DAYS TEN AND ELEVEN.

Dear Folks - Have to apologize for lack of blog yesterday. Probably a traumatic event for most of you 

:-)

The Internet was down, so no chance to publish. On the other hand, I got IV Flagyl yesterday, and it made me so sick that I didn't eat supper, and went to bed very very early - I couldn't have done the blog in any event. Flagyl orally is bad; I thought IV would be different. My advice is... try to avoid both.

The major event of yesterday was that Evan went across the border to San Diego and went to the San Diego Zoo (eat your hearts out Steve and Sarah :-) ) It's just about a 20 minute walk, for Ev at least, from here to the border, then an hour to cross, on foot, and then there's a trolley to the Zoo. He said it was fantastic. I was really glad he went, because I worry about him getting bored. I've asked him to put a few pictures up.

Oh, and yesterday I also had an appointment with Dr. Espinoza. They got the results of my next 2 blood cancer marker tests (actually 2 new tests on the blood I gave when I first got here). They were both negative, which I took as very very positive. Now, Jacalyn has been doing energy work for me for months, and has been telling me for almost that long that my cancer is gone. She's very pleased with the results. And I have to give her credit for the work she's done. Thanks, J. So say we all. Now the question is , Why all the interminable bathroom trips. Guess we'll have to hope that the  good folks here at the Clinic can help with that. One of the first things Dr. C mentioned (did I mention this earlier?) was that they measured inflammation in my body. Normal is 0-8, mine reads 24. Not good. They're giving me anti-inflammatories by IV, so hopefully when that takes effect there will be a change.

Also yesterday had an appointment for an examination with the dentist whose office is on the second floor. He's relatively young, speaks impeccable English, not even an accent, and has a team he works with for various procedures. The fellow he has do tough extractions is one of his professors from dent school, and I have one of those. He comes well recommended by the people I've spoken to here, and his prices are 20 - 25% of Canadian. Guess I'll get a little work done.

Sat next to a lady from LaCrete - 6 hours north of Grande Prairie? - anyway, way up north. Her name is Gertrude Froese, and is here with her husband George. George got diagnosed with cancer in April 2011, and the Drs "gave him" 1 month to live. I'm here to tell you that he's very much alive, and doing fine. They came down last spring, and are now down for their 2nd or 3rd trip, and he looks pretty hale and hearty to me. They heard about it from a friend, also from LaCrete, who 8 years ago got prostate cancer, with lymph node spread, and was told to get his affairs in order, as they wouldn't even bother doing surgery. He's healthy, working, and doing fine. He comes back down here once a year. It's expensive, but what's your life worth? Another lady told me that a physician, whose wife is a nurse, both from Medicine Hat, just went home after 21 days of treatment, and she's doing well. Also, my client from Spruce View told me of a visit with a judge from Red Deer, Darryl Reimer, who's orginally from Grande Prairie area, and he and his wife just finished up. The stories are legion. 

Anyway, I'm going to turn this over to Evan in hopes that he can add pictures. Wishing the best to each of you....

Grant

DAY NINE (TREATMENT DAY SEVEN)

Just a word of explanation about the new heading. The course of treatment here is 21 days, i.e. 21 days on which you have treatment. But they only work days a week (only!), so 21 days takes longer than 21 days. And we were travelling for a coupe of days before treatment began, so thus the revised title. Boy, isn't all that fascinating?!

As I type, Evan is playing his guitar. I had reservations about him bring it (it was his only checked luggage), but I'm really glad he did. I love to listen to him play. Yesterday a lady said to me - ARe you the one with the son that plays banjo? I told her it was guitar, and yes I was. She suggested he entertain on the patio. So far mainly he just plays here in the room, altho he did go to the patio last night, but the lady there mainly wanted to talk. Seems like a universal need.

And today when Ev came down to the treatment room, Ellwood Thompson (Woody to his friends here, and probably in Spruce View), complimented Evan on his playing. He said something like "Next to spirituality, the most important thing in a family is to have music - very important". I happily informed him that we'd always had lots of music in our home and that Jacalyn was an accomplished musician. That was fun.

