me. I have trouble taking decent breaths and choke a lot more than I used to. These are definitely symptoms of CCSVI so I hope they clear up after Liberation. I found out that my severe morning hiccups are part of this, too! Good to know. Various home care workers have told me it means “someone is thinking of you” but I don’t know who would be thinking of me at approximately the same time every morning.

Speaking of home care workers, the one I had today to help me get to/from the mall told me a little about her life. She married her cousin when she was 19. Her sister married a cousin when she was TWELVE. Both her brothers married cousins. You see, they do not marry “outsiders” and keep it in the family. Hmmm….

Well, I guess we are all related, as Dr. Wayne Dyer puts it: “Two people made you, four people made the two people who made you, eight people made them, etc. etc.” so if you go far enough back, we are all family. But STILL.

My friend Heather came over on Tuesday to watch my morning routine with Grace so she sorta knows what to expect in Costa Rica. I picked up our tickets today. My passport arrived on Monday (another scratch off the 101 list!). It’s all happening! Heather swears up and down she will not get sick before we leave. I told her to take Cold FX every day, I will buy it for her, whatever! Just don’t get sick! She says she won’t so I will believe her.

Part of my rough 24 hours happened last night when I almost fell. Falling for me now would be an even bigger deal than it ever was in the past. Anyway, I can barelyifeven walk without my AFO on, so after home care leaves (she removes it) I like to use my Chi Machine and then I need to lock the door behind her, then make it to bed in one piece. My Chi Machine is acting weird lately and moving across the mat as it shakes, and last night was really bad so I gave up because when it moves it hurts my ankles (your leg position is important with that thing, if it doesn’t stay still it may be time for a new one… well worth the price). Anyway, I got up and walked to the door and thought “man, this is getting harder again”, locked the door, slowwwwly turned towards my bedroom and stumbled. I JUST managed to save myself by landing with my back against the wall and slamming the breaks on my walker really fast. My cell phone and water bottle went flying and I could feel myself slipping. I was thinking, “oh no, here I go” and wouldn’t that have sucked, with my cell phone out of reach! But I put as much weight as I could on my right leg to pull my left foot into a stable position. Then I made it to my bed and collapsed in tears. Those “holy shit, that was close” kinda tears. With my water bottle on the floor in the hallway (which I need to take my night and morning meds) and me afraid to try walking again, I knew I had to call someone (phone on bedside table, thank God). I chose Shawna because a) she’s an awesome amazing friend and b) she lives close and has keys. So I called her and felt like an idiot asking her to come help me for what seems like a silly reason! Of course she came by and helped me get settled. How pathetic would you feel if you needed someone to drive over to your place because your water bottle and cell phone is on the floor in the hallway? Yeah. Welcome to my hell.

That was yesterday, and today I had another “accident” with my bowels. Fourth time in two weeks. Seriously about the worst thing that can happen in your day. I’m still waiting for my evening home care to come and clean me up. It happened about 5 hours ago. So, yeah, not a great 24 hours. And tonight I am not using my Chi Machine or walking without my AFO. I will take it off myself while sitting on my bed. I’m not feeling so steady.

Tomorrow is another day.

And so it was. The above was written on Thursday, and Friday was a MUCH better day because I got to go see THE POLYJESTERS!!! I did feel stronger in the morning but by 2:00 I was done for the day. BUT you don’t miss an opportunity to see The Polyjesters when all the help you need is willing and able to take you. Shawna came by around 6:30 and we got me all ready and out the door. Getting to the new Ironwood location was a hassle because the sidewalk was not wheelchair accessible (must call the City about that) and then once inside I found out the venue itself is not the wheelchair accessible place I was promised by the staff it would be. The bathroom, according to Shawna, has a W/C accessible stall. BUT, there is a step to get INTO the bathroom, so WTF good does that do? Good thing I wore my “justincase” Attends underwear. Plus, the bathroom is right at the front door, and there is no way in hell to get from your table to the bathrooms in a wheelchair once you’re in. I had to roll behind the bar to get to my table, and then was told “oh! We thought you’d come in the back way, there is a ramp beside the stage and your table is right in front of the stage”. So I had a great table, and sure enough there is a ramp beside the stage heading to the back door, BUT, as we found out when we left that way, the ramp leads to the back entrance where there is a gigantic step (that’s STEP) down. Luckily when I cried out “oh no, a STEP!” Jason and Aaron came over and assured me they could carry my chair down it. So I closed my eyes and let out a little yelp as they brought me safely to the ground. Remember, not exactly 90 pounds over here.

