Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Best Christmas Present Ever

     As you sit there digesting your Christmas dinner or anticipating your dinner, (depending on the time zone in your part of the world) let me tell you what is probably my best Christmas present ever!
On Tuesday I had an appointment at the Royal Free Hospital in London to have my wound examined and get the results of a recent CT scan.
   No sign of any cancer cells in my colon, abdomen, chest or liver and my liver has been restored to normal function. Hearing those words sent a wave of warmth and happiness surging at tsunami proportions from my feet up through my body and exiting via a big smile.
   Jaq here; I wanted to title this post "Laughing Man Returns," because after we returned home Tuesday evening, the stress and worry melted away from us both and Les' sense of humor and happiness returned. His laugh lines were back again and we sat at the dinette reading Friday jokes from Canal World Forum and laughing until we were doubled over with tears in our eyes. We fell asleep cuddled into each other with hugs, silly grins stretching across our faces. We had our celebratory dinner last night and will just chill out the rest of the week.
   Les will travel back to London for scans and blood tests every three months for a while. And we will stack the deck in our favor in all the ways and means at our disposal as is only sensible for any cancer survivor. He has no problem now taking a raft of supplements including IP-6--a non toxic chemotherapeutic agent which has shown tremendous promise in lab trials with rats in which colorectal cancer was initiated and allowed to grow unchecked for six months, after which the rats were fed IP-6 and all colorectal cancer cells and tumors were destroyed.
   Bacon, sausage, red meat, and sugary sweets are delicious but deadly memories. We will allow ourselves a very rare occasional treat during the holidays but otherwise our diet consists of fruit, berries, nuts, veg, some chicken and fish.
    Les wants to assure everyone that while this may sound like a meager 60's hippy and granola diet, he is full, satisfied, and his sweet tooth is quite happy with a fresh homemade yogurt and fresh fruit parfait in place of cakes, pies, candy and biscuits (cookies).
   I am walking two miles a day every day to help heal my left knee which has compensated for my right S-I joint being out for most of this past year. Each day I feel less pain and more strength in my knee.
   Roll on January 30th after which we will cruise out of this marina and turn right, heading slowly north, cruising back to our lives on the cut which will be the best medicine of all!!



21 comments:

  1. Wow, what a wonderful Christmas Present. I'm so pleased for you both. Ian also had the same good news last month so it's a fantastically good celebration for all of us this year. Merry Christmas and a very very Happy New Year to you both. Xxxxx

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  2. How fantastic! That has made my Christmas too. Happy new year!!!!

    PS Joe got the mags. Thank you so much. He is in heaven.

    Love,

    Sally

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  3. Great news Les & Jaq. Good to read all that effort has resulted in positive news. Hopefully we will meet whilst we cruise south and you cruise north.

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  4. YEA, YEA, YEA ... what a fabulous way to start the new year. Wishes for lots of Joy and continued great Health. May the universe shine down on you two.
    No winter yet here in Pullman.
    love Karen

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  5. We are both sitting here with big smiles on our faces and feeling quite gooey ... Such great news, precious people. Love and hugs, M&D xxoo

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  6. I have just read your post out to Joe and we are both sitting with be grins...it's Big Grin News..brilliant!
    X Lesley and Joe

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  7. Brilliant! That's such good news!!
    Let's hope the canal doesn't freeze up at the end of Jan
    :-)
    Kath (nb Herbie)

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  8. Well if there was ever a Christmas Message to bring more cheerful news we've not heard it yet...

    We knew we were right to believe that Santa would bring a good lad like you a wonderful present, Happy Christmas Les

    Kevin & Harry

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  9. Hey, great news.
    Well done, the pair of you. If you're heading north later maybe we'll finally get to meet! Looking forward to that!
    XXX

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  10. We couldn't be more happy for you both!! Take that, Mr. C!!!! Happy, Healthy New Year!
    J & C in Pullman

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  11. Hello Les & Jaq, this great news has made our Christmas. Isn't life wonderful and to be lived every day to the full with joy, and especially in the company of your beloved. xxx Jennifer & Peter nb Mactra;s Filia (see you on the 'cut' in 2015

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  12. Just great news, so very pleased for you both....

    Nev & Rachel

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  13. Cant get a better pressie than that.
    Have a cracking new year.
    Paul

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  14. Oh what a relief that is. Now you can both look forward to a happy New Year. ********** :-))

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  15. Good news indeed we are glad that you can now look forward to cruising again.
    Meanwhile we hope that you are enjoying your virtual cruise,along with us, via our blog.
    May see you again soon then!
    Cheers for 2015.
    Ann and Keith xx
    nb Oakfield

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  16. Wow! We are SO blessed indeed to know so many wonderful people--from boaters we have met to those we have yet to meet; friends across the world who we know well and those we know through email and blog comments. Thank you all for taking the time to comment and for sharing in our good news! If you are on the cut, we hope to see you in the new year; if not please know we hold you in our hearts. Happy New Year!! Jaq and LesXX

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  17. Great News Glad the Laughter is back.
    Hope to be back on the water ourselves at end of Jan All our Love Beryl & Dave.

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  18. What excellent news!! It was the same for our Helen - she had a personalised letter from her consultant on Xmas eve saying 'Here's the best Xmas present you will ever get - your scans are clear!'. We are so pleased for you both - pop in to see us when you get back our way!!

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  19. Hi Les and Jaq - that is indeed the best present ever. Have a truly brilliant and splendid 2015 - you both deserve it.
    Love
    Kath

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  20. Great news - so pleased for you both!

    Alistair

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Jaqueline Biggs