Took a few more pictures today. One of Dr. Castillo's daughter, who sometimes covers the desk on the third floor where we live (just outside our door, actually, but it's never noisy). Also one of Evan and Theresa, who is the lady normally here, and also the hyperbaric chamber (a few of those, actually). Anyway, I'll ask Evan to put those up when I've finished my part.

Slept better last night than for a long time - as long as 2 hours without jumping up to go to the bathroom. Sorry for the bathroom talk, I find it embarrassing, but it's been a huge factor in dealing with this illness, so might as well talk about it. Some might call it gross, I 'll just call it self-disclosure, something which (those who know me will agree) I like even less than gross.

Evan cooked today for our noon meal. We had salmon, canned vegetables, and warmed up rice that Ev cooked the other day. We get along well as roomies (I think - I haven't dared ask him yet what he thinks :-)

So, I'm 1/3 of the way thru the course of treatment, and think I can see improvement.

Today a fellow came into the treatment room, an older Mexican fellow, carrying a huge and heavy basket (like probably 28-30 inches across heaped up with baking etc. Unfortunately, neither Ev nor I had any money with us. We discussed when he'd gone that that would be a tough life. We in Canada don't really appreciate how good we have it, and I'm one of the guiltiest. And this Mexican fellow doesn't have it as rough as many many others. We're really lucky.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with one of the other Drs (who isn't Dr. Castillo). More on that after the appointment (for those of you with a really high boredom threshhold - woo woo).

God bless you every one.Good night.

Grant

DAY EIGHT

Hello again-

The big excitement today in the treatment room was that "Scott" had a birthday, and someone got him a "Hoxsey approved" cake - in other words, no white flour or sugar. It was delicious, and was topped with strawberries and kiwis.

The secondary excitement was that I found out today that I did not dodge the bullet on the shots in the hip. Had 2 today. The nurse gave me the first one, and Ev gave me the second one (she's teaching him how, so he can do it at home).

Went to hyperbaric at noon, then a nap, then out to the mall shopping for PJ's, a sweater, and a jacket. Evan is too warm, and I'm too cold. go figure.

Evan is going to attach a few pictures. Two of them are of Emily and Mika, the two nurses, and one of the treatment room, where all the fun happens.

Sorry, but I'm really really tired tonight.

All the best,

Grant

DAY EIGHT

Hello again from chilly downtown Tijuana-

And yes, I realize chilly is a relative term :-) Maybe chillier would be a better choice.

So, another day at the salt mines. Today I went downstairs at about 9:15, and didn't make it back until after 1:30. I was advised before we came down that the IV would take maybe 2 hours a day, and then we'd have the rest of the day free. Not. Got my regular bad of IV stuff, plus B17, plus IV Flagyl (which is way easier to take than the oral stuff), plus a bag of sodium bicarbonate, to alkalinize the system.

There are two ladies who put the IV in your arm, and keep you supplied with new stuff. I particularly like the older shorter one (I'll try to send a picture soon). She is a Christian lady - says she loves Christmas, but not Santa Claus. At her house they only allow presents for kids 6 and under, lest present giving become pre-eminent. She has 4 kids, 2 girls and 2 boys, and is just expecting her first granddaughter. Her biggest regret is that she will probably only see her grandchild once a year, as her daughter and son-in-law live a 3 hour flight away, near Mexico City.

When I was 14 I read a book called "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living". I thought that I had mastered the principles at that time, but lately I realized I've been spending a LOT of time worrying about all kinds of things -J, kids, health, MLW. I'm guessing that it is a factor in the cancer. And worry is a most unproductive activity - debilitating actually. So I started reading the book again today - it's excellent, and I'd recommend it to anyone. I know people always say that about the books they're reading, but seriously folks, its very useful.

After IV session, we helped Peter (Parkinson's) and Lorna (his wife - has ALS) get to the little lunch restaurant near the clinic. They're going home to Edmonton tomorrow. He was a dentist in his previous life, which ended when he got Parkinsons. Both very nice folks.