Accessibility (and the fact yet another restaurant doesn’t understand what “gluten free, no bread with my steak sandwich” means to a person with Celiac disease like Shawna) aside, it was an amazing show!! My mom and Bob joined us, and I got to see my friend Kim and her hubby that drove in from Red Deer. And a few other Poly Regulars like Damien and Kelsey and the PolyParents. The show was one of the best I’ve ever seen! Scott Duncan was there to join them on fiddle for several songs, including their “Orange Blossom Special” they used to always play when they were regulars at Epcot Center in Florida back in the day (called “Fiddlestix” back then)… complete with a medley of Disney tunes and corresponding dance moves. If you GO HERE you can scroll down and preview a taste of it, song #9. But that won’t be enough, haha! Preview song 8 too, and tell me you don’t want to see that live on a stage right in front of you! I want a Scott Duncan on my speed dial. I also have a photo of him from 2004 licking his own nipple. I need to remind him of that.

Anyway, in case that isn’t enough of an indication, it was a very high energy, fun and mind-blowing show. I lasted with my head up the entire time, but left the second the show was over. Made it home in one piece and was in bed at 1:00 am! Mom and Bob spent the night here and we all groaned when home care showed up at 9:00 am.

Now it is Sunday, and the past couple days I have decided it’s not worth the risk of walking without my AFO, so I haven’t used my chi machine at night and keep my brace on right until I get to bed. I am better able to walk in the morning, after a night of rest, so getting around until home care puts on my AFO has been okay. Also, for my morning Chi session I found a cushion I have fits perfectly between the machine and the wall to keep the machine from shuffling away, so that’s good. I do hope the problem with my foot/leg is temporary (again) and I’m able to walk (again) soon. The EMS has to get working for me (again!) We took a break from it when my bladder was too crazy and we forgot to get back into using it. So we fixed that today and No More Breaks!

CCSVI update: I just got another call from my BFF Dr. Kirsty Duncan, the awesome Liberal MP who is working her arse off for us (she has not gone to bed before 4:00 am the past two weeks). I had sent her an email about what that MS Society funding of CCSVI research really means (what a joke) so she could be up to date before the debate tomorrow in the House of Commons. She’s also aware of the situation with Barb Farrell (that’s manslaughter, plain and simple) in Barrie and has lots of personal stories to talk about. The more stories that get out there, the better. Soon even the general population that isn’t affected by MS will sit up and take notice. I told Kirsty I’m booked into Costa Rica for treatment July 10 and I thought she was going to fall out of her chair, she was so excited for me!

I want to publish this before my evening home care arrives, which will be in about 10 minutes! Ciao.

So much going on lately! I need to organize some sort of fundraiser to help cover the costs of my Liberation treatment, but it will have to wait until after the procedure because there is just too many other things to deal with right now. Moving this month, making all the arrangements and actually going away for two weeks in July, and setting up Self-Managed Care. I finally got approved for it, so I need to set up a business… open a bank account, set up payroll and WCB accounts, write the job description, and start interviewing caregivers and hopefully find a few that can cover the times I need. It will be part time spread over 7 days/week, morning help and evening help. I have until August 15 to get it all set up.

Sigh.

Of course, I can always hope that post-liberation I won’t need as much help. That would be BEYOND awesome, but I can’t count on that 100%. There are a lot of things I need to wrap my head around and seriously commit to. Fixing my veins is only part of it. It’s not going to cure me, but it will hopefully give me an opportunity to heal my body without the worry of further progression. With fatigue, brain fog and hopefully blurry vision lifted, I will have the energy and desire to work on myself again. Diet, exercise, meditation and a good range of supplements related to vascular health will be a necessity. A total necessity. If I am given the gift of feeling better and able to do more, I can not take that for granted. If my lifestyle and frame of mind stays the same, I will find myself right back here before too long. There is much work to be done and I’m counting on that 10 day recovery program in Costa Rica to give me a good start in a new direction. A new life. A NEW LIFE! I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited!!!

The fight for the right to CCSVI treatment in this country continues on a daily basis. One of the people in our court is the amazing Dr. Kirsty Duncan, Liberal MP for Etobicoke (Ontario) North. This lady is working so hard to help us! It’s fantastic having her on our side. The more politicians, the better, because they can actually make the changes from within. May 26 was National MS day, so I took the liberty of emailing every MP in the country about this. I sent Kirsty an individual email though, to thank her for all the work she is doing, and told her a little about myself and why this is so important to me. The following evening she emailed me back, stating she had tried to call me twice but couldn’t get through because I don’t accept calls from private numbers. So before bed I removed the Call Screen, and let her know by email that it was safe for her to call. That was at 9:45 pm, 11:45 pm in Toronto, so I was expecting I’d hear from her the following day. But, at 10:15 my phone rang! I saw the “private number” and thought… “no way!” and answered it.

