July 16

To all,

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer.
It is very hot here in Ottawa. Remember to drink lots of water.

We returned from our Family vacation on July 13th.
It was just a great time and a very meaningful Family experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed the week Mediterranean cruise. We were a group of 11 which included the whole Family, my Mother and Danya's boyfriend, David and Michael's girlfriend, Veronica. It was great to have my Mother with us, having 3 generations participating. She certainly kept up with us and many times led the way.

I started the vacation very tired as the latest round of Chemo knocked the crap out of me.I certainly used the facilities a lot on the flight from Ottawa toFrankfurt on June 28th.

I used a wheel chair in the Frankfurt airport when we arrived. Liz, I heard, got a lot of weird looks as she was pushing around a sleeping man in a wheelchair from our arriving gate in Frankfurt to our departing gate. I slept the whole way not knowing the long distance I had travelled.

We met Ariel who came from NYC at the departing gate.

The flight from Frankfurt to Barcelona was uneventful except upon arriving in Barcelona we were told the ground crews were on strike. It took 2 hours to get off the plane and get our bags.

We stayed over in Barcelona for one night and had a great dinner and celebrated Liz's birthday on June 29th.

My new found craze is having a beer each night at dinner. I had forgotten how great a cold beer tastes.

We got on the cruise ship on June 30th. I took advantage of using a wheelchair to get on board as our group of 11 moved to the front of the line. Though I had a wheelchair on board, I used it only once, the first day going for lunch.

The rest of the time I walked everywhere to gain more strength a little bit each day. My only real discomfort was I got swollen feet and my on-going frequent use of the washroom. I was pretty regular 3 times through the night and several times during the day.

Our 5 stops on the cruise were each great. We hired a private bus/2 taxis for 11 people for the shore excursions so we could travel at our own pace and eat lunch when we wanted to.

We visited Toulon, Nice, Monte Carlo, Pisa, Lucca, Rome and Capri. Each excursion included a great lunch, usually seafood or fresh pasta.

A real highlight was having an enjoyable lunch in Monte Carlo with Maureen and Bill Shenkman. It was a real fun time seeing them and visiting the Monte Carlo casino.

On July 7th the boat returned to Barcelona and we flew to Israel.

Israel included great Family dinner gatherings, time by the Hilton pool, shopping, eating healthy Israeli breakfasts, having lunch by the pool, a one day trip to Jerusalem and a highlight for all taking a helicopter ride to view Israel from the sky.

We visited on July 10th the Jerusalem City Hall and toured the Old City with the infamous tour guide Shraga who was great. We had the opportunity to visit with my Mother's good friend Ruth and have lunch with Liz's cousin Rhonda and her 5 week old daughter.

Our 4 Family dinners were lots of fun and included most of the Charpak and Vered Families in Israel. Our 5th dinner out was after our trip to Jerusalem and in old Jaffa.

Staying at the Tel Aviv Hilton, we bumped into Avi and Elissa Iny 4 times and so unexpectedly once in the Mamilla Mall in Jerusalem.

I did do 6 cemetery visits to be with my Grandparents and my Uncles and Aunts who have passed away. The visits were emotional as they brought back such fond and meaningful memories of such great people and leaders
of the Charpak and Vered families.


On Friday we had a great lunch by the Hilton pool which included several Family and friends that wanted to say good bye. Liz's good friend from Hebrew school Sammy and his friend Rani joined us.

Many thanks to Aunts and Uncles and cousins and friends who made our Family trip so enjoyable and memorable.

Saturday we travelled back to Ottawa and Ariel back to NYC.

I am doing pretty good, gaining strength each day.

Liz and I visited my surgeon on Monday and my surgery on July 30th is a go in Montreal. I have done the pre-operation procedures. So I await on July 29th when to be advised to be at the hospital on July 30th. Probably at 6:30am with the operation starting by 9:30am and be completed by 3:00pm. I am pretty well aware of what is to transpire, though my role is just to relax and wake up in the afternoon.

I could be in the hospital for up to 2 weeks, we will see how quickly I am out and about.The recovery at home could be 6-8 weeks. Once recovered then probably 6-8 Chemo treatments which could take 3-4 months.

I had a great conversation with a good friend of a good friend of mine that had the whipple procedure last March. He gave me a very good insight on what to expect after surgery.

So I am prepared for my next phase of my challenge. These days up to July 30th I look to enjoy as I am Chemo free and gaining strength. I am looking to spend 5 days in Florida.

My head space is in a great place. I am so thrill to have had such an enjoyable Family vacation and to experience such wonderful and meaningful support from Family and Friends both here in Ottawa and in Israel.

I am truly blessed with my remarkable Wife, Liz and our kids, Ariel, Danya, Jordana, Ali, Michael and Tori and our Family and Friends.

I will beat this cancer and be part of the league of Champions.

Many thanks to everyone for being who you are and for being part of my Championship team. I can not do it without you.

Lots of love,

Arnie.