After that it was an hour in the hyperbaric chamber, where we watched a video called "Little Monsters" - I don't recommend it - the video I mean. Apparently the chamber is good stuff.

Evan and I haven't gone much else of note today. Tomorrow we may go out and try to find a sweater and a jacket. Like it really is chilly.

Sorry to not have a livelier blog. Our life is boring, my blog is boring. In literature we call that verisimilitude. On the Net we just call it a boring blog.

God bless you all. There is much to be said for living in Alberta (or Canada anywhere, really), although clearly weather at this time of year is't really a plus.

Love from the South,

Grant

DAY SEVEN

Hello to all from beautiful downtown Tijuana. Have you ever noticed we all pronounce that name as though it has an "a" in front of the "j"?, but it doesn't. The English major in me obviously dies hard :-). Tijuana is a very large city - it has 20 LDS meetinghouses, if that gives you some idea.

Today I went to the Independence Ward. They meet in a proper meeting house - my taxi driver didn't know exactly where it was, even from the address, and tried to drop me off at a Pentecostal Church down the street. I assured him it wasn't the right one - you could tell from the blue paint. And the name.

The people were friendly, and 2 or 3 spoke English. I didn't understand any of the service, which was the Primary Presentation, which was really sweet (of course). I did recognize the Primary songs, and the spirit of the meeting was a great deal like a Primary program at home. Lisa said her Ward did theirs today too. Gotta love that world-wide Church thing :-).

Taxi's are interesting here. You negotiate the price before you get in. Here at the Clinic they have an arrangement with one cab company, and the drivers all speak at least some English. I asked the driver if it would be $10.00, and he said "$10 there and $10 back". I countered at $15.00, and we settled at that. I think gringos pay a lot more than the natives. He says he rents his cab for $100.00 a week, so if he gets a few significant fares, he can pay for it in a day, and the other 6 days he takes the money home. I think the Clinic is a plum assignment.

Once back from Church Evan and I walked to the Mexican Cultural Center, which is maybe half a mile away. It's a complex of buildings, some of which are very modern and beautiful. All the exhibits were very well done. I especially liked a large one about the settling of Mexico by the Spanish. Lots of replica's of missions and (especially) different types of ships. Very very detailed. Astonishing really. It took somebody years.

Some of you have been looking for pictures to spice this blog up. Evan and I took some today, and he's going to try to put them on the blog tonight.

Anyway, we left the Cultural Center around 4:00, as it starts to get dark shortly after that, and you don't want to walk around much after dark. During the day it's no problemo.

So the Sabbath was a physically demanding day (sort of like the YSA Branch :-), and I'm whacked. Skyped with Lisa, Squinch and Moogie, and Steven phoned, and spoke briefly to Jacalyn, who had the Sisters and Jessica over. Anyway, I'm whacked and on my way to bed. I'll leave it to Ev to do photo's. Then tomorrow another 6 days in a row of treatments.

Love you all very much. God bless and keep you.

Grant

DAYS FIVE AND SIX

So, pretty worn down last night and just couldn't summon up the energy to type. A friend here said they were having the same problem, and Dr. Castillo said that's pretty normal and they should sleep if that's what they feel like doing.
Had an appointment with Dr. Castillo yesterday afternoon. He reported that of the two cancer marker tests they had done, my marks are normal and revealed NO cancer. He said there are a couple of other tests that they will now do (on the blood that they took that first day) which will give a more complete picture. Dr. C. outlined the treatment plan and some oral meds to take, which I won't bore you with, and then sent me upstairs to the hyperbaric chamber guy. The HC is like the inside of a (very small) submarine - 4 chairs inside, and a video screen. You wear an oxygen mask, and they increase the pressure, the idea being that you breathe pure oxygen and the pressure infuses it into your body. The Dr. in charge of the Chamber says all the professional football teams etc have them to help athletes heal from injuries. Cool- I've always wanted something in common with a professional athlete :-).

