ROUND ONE COMPLETE

Hello Friends , Sorry we have taken a little longer than planned to update you but round one of chemo was a little tougher on me than I remember. I had to lay low for a week after chemo but then got my energy back and have been enjoying my days ever since.  The plan for chemo is to have treatments every 21 days for 3 rounds then a CT scan and off to Winnipeg in early June to see how things are progressing. They have suggested to us that we may have as many as 12 rounds but will monitor things and decide accordingly.
On a lighter note MEME is at the hairdressers getting a makeover. Keep an eye out for her return!!  Easter was very special at our house as our son Kyle arrived home and we were able to spend time together as a family with Mandy and the boys. Kyle is busy back at work saving money to complete his 4th year of business in the fall. Amanda and boys are all good. Our little monkeys are growing up fast and keep life so fun. Sawyer is  3 1/2 years old and will start playing soccer 2 nights a week. We are really excited to watch him start in the world of sports. Frazer is 20 months old and is always  smiling and chatting and keeping things busy for his mommy.
Kelly has left his job and has joined Caring Companions. Our Family is so happy for him.  He is very excited to be able to work closer to home and along side me. He recently won a trip for 2 to Las Vegas. We are really excited about that as we have never been there and have always wanted to go and check it out.
I'm feeling stronger and more confident each day and keeping my positive spirit. Will be good to have round 2 behind us. Keep up the prayers  , phone calls , visits and hugs for me and my family.


    MUCH LOVE  Always, Donna

                                       SECOND TIMES A CHARM






Hello to all  our Love Loop Friends !  A big thanks to my dear friend Shelley for giving you all our first update as we just had to much going on to find the strength to do that. Our family plans to be updating our progress weekly so that all our supporters can follow our journey. We so appreciated a little time when we arrived home as there is always lots of healing to do. I was so lucky to have my Aunt Eileen from Saskatoon come stay with me for a week and help me get my MO JOO back as she calls it. Surgery is now two weeks behind us and chemo is less than a week away. I am feeling stronger everyday and have returned to the gym  walking for about 30 minutes as I prepare both mentally and physically for my chemo. The plan is to have 3 rounds 21 days apart then go to Winnipeg to see how i'm responding. I don't think its any easier knowing what to expect but im embracing the treatments as its what we need to do. Lots of changes again ....not sure what kind of hair doo I will support this time...I really might just appear as the blonde bomb shell Kelly has dreamed of...stay tuned!! hahahahah 

Once again, we have been blessed with many phone calls,texts,flowers, meals and visits and this means a great deal to our family. A special thanks for those that keep us in their prayers. 

Next week brings much excitement...Kyle will be coming home from his year away in Kelowna. He has completed his 3rd year of business and plans to work and party for the summer to return in the fall for his 4th and final year. Our family is especially proud of him for staying out their and persevering. Face time, texting and his great friend and my adopted son Scott Hellyer have helped us all stay connected.

Manda has just had her birthday and is 27! Crazy hey. Kelly and I agreed be cant be 40 anymore so we will keep u posted what our new age will be.  hahahaha   Our beautiful grandsons keep our family smiling and laughing and dancing. They love a song called HAPPY and so often the whole bunch of us are moving and shaking to this!!  You might see all this activity as you drive by the Hamm House.

  Thanks again to you all. Together we will stay strong and positive and beat this Cancer once and for all.                                         Always, Donna  xxoo

the love loop 2

The Love Loop 2

Hey everyone!

I really wish there wasn’t a sequel to the Love Loop but unfortunately there is.  Donna asked me to write this post for the blog on behalf of the family…. as you can only imagine how raw a reoccurrence might feel… And at this time and the words are difficult to write.

