Thursday, February 27, 2014

February 27

To all,

Today is hopefully a good day for me.

I am feeling well.

I had my 46 hour pump removed.

I am now on a flight to TO to receive the PM Volunteer Award. I am quite excited.

I am in debt to Telus for nominating me.

I was allowed 3 guests. Liz and Tori and a Telus representative.

Will be back tonight.

Have a great day,

Lots of love,

Arnie.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

February 23

To all,

Liz and I enjoyed Florida with its warm weather. It was also great to
watch our Canadian Olympians do their best.

Tori was with us the whole time and Ariel joined us for the long weekend.

My love and thanks go to Liz for taking such good care of me.

It seems that the family enjoys catching me sleeping anywhere I go.
Here are 2 photos, one after I enjoyed my pecan pie and one by the
pool.





I am happy to have had the opportunity to go to Florida. I hope to go
again in March.

I am not a religious person, but I believe in God. It seems with the
challenges I am facing that one needs to try to understand the big picture.

I am reading a book by Rabbi Shalom Arush titled The Garden of Emuna, a
practical guide to life.

Emuna is the firm belief in a single, supreme, omniscient, benevolent,
spiritual, supernatural, and all-powerful Creator of the universe, who we
refer to as God.

There is Basic-level Emana which teaches that God is the lone sovereign of
the universe, whose surgically-precise Divine Providence is responsible
for every single occurrence in the universe- big or small.

There is Intermediate-level Emuna which is the belief that everything God
does is for the very best, even though it may appear otherwise.

There is Upper-level Emuna which is the belief that God does everything
for a specific purpose, and that each of God's actions conveys a special
message aimed at helping us perform our task on earth.

God has given me the opportunity to understand what is important in life,
Family and Friends.
How to be happy and enjoy life. Most importantly to truly cherish what I
have.

I am happy because I am in God's hands and he is taking good care of me.

Wishing everyone, health, happiness and to cherish what you have.

Lots of love,

Arnie.

Friday, February 14, 2014

February 14

To all,


Good morning.

I am doing okay.

I had my 6th chemo treatment at the QCH on Tuesday. All went well though I was pretty tired during the chemo treatment. Sleeping though is one of my best talents.

This week I was asked to be the Honourary Chair for the QCH upcoming campaign.

My first reaction was, I did not think I was old enough to be an Honourary Chair.

My second reaction was to accept.

So why did I accept.

The QCH is an integral participant in providing remarkable medical services to our City of Ottawa.

The facility is fantastic. More importantly the QCH has unbelievable staff including doctors, nurses and the many support staff.

The QCH is on the cutting edge of providing patient services. This is so encouraging and can be attributed to the great leadership of Tom Schonberg, QCH President/CEO.

But the most important reason why I accepted was the opportunity to work with my very good friend Ron Prehogan, Campaign Chair and with Melanie Adams, QCH Foundation President/CEO.

Below is the link to the video that was presented at the QCH Visionaries Breakfast which I participated in. It tells my story. Remember to use the password QCH.

My Family has been contributors to many medical institutions in Ottawa, not knowing that today I would be benefitting from the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre, a partnership between the QCH and TOH. For me I feel an obligation to give back the best way I can.

Liz and I are off to Florida tomorrow for a week to enjoy the warm weather and to be able to walk outside. We will be joined by two of our daughters.

I wish everyone a good week and enjoyment watching the Olympics. Go Canada Go!

Be healthy, be happy and cherish what you have.

All the very best,

Arnie.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

February 11 -- I Am Happy

To all,

Good Morning!

I hope everyone survived our cold January and are prepared to endure a
cold February.

The Olympics have been great to watch, Go, Canada, Go!

I am doing okay. I will have my 10th chemo treatment post operation today
which is my 6th treatment at the QCH.

I am happy!

The following are the reasons why:

I am happy to be able to endure my chemo treatments without nausea and
with little diarrhea and I am maintaining a good appetite.

I am so happy to have my chemo treatments at the QCH. The building is
great but more importantly the doctors and nurses are fantastic. A real
plus when one battles cancer.

I am happy with my oncologist, Dr. Asmis who has helped me in so many ways.

I am happy with the opportunity to help both the QCH and the ORCF in
promoting the great work they do in helping the many people who are
battling cancer.

I am happy at work. I am not a workaholic I just enjoy enjoy what I do.

I am happy chairing design meetings for a new possible development. As
chair, I feel responsible to crack a few jokes to create a fun and happy
environment.

I am so happy to have such a great Championship team of Family, friends,
QCH, TOH and the ORCF.

I am happy that I have been working out with the She-Devil. I am a 140
pound weakling so I do have a long way to go but I will achieve getting
back into shape.

I am happy to be able to assist my children with their challenges of life.
Mind you my reward is them taking pictures of me sleeping. 



I am so happy to being able to spend so much quality time with Liz. Liz is
my rock and she has been unbelievable. I feel like her 7th child. Liz is
remarkable in satisfying my needs.

I am so happy to hopefully go to Florida on Saturday for a week. I will be
spending Family time with Liz, Ariel and Tori.

So why would I be concerned about my battle with cancer? I am not!

 My battle with cancer has taught me so much good.

I am concentrating on being happy and cherishing what I have and it has
been great.

I wish everyone all the very best.

Be healthy, be happy and  truly cherish what you have.

Lots of love,

Arnie.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

February 2

Good Morning to All,

I am doing okay.

On January 28th I had my 9th post operation chemo treatment and my 5th
treatment at the QCH.
Following each treatment, I come home with a 46 hour pump.

My treatments are now Tuesday mornings for 5-6 hours and my pump is
removed Thursday afternoons.

My special highlights that have occurred since Tuesday are I started
exercising on Friday and went to a movie on Saturday with Liz.

I go to movies really because I love theatre popcorn.
As each time I go, again I ate too much popcorn.
I did enjoy the movie, Labour Day.
It was a chick flick.

But really starting to exercising was my great highlight.

I woke up on January 19th asking myself what I am doing for my body's
health.

My chemo treatments were dealing with my cancer.
My work and starting back to some volunteer work is great for my mind, but
what about my body.

I heard of a lady who 6 months after a whippel procedure ran a half
marathon and all I am doing is walking up and down stairs.

Light bulb goes on, I got to start exercising. I sent an email to my
personal trainer.I can only imagine the shock I gave her.

Before my diagnosis, I hated exercising. I have had a personal trainer for
14 years twice a week and I hated getting together.
My office is 2 minutes from my house but I was usually late for most
sessions.

People know I recognize my personal trainer as the "She Devil".

Now she is one of my angels, though the identification of She Devil will
remain.

I contacted the the ORCF and they arranged for the She Devil and I to meet
with an expert on dealing with exercising while battling cancer.
It was a very informative conversation and helped us out on what to do and
more importantly what my expectations should be.

So I started last Friday and it was great. The session included 15 minutes
on my bike. I hope to ride my bike now each day depending on my strength.
Here is a photo to prove it.



It is clear that one has to have a comprehensive game plan and a
Championship team to do battle with cancer.

I know I am on my way to be a Champion and I thank you all for your
participation.

Your notes of encouragement, your contributions to my Father's memory,your
thoughtfulness and your your love is so much appreciated.

To those who love football, enjoy the Super Bowl tonight, to those who are
exercise freaks continue and to those that do not exercise regularly, if I
can do it so can you.

Be healthy, be happy and cherish what you have.

Lots of love,

Arnie.