For supper we ordered Chicken on the Way (Mexican style) and ate in our room. Evan is great company. Good sense of humour, very patient, interesting, willing to help, gets along well with other people, helps me understand and deal with the language and customs (don't ask me how he knows, but he does).

Today was more of the same. IV in the morning, HBC in the afternoon (at 3) and between the two, a trip to the local supermarket (Ley's) to buy a bit of food, but most importantly two foamies to put on top of our rock hard mattresses. My hip got so sore the first night that the next day I took about 6 pillows and laid them crossways down the middle of my bed to make it softer. Unfortunately it's a little like sleeping on a ridge (a soft ridge, mind), and so the foamies are a big improvement. We anticipate a more peaceful sleep tonight.

Earlier there was a rock band, with a very heavy drum beat, playing next door. They played for about an hour, then stopped. Then they started up for another hour, then stopped. We were worried they were opening a nightclub next door, but nothing for the past 2 hours, so we are relieved.

Sorry - no pictures so far. We're going to try to move to that tomorrow. It's Sunday, and we've already scoped out which Church to go to (a 1:00 Ward, which hopefully means it's YSA - we'll see).

For those of you who have written, thank you so much. I appreciate your interest and prayers very much. God bless you.

Time to turn in. Love you,

G.

Days One, Two, Three, and Four

Well, this is my/our blog from Mexico. I say "our" because Ev has been such an integral part of this trip. It didn't become a blog until Day 4 - up to that time it was just a family email. So I've just copied and pasted Days 1,2,and 3 into this (or Ev has :-), and I'll do the blog thing hereafter. I was going to try to edit down Days One and Two particularly, because I have it on good authority that it was much too detailed, and reading it was like watching paint dry, but.... just too darn tired to edit, so feel free to speed-read, or skip, it. So here goes...

Hello to you all-

 I've never really wanted to do a blog, but can see that this is the right situation for one. Unfortunately, because the computer is connected to a Mexican port, Google thinks I read Spanish, and has responded accordingly. Fortunately Evan figured it out, and we are now blogworthy and blogcapable (or at least he is...)

Day One-

Started WAY too early. Woke up around 4, laid there dozing till 4:15, did normal morning ablutions, then finished the last remnants of packing.  Had family prayer by the front door, said our goodbyes, then off into the frozen dark. Evan drove, for which I was grateful. I was reminded of Thoreau's advice that one should try to avoid any venture that requires new clothes (Ev tells me that's from the first chapter of Walden), and suggested that the corollary should be "Try to avoid any trip that requires getting up at 4:00 in the morning." He agreed. We went to Vincent's house, and he drove us to the airport. We left the house 15 minutes late, and got to the airport exactly 15 minutes late, but in lots of time to get thru inspection etc. 

Ev had booked us aisle seats across from each other, very near the bathroom at the back, and each of us had 2 free seats beside us, which was nice. Spent some time dozing, but more looking out the window, noticing how much of the US is barren, desert, or mountain, and thus mostly uninhabitable. Also noticed, when we were coming down into San Diego, that there were lots of "acreages" sort of near, but not in, communities, and that there were tons of little roads and tracks perfect for dirt biking. Some dreams die hard. 

Landed in SD, and took a shuttle to our motel, a Super 8 in a section of SD called National City (Part way to the border). At first they put us in a room that they said had a king size bed (it was a double), and in which the toilet didn't flush. We asked for a change and they gave us one with a queen size, which was much better. We walked about a mile to find a restaurant for some dinner (which for a geezer in bad shape was a chore). I had a rice and chicken dish, which for vegans is a no-no. I'm rationalizing my food choices right now, and have been for perhaps two weeks. I figure I have been on a vegan protocol, but don't know exactly what the new diet protocol will be from the Mexican clinic, so I might as well enjoy the interim, until the new diet forbids new stuff. Rationalization I know. Regrettable, but I have enjoyed the food. 