 It’s Shelley Lowes, from Regina SK…..Donna’s friend, sista, confidante, shoulder…and Donna is all that and more to me too.  We have grown very close as the result of our cancer journeys and have a unique, real, and deeper appreciation for how we live, laugh and love….here is her story:

After 1 year and 10 days cancer-free, Donna completed routine blood work for a follow-up oncology appointment. On the morning of February 5^th, 2014 she received a call asking for her and Kelly to come in to see the doctor at 1:30 PM.  It was then that they discovered her CA125 count was highly elevated and more tests were required. On February 7^th, the CT scan was inclusive and the CA125 continued to climb.  On February 14^th, Kelly, Donna, Amanda and Kyle were off to Winnipeg to meet with her team of oncology specialists. They were presented with 3 options: start chemo therapy immediately; wait and see what transpires then start chemotherapy; or if eligible for surgery, have surgery to determine exactly what is going on then start chemotherapy.  Because Donna has worked so hard and was in the best shape for her body at this time, she was given the surgical option for consideration.  On February 21^st, via Telehealth conference to Winnipeg, surgery was chosen.  On March 26^th Donna had surgery to see what she and her family would be up against.  As a result, the oncologists decided the best course of treatment would be immediate chemotherapy. This decision was made in part due to her initial success to chemotherapy and in part to the location of the reoccurrence. March 29^th, Donna is home resting, regrouping and revalidating a new journey and new plan….Chemotherapy will begin in 2 weeks…..F@$%!Cancer! 

As a friend and an experienced cancer patient, I have come to appreciate people’s intentions and well wishes….Donna and I have laughed many times over some of our encounters with various people.  However, here are a few things to consider:

·         A cancer patient does not need to know how many friends or relatives you know that have passed on…..I remember mere acquaintances approaching me in hockey rinks, grocery stores etc. and saying “I heard you have cancer….my mom/sister/friend died of cancer last week/month/year!”  TRUE STORY…..and not just one person!  This is not comforting information….just saying! Please don’t ignore us either….I know, it’s a fine line but take lead from us.

·         A cancer patient does not want assumptions, speculations, or pitiful looks…..a cancer patient needs support. Trust the patient.  Information will be shared. We will disclose information as we become comfortable with it.  Please don’t question. There is no manual on how to be a cancer patient. There is no manual on how to interact with a cancer patient either. The world is very small and it is hurtful when someone calls to discuss your “latest bowel movement” because they heard from some else that someone in the family was at the drug store buying Senokot…..yup, TRUE STORY!

·         TRUST is one of the best gifts you can give a friend.

·         Chemotherapy is tough.  There is no ands, ifs or buts about it!  Not only is it hard on the patient it is crazy hard on the family! Hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, raging emotions….impacts those we are closest with.  Please reach out to Kelly, Kyle, and Amanda and the boys….our families are our life, we just need a bit of extra help during treatment. Your past kindness and support was truly overwhelming and most appreciated.

·         Please do not drop in unexpectedly….even with good intentions. Call, text or email.

Reoccurrence is a bitch! However, there is a plan.  There will be ups and downs on this next journey and the Hamm’s will suit up in amour once again.

 Please continue to post on the blog – knowing your thoughts, prayers and positive energy is overflowing into their hearts is most comforting.  Even if you don’t get a response, please know the Hamm’s love you all very much and draw much strength from your words!

Love, Shelley xo

                                 My Last Entry on THE LOVE LOOP!!


Hello to all my friends !! Today will be my last entry. As I reflect on the past 15 plus months from where I was to where I am I, i,m pretty much in disbelief. My life was so uncertain and completely upside down and today I'm living a normal life again.
I have learnt so many things...not sure I could begin to share them all.  I hold a new appreciation for life. I say thanks to God everyday for some special moment I enjoyed. I tell a lot of special people I  love them, I really don't rush the way I use too ,I truly don't sweat the small stuff. I put myself first. That's a real switch for me. As I sat many a day at Dr's appointments and chemo, etc  i did a lot of plea bargaining. I'm doing my best to keep up my end of the bargains.
To our heavenly father I give thanks,to my amazing husband I give thanks. To Amanda and Wes and boys and Kyle,you made the journey bearable. All those I love and that love me, each of you have made a difference and I say thanks from the bottom of my heart.
Ive been back to work for 3 weeks and I have learnt to smell the roses. I love my life and I'm healthy and I'm happy! I will be 8 months Cancer Free on the 24th and I promise to keep being first. Amen