We talked for probably half an hour. What a fabulous lady. I honestly felt like I made a new friend. She gave me her personal email address and asked me to contact her any time I need to talk. I cried a lot during our conversation; not so much that I couldn’t speak (the “ugly cry”) but enough that she knew how emotional this all is for me. She told me “you’re so strong! I can hear it in your voice! You’re a fighter!” We talked about my musician friends (possible benefit concert or two!) and my kitties. I told her about my time in the care facility and how afraid I was that I would have to give them up to go into assisted living. “But you didn’t!” She said. “See? You’re strong!” She is so passionate about helping us and is working around the clock. She must have given up everything else she was ever working on, to focus on this. I mean, calling a chick in Calgary at 12:15 am? Way to make me feel important!

Today in Parliament there was another meeting of the Subcommittee on Neurological Health, and there were many great speakers, including Kirsty. The one who made me BAWL was Steve Garvie, a secondary progressive MSer who got his life back after Liberation. He moved out of his assisted living apartment 3 months ago!! He talked about pride (how he had none, like me… everybody has had to wipe my ass and see me naked, there is no pride left here) and suicide, for the same reasons I think about it. You can hear everyone speaking on this audio. It’s long, but so worth it, after you get over the kafuffle about the slides needing to be in French as well as English. I started to cry when Dr. McDonald said “I’d like to point out that Rebecca Cooney is back with us today, (Rebecca spoke at Parliament a few weeks ago), and this time she walked in without a wheelchair, she had her venoplasty done in New York a little over a week ago, she is doing just great.” There was applause, and I broke down. Can you imagine?

I’m meeting with a caregiver tomorrow about coming to Costa Rica with me. I sure hope that works out! She sounded great on the phone, so fingers crossed. Also? I was looking at flights online and the return ones are fine, but all the ones going TO San Jose have, like, 12 hour layovers in Dallas! NO! I better be able to find something better. It should only be a 7ish hour flight + connection. There MUST be better connections than that! Also? Air travel in July is friggin’ expensive.

My awesome House Call Vet came over yesterday to trim the cats’ claws. I didn’t want to need to call a vet to come out here just for that, $$$, but whaddaya do. I haven’t been able to find a mobile pet groomer to do that, and it needed to be done. Especially before the move, to kinda save the poor person responsible for getting them in the cat carrier. Pita was easy to catch, she’s always in your face, but squirmed like crazy when he trimmed her. By the time he got to the back paws she was bitching, but no hissing, so he managed to finish. Pepper, on the other hand, was hard to catch. He earned his money chasing her around! At one point he got the step ladder out of the closet to get her from on top of the kitchen cupboards, but she escaped. He worked up a sweat. Finally he got her the second time she jumped on the cabinets, and whisked her into the bathroom. She didn’t squirm, she kind of froze up once he actually got a hold of her. Anyway, that’s done. It cost about the same as me getting a mani/pedi, so if I can spend it on myself, I can spend it on them. It’s life changing for us all when their claws are short, so it’s worth it! No more “OWWIE” when they knead on me. (They hate it though. So noted when Pita tried to jump up the back of my chair and claw her way to the top and she just fell off. Oops).

The above was written yesterday and I received a call from the caregiver I was going to meet with that SHE CAN’T GO! Major panic. I have to find someone TODAY. Damn damn damn who doesn’t want to go to Costa Rica for two weeks?? This is harder than I thought.

I just found video on You Tube of Steve Garvie’s speech from yesterday! You must listen. It is stunning and you will cry. I bawled because his “before” situation is pretty much the same as mine and if I could get that kind of “after” result… wow.