Ev and I visited a place calling itself the "SAn Diego Leather Factory" (whose web address is "leather.com", so they must have been around when the internet started and got in the game early). My favorite leather coat there was made in China :-(. , but they do have some stuff that they themselves have made. We retired early (I had a nap in the afternoon), and slept relatively well, except for a brief interlude when a couple were screaming down the place at each other and the police came to quiet them down.

DAY TWO

When we got up and went to the continental breakfast it was warm and sunny. Gotta love it. At 11:00 a.m. precisely, out shuttle from the Castillo Clinic showed up and we headed south. It was maybe a 15 minute drive to the border. The Mexican government has just built a huge new port of entry, brand new and just opened, and getting thru was relatively quick and painless. 

Got to the clinic around 11:30, and the first people we met were from La Crete Alberta. Most of the people here are from Canada, and the majority of those are from Alberta. We parked in the underground garage, and took the elevator to the 3rd floor, where the suites are. We were greeted by "Theresa", the lady that I've been talking to to book the room. She showed us to our room, which was supposed to have a king bed, which again was a double. Maybe that's a southwest thing? Anyway, a lady from across the hall named Joanne immediately mother-henned us, and told us that our room was unacceptable, as it was on the freeway side of the building, and went with us down to see Theresa to see if we could get a different room across the hall. Theresa apologized profusely, but explained there weren't any available. Joanne showed us where a little restaurant is, and where the grocery store is, and gave us some food items that she doesn't need because she's almost done her course of treatment. We met a lot of other people as well. No one, except us, closes their doors on their rooms - it's kind of like a family, and kind of like a ward, and everyone here either has compromised health, or is here with someone with compromised health, so it's a bit of a bonding thing.

Anyway, after a trip to the grocery store, to buy some staples, we came back and I took a 3 hour nap. Since I quit taking all my supplements about a week ago, in preparation for the trip, I've really lost energy. At least that's what I attribute it to. We'll see. While I was sleeping Evan was busy making another trip to the store to pick us some heavier items, and meeting more people. When I woke up at 5 he said "Well, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that we're going to have to pack up our stuff - the good news is that Theresa has given us Room #1, which has two beds, and is one of the largest rooms in the place." Now, you have to know that earlier in the day I had showed Ev one of the books I brought with us, a Dale Carnegie number called "How to Win Friends and Influence People". He said I'd given him a copy of it years ago, and he wasn't interested then, or now :-). Seems he didn't need it, then or now :-). Anyway, so now we're in a beautiful (relatively - the whole place is more utilitarian and hospital-like than motel-like - but very pleasant and clean) room, with two double beds, both of which, get this, have waffle like foam pads on them - the bed in the first room was like sleeping on a board - so we're pretty thrilled. It's also on the side of the building AWAY from the freeway, and is much quieter. 

Tomorrow I go down at 9:00 to the lab to start assessment and blood tests etc., and I have an appointment with one of the physicians in the afternoon. Then they will decide on a treatment protocol and get started. Apparently they also test for other stuff, besides the complaint you come in for, to make sure they get whatever it is you're suffering from identified and treated. Met a lady from Grande Prairie who has colon cancer, and whose mother is here with rectal cancer. She said they found 3 or 4 other things wrong with her as well. I'm happy they do that. We'll see what they come up with. I've been happy telling people that apart from the cancer I'm really healthy :-), but we'll find out tomorrow. 

Evan has been and is an excellent travelling companion. Cheerful, strong, willing, and obviously possessed of outstanding people skills. He helped a couple of people get set up on internet while I was sleeping, and has been very patient with me being boring, and sleeping a lot.

A couple of other things. The clinic is like 18 months old, and is very nice. And Tijuana has really been cleaned up, and is not the snake pit and drug war ground that is was a while ago. Which is comforting. We can see the Costco from the balcony at the end of the hall, and apparently there's a Sears close by as well (as in, a $4.00 taxi ride). There's a dentist on the 2nd floor, in case you need dental work done. I'll check that out a bit. 