thanks Donna

 
                                      THANKYOU,THANKYOU,THANKYOU


Hello everyone. Seems lots has happened since the last time I wrote on the blog. First and foremost, I am so excited, happy and proud to tell you I had a very good Dr's appointment today. My CA 125 was very good and all tests were normal. I cried and cried with such relief.
I'm feeling really good and hope to return to work in September. My biggest challenge continues to be my legs feeling very tired and weak but they assured me that this is a normal side effect from all the Chemo.
The Celebration turned out to be a great success. We had about 300 people come and we raised $5000.00. The money was donated to Cancer Care Brandon and The Murray House. Our family feels so proud to make this donation and pay it forward.
Our home has been busy and we have a few really exciting things happening. Kyle will be moving away to Kelowna next week and plans to go to university there to get his degree in Business. Its another 2 years and he will experience lots of new and exciting things. We look so forward to getting on a West Jet plane and going for a visit. Mandy is back to work after her year off and tomorrow we celebrate Frasers 1st birthday.
All in all, our family is loving life like never before. This bump in the road has made us all have an appreciation for the little things. We couldn't have gotten this far without all of you and your support.
I plan to do one more entry on my blog and then I will close it up and move forward with life.
    Keeping you in the loop always, Donna

Celebrating Health,Friends and Kindness

Hello! Life is becoming more and more normal each and every day and for that my family and I are forever grateful. I'm so proud to say I'm back to future planning and I can't even begin to tell you how great that feels. I lived in the moment for what seemed like forever.
I did something so very exciting and meaningful I must share it. I was able to attend the Relay for Life and I completed the survivors lap. WOW....certainly in the top 5 accomplishments of my life and I got to share it with some very special people in my life..first and foremost my soulmate Kelly and our family...grand kids and a few of my greatest supports...thanks ladies! It's a memory I will always cherish.
I'm proud to tell you some details of another celebration. Our family wishes to pay it forward therefore decided we would host a party. It will be Friday August 9 th at the Hydro Park. The Beatles will be playing and we will serve great food. Tickets and more information are available from Amanda at 5731210  Proceeds will be given to Cancer Care Bdn and The Murray House. Hope to see you there!  Keeping you in the loop   Always, Donna

                        5 MONTHS and ONE DAY CANCER FREE!!!!

 Life is beginning to go on in a more normal fashion...but its definitely a new normal but that's ok...I will take it and run with it!! I've just got home from my walk this morning and am sitting outside on the deck blogging....just loving my life.
Last week was exciting as Kyle graduated from his 2 year business program and we are very proud of him. He is busy working again this summer for a construction company and keeping busy. He will be moving out to try life on his own so we are happy for him. Cant wait till he invites us over for dinner!! Will be sure to tell you all about it.
Manda and Wes and our little boys are all doing great. Sawyer has been busy with pre school in the new YMCA building and also going to gymnastics. He's doing great at both and really showing signs of growing up. Little Fraser (nugget) is also doing great. He took 4 steps yesterday and is definitely getting ready to walk. Mandy and Wes are going to be keeping in shape running with and after their boys. We just love our time with them and are so glad we get to be with them so much.
We have all been going to the lake and sure are enjoying it. Last week we were out in the boat and we didn't just have to sit at the dock in it...it ran and we were able to cruise around the lake. hahhahahaha  That's for those of you that recall last years boating trip! I still have that same old sense of humor hey!
My health is generally good. My legs still give me trouble but we are trying to finds ways to reduce the discomfort they cause me. I continue to enjoy my afternoon naps and my green smoothie! I have lots of hair as its getting thicker all the time. I have not dyed it yet and not sure if I will. That seems pretty minor to me now! Well that's it for now. Enjoy your summer. Keeping you in the loop.
                
                                                   Always, Donna