Yesterday we had a power failure all over NE Calgary. I was sitting here in my lift chair, writing this entry and thinking “need to get up to pee in a sec” and then POP everything went out. Including phones and internet. So I’m stuck in my chair (which I now can’t get out of because, well, it’s electric) needing to pee. I tried not to think about it, trusting the power would be right back. After about 15 minutes I did start to panic, and THIS is why I keep my cell phone on my walker tray and NEVER take it out with me, because I will forget it’s in my purse and leave it there and be unable to get it at times like this. So I called my dad from my cell and asked him if he could bring over a couple 9 volt batteries so I could get out of my chair (I forget sometimes that TWO 9 volt batteries only work for ONE lift out of this chair as back up power). He was half an hour away and I really needed to pee so I tried Shawna, who lives close. Her power was out, too, but luckily she had the car (the BF usually has it in the evenings for work) and was able to come right away, after a quick stop at the dollar store for batteries. About 10 minutes later the power magically re-appeared. Of course. So I got up to pee and Shawna arrived with batteries and we ordered in dinner (least I could do!) Then another 10 or so minutes later, my dad arrived with batteries. So there is a fresh set in the back up power bar and extras in the drawer. Hopefully this won’t happen again! I don’t know what I would do if our city had to suffer though a power outage for days, like many other cities have. What do the disabled people do, stuck in their chairs and lifts and power beds and no A/C or even a fan? I’d die!

Between working on this update I have been making a zillion phone calls and updating the CCSVI Calgary mailing list and website and sending out notices and blah blah blah. Busy day. My procedure date got changed to July 10 because it’s a Catholic country and they won’t do procedures on a Friday for a Sunday discharge. So I go on Saturday for a Monday discharge. Interesting.

I’m beat and my eyes and hand are done for the day, so CIAO.

The previous post is what blogs are for. No, not to beg for money, but to vent and whine, get it out of your system, and then feel better. I felt a lot better after I wrote that post last night. Sorry you had to witness that, but it was good for me

Today I made a big decision and paid a $1,000 deposit towards Liberation Treatment in COSTA RICA. baby! It’s through a medical tourism company, and I had been on their list for awhile, originally for Poland. Then they changed their minds and put together a package for Costa Rica. At first I was weary of it, but after looking into the package and the doctor heading it up, I thought it sounded pretty amazing. I thought I was pretty far down on their list, however, and didn’t expect to hear. Then my friend Annette said she got booked for June 28, and I knew I wasn’t TOO far behind her. On Saturday I was scrolling through my missed calls and saw “Passport Medical” had called on Wednesday! I screamed! They didn’t leave a message, the buggers! I immediately called them and left a message, not expecting to hear back until Monday, but they called me right back! And offered me a date of July 9!

So I freaked out and thought about it and thought about it. I found out Shawna would not be able to go with me, because it is a 13 day program, and she doesn’t have enough vacation left. So that put a damper on things. Two weeks is a long time to expect someone to leave their job/family for. And then I thought this one might be a bit more expensive than the other places, but it really isn’t. If I went overseas, I’d need to fly first class because there is no way I can sit in an Economy seat for 20 hours. And hotels and car rental in the US would be more, and I’ve been quoted as low as $7,000 to as high as $80,000 so who really knows? And no one else has given me a date yet. And, Costa Rica? Come on! Paradise. And I like the 10 day recovery program they make you stay for:

• Evaluation before and after surgery
• Manual lymphatic drainage
• Kinesiology respiratory techniques
• Specific forms of electrotherapy
• Adapted exercise
• Mobilization techniques
• Relaxation techniques
• Multisensory assessment

No one else does that! It’s procedure, then back to your hotel and go home within a couple days (not that they aren’t giving excellent care, because they are, but still) so THIS sounds fantastic. And I deserve a nice, relaxing getaway, don’t you think? Yes.

So I took a deep breathe, paid the deposit, and quietly freaked out.

I. CAN’T. WAIT.

I still need to confirm a caregiver for the trip, however. I’m sure I will find one, I have a few options coming forward. I hope to confirm and book flights this week! EEEK!

Of course, this life saving opportunity comes at a price (please read this article to see the kind of bullshit we are dealing with) and if you can help at all, you know what to do. Good vibes are also widely accepted.

THANK YOU!!

We’re on… Wednesday, September 19 ~

Tim called me in the morning after his meeting, and came to pick me up. I only knew Tim from our contact on MySpace and Facebook, and we have some mutual friends; for one, he used to play drums for Lobelia before she left Montreal (Lobelia, who I became great friends with while in Montreal last year, had a very busy year having to move from Montreal because she’s American and her Visa ran out, and then meeting her new love Steve, moving to England, touring all over Europe, etc. etc… she was supposed to be with us in Toronto and Montreal but health-related reasons kept her in London a bit longer. I was sooooooooo sad to miss seeing her!) Anyway, Tim is a very handsome man and talented writer/musician and you can check him out HERE.