I'd appreciate feedback. Not sure what degree of detail anyone wants to hear. 

Time to sleep almost. Certainly time to sign off. God bless you all - we very much appreciate your love and support and prayers.

DAY THREE

Not much to report today really. I went down at 9 a.m. to do blood tests etc. , then was free till 3:30, when I was scheduled to have an appt with Dr. Rubio. So in the interim, of course, I napped:-). Boy, don't know what it is, the altitude change, the humidity, the warmth, or the lack of my normal supplements, but I'm really really whacked. All I want to do is rest. We did go over to Costco to pick up some groceries, and try to pick up a better waffle top for the bed - no luck on that part of it. 

Dr. Rubio gave me a very thorough questioning, and then examination, the type you used to get from Canadian doctors. He prescribed a course of treatment which involves chelation, vitamins, and some other stuff, on a 3 day rotation. Starting tomorrow I start on a new diet regimen, involving no white sugar, no white flour products, no pork, no vinegar, no tomatoes, and (alas) no added salt. There are some other don'ts, but I can't remember them at the moment. He suggested that before the new diet cuts in, that we go out an have a final supper, so we did. Went to a smorg in a mall nearby, and just got home. For those of you who know what it is, they had some very good horchada. 

Now the plan is to go to bed early and get some sleep, and go down tomorrow morning and start on the treatment. I'm excited to get started, and anxious to see some sort of improvement in bathroom frequency and urgency (the bane of my life for the past year). 

We learned some taxi etiquette today. There's a fellow named Manuel (Manny) who does mainly clinic related trips. YOu are supposed to ask him "Is it still $4.00?, and he will agree or disagree - at least you know in advance what the cost is.

I find it nerve-wracking to be in a country where I never know what's going on - I suppose some would opine that that's the same in Canada :-). What I mean is that with no knowledge of the language it can be very awkward. One really ought to learn a bit of the language before one travels, or at the very least have a phrase book, or even better, a phrase app. I guess that was my least favorite thing today, not knowing what's going on.

I sure appreciate the thoughts and prayers of each of you. I know that there are lots worse trials in this world, but this is as bad as I want to see anytime soon. Love you all, 

DAY FOUR

So today was the first day of treatment. You have to put your name on a list the night before so that you'll be in the first shift - they can take about 20 people at a time for the IV treatment. It's supposed to start at 9:00 a.m., but as a friend here says, "it's Mexican time", so it really doesn't get started until somewhat later. I'm used to Mormon time, so no big sweat. Most of the people sit in one room, and it's very convivial. For some reason, they put me in a seperate room with an easy chair - guess I'll have to check my deodorant. 

Anyway, they hook you up to an IV, which takes about and hour and a half to drain into you. Near the end the lady came in and inserted a needle into the apparatus, and told me to squeeze it over 5 minutes into the tube. The hypodermic had Vitamin B17, or laetrile, in it. I'll get that every day apparently, at least for the forseeable future. The main fluid was chelation, to remove heavy metals etc from your system. 

After the IV was done, they spirited Ev and I off to a different clinic for a chest X-ray, then quickly back. Ev and I cooked and ate, then he escorted one of the ladies to a pharmacy nearby - she was scared to go on her own, even in the day. I was proud of him for helping out.

Lots of nap time for the halt, lame and weary. I saw an article today that showed a very gaunt Matthew McConaghy, who lost 38 pounds for a role he was playing. He said his energy was down by about a third, which I found heartening. Hopeful he and I will soon be fat(ter) and happy. 

The excitement tonight is that an alarm on the next building over went off, very loudly, and has been going for the last 2 hours - looks like it will go on all night. AS we are at the opposite end of the building, it's bearable, but one of our friends is right next to it, which will make sleep impossible. The security guard was called, but obviously had no idea who to contact to get it shut off. 

Tonight we had rice, salmon and canned vegetables. Very nourishing, and tasty. 

Getting late - time to turn in. 

Tune in tomorrow for the next fascinating instalment...

Love you, Grant