One week closer to the end of chemo treatments, and one week to go. Nick’s been getting out almost daily with friends – setting off fireworks on the long weekend; stuffing himself on all-you-can-eat sushi; roasting marshmallows around our backyard bonfire (complete with guitar and sing-along); and, just hanging out enjoying the summer weather.
It hasn’t been all play though. He started driving lessons last week and his G2 driving test is scheduled for the end of June. Ray & Nick Pineglen Construction Associates was (very informally) established and they spent a couple of afternoons helping a neighbour tear down his deck. Nick is still limited in what he can do with the PICC line in his arm, but he did what he could.
Our neighbour Russ has been helping Ray finish up the plumbing for the new basement bathroom, offering his expertise (all you have to remember is that water runs downhill) and words of encouragement (just test the darn thing already). Normally Ray becomes obsessed with house projects, but this winter he’s understandably lacked motivation and, without regular prodding and generous assistance from a couple of friends, we’d likely still have a toilet plunked in the middle of the TV room.
It hasn’t been all work for Ray. He got out with the guys one evening to hit a bucket of balls at the driving range and drink some beer. Ray and I also had our first night out in quite a while, going to see a friend’s band (one of Ray’s bathroom helpers) at a coffee house.
I volunteered as a scribe for three half-day sessions during the Grade 3 EQAO tests. Scribes help students who have Individualized Education Plans. I’m not a fan of standardized testing and I hope the NDP pulls off a win in the upcoming provincial election, if for no other reason than that they’ve promised to scrap the tests. I’ve also started working with another charity – a shelter and support centre for pregnant and parenting youth. I’ve been helping them develop a social media strategy and will likely do some writing for them going forward.
On Friday, Nick was invited to his high school’s Relay for Life fundraiser. He was there as a cancer survivor, so he joined a half dozen others for the survivors’ dinner and the survivors’ lap, with his former schoolmates cheering from the sidelines. Ray and I were very proud of the maturity, strength and courage he showed in attending this year’s event.
At last year’s event, Nick and his friends formed a team and dressed up. It was a fun school event to raise money for a good cause. None of them knew then that Nick already had cancer and that they’d soon be part of his support team.
It was a poignant and profound reminder of how quickly circumstances can change, and that the charities that ask for our help today could be the ones providing us with support in the future.
Speaking of cancer charity fundraisers (see that smooth segue), Nick and I will be rappelling down a high building in a couple of weeks to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. We’re 93% 101% of the way to our $3,000 goal. Thank you!
https://makeawishca.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=5523
Not 93% anymore. XO
You weren’t supposed to do that. I specifically said “if you haven’t already donated”. But thank you. Again. ❤️❤️❤️