We drove up to the spa Noelle owns with her mother. This was also my first time meeting Noelle in person, because last year she was in Los Angeles while I was in Montreal. We have several mutual friends, as well. Anyway, because of the death of her Aunt earlier that morning, the salon was closed and Noelle and her mom were just there making phone calls and re-scheduling clients. They are Jewish, so a death in the family means several days of “Shiva” and Yom Kippur was on Saturday… so it was, once again, not the best time for Noelle and I to be able to hang out. (Although, as she said, “there is no WAY I’m missing out on Saturday night!!)

The spa Noelle and her mother own is beautiful. Although they mainly do manicures, pedicures, massage, facials, etc. they DO sell things, as well. And I bought a bracelet, which it turns out was made by the Aunt that had just passed. So that felt nice, to have chosen that without knowing.

The four of us went over to a nearby restaurant for lunch. I spared Noelle and her mom from picture taking, because they were dressed in sweats and no make-up and I know they would BOTH kill me if I had photos and posted them. They are both gorgeous women and looked great to me, but, you know Jewish women and their vanity. Heh. I wanted one of the spa’s reception area, though, so I snuck this one and blacked out Noelle’s mom.

Over lunch, Noelle told me oodles of stories (because I asked and probed and asked and probed) about her time as a young Hollywood starlet. She grew up in L.A. and did a lot of acting, And has met almost everyone! She was on Buffy, Star Trek, Ellen, Beverly Hills 90210, all kinds of stuff. She moved to Dublin, Ireland for a few years, and that is where she started getting more into playing music (and partied with Johnny Depp OHMIGOD). She is also a photographer. Her website is right here and you can read all about that stuff and see how damn gorgeous she is. I picked up her CD while I was there, too!

After lunch we grabbed coffees at Tim Horton’s and went back to the spa. Noelle and her mom had lots of planning to do, so we didn’t stay too long. Tim drove me back to the hotel, where I rested for awhile before meeting up with my friend Patricia. First, I made sure to leave a key at the hotel reception desk for Emma, because she would be coming downtown and staying in the hotel with me the rest of the time. (She lives on the West Island and goes to school there). She would be bussing it down to the hotel sometime that evening.

Anyway, Patricia and I go back about 15 years. We were both involved with Carnival Diablo when it originated in Calgary in the early 90’s (now Scott is doing quite well with that show in the Toronto area!), and then a bunch of us left that and formed Virtual Insanity. Here is a picture of us from back in 1993:

That’s Patricia on the left in the back row, and I’m the blonde fuzz in front.

Patricia had a baby in 1996, I remember her being about 8 months pregnant at my 28th birthday party, and I remember meeting her son Sage when he was about two, but then they moved to Montreal. We lost touch and reconnected on Facebook! It was perfect timing, because I found her on Facebook not too long before I was going on my trip.

Anyway, I brought my wheelchair so we could wander around after dinner, and caught a cab to meet them in Mile End at Cafe Depanneur.

We had a lovely dinner and caught up on life. Patricia is super busy, working at a studio (she’s always been involved in the Arts, Theatre), going to school and being a single mom. Sage is 11 now and GORGEOUS. What a sweetie, I fell in love with that kid! After dinner we wandered around the neighbourhood and found a cafe where I could finally get a latte. (Cafe Depanneur kept forgetting to bring me one and we just gave up and decided to go elsewhere for dessert). We ate pastry and drank coffees and took pictures:

More pictures of our meeting on Facebook

Patricia’s friend Annie was hosting a launch party for her art magazine, Les Fleurs du Mal, not too far from where we were. It was supposed to be accessible, so we wandered over there. It turned out to be inside a building with a large concrete step out front (for which Annie apologized profusely). We could have gotten me and my chair up and over it with some assistance. However, I wasn’t much in the mood for mingling and meeting new people, so I sent Patricia inside what appeared to be a very cool party with lots of interactive stuff going on, to say her hellos to friends, and I stayed outside with Sage. There were lots of people mingling outside, as well, and we were brought food! Sage was so sweet… when his mom asked me if I wanted to stay or go, I answered “I’m not really in the mood for a loud party and meeting new people and stuff, to be honest…” so when she went inside by herself, Sage told me “I feel the same way and would have said the exact same thing, if she had asked me”. Hee!

After hanging out there for awhile, we left to find a busy street where we could flag down cabs. I guess it was about 9:30 p.m. when I got back to the hotel, and experienced the favourite moment of my entire trip. As I slipped my key card in the door and opened it, Emma came RACING over to me and gave me a huge, giant hug. It was awesome.

Pictures on Facebook.