Comox Valley Blogs

I started a group for local Comox Valley bloggers. Last night was our first meet-up.

I'm kind-of at a loss for words.

In only a few short hours we all bonded - and I sense that this group will become a key part of the new "working mama" role I find myself in.

I'm looking forward to future meetings. 19 people have joined the "Comox Valley Blogs" group so far - and each individual comes from a unique place in life. There are men and women from all kinds of professions. I am so excited to get to know these people and witness how we all learn from each other.

Today I don't feel as overwhelmed by the task ahead of me.

Comox Valley Dwellings.com is going to happen!!! I am beyond excited! Everything is falling in place so nicely! Thank you "Comox Valley Bloggers" for being part of a community which is encouraging me in my blog journey - and other people too!

edited to ad: Oh! I guess I should mention how to join! Sometimes I forget that there are actual "readers" hanging around here :) You can join the group on facebook. Search "Comox Valley Blogs". If you don't use facebook, email me and I'll make sure to contact you about future meetings. jbpearce at telus dot net.

Our car was rear-ended a little while ago.

I took it to ICBC and they said it would most likely be a write-off. I started looking into that scenario and found out that ICBC would only pay me a small portion of what my car was actually worth, since I was in the odd situation where I have an old car with low k's on it ('92 jetta with only 80,000k).

In anticipation that I may need to find some new wheels, I started looking around. I know what I would get if I could. Wagon! (dog+kid+camping+work... = WAGON!)

I also want something good on gas and something that looks good for business.

After some searching I wondered off the path most traveled and ended up in the land of import vehicles.

oh my goodness - I totally want an import mini-mini-van! Such as the Subaru Sambar!

Check it!!!

But alas, the repair shop called and it turns out that it is a write off - only I can keep my car if I pay the repair shop the difference ($90). It can be totally fixed. I had to do the responsible thing and keep me' ol' jetta. Howevever, this image may be lurking in my head for a quite a while. I may be tempted to sell the jetta, make up the difference (somehow!) and bring this baby to Canada.

I'm imagining it with my new business logo slapped all over it!

Cancer Free - TWO YEARS!

On June 19th in 2007 I had a surgery for the removal of a high-grade Synovial Sarcoma located in my cheek wall. I was 23. Ruthie was only 20 months old. Joe was scared.

I was also scared. I've never been so scared in my life then in those moments in the early morning before my surgery. Lying in my hospital gown with Joe at my side - trying to face the reality that my body was about to be cut and scared and changed forever. Surprisingly I wasn't really that scared about dying - but when the thought came into my mind I would shed tears at the sadness of leaving my little Ruthie behind.

My surgery was just over 6 hours long and was done by two main surgeons, Dr. Pathak and Dr. Taylor.

I remember waking up from the anesthetic and having a serious panic attack. I was breathing through my heck. I looked down and saw most of by body covered with blood. I couldn't move my neck. My leg was in a ridiculous amount of pain from where the graft was taken.

They gave me a good dose of various drugs and I was wheeled into the Burn Unit at the Royal Jubilee hospital. I remember watching the ceiling panels go by...

I remember Joe's voice. I remember my mom briefly coming to visit - but she couldn't stay long because it was too hard to see me in such a state.

I remember coughing through my neck. I remember the horrid nurse who said "watch this one, she'll paint the walls with blood" - she must have thought I was more out-of-it than I really was. Who would say such a thing in front of a patient?

I remember pushing the panic button a zillion times when I couldn't get air. The nurses would come, stick a suction tube in the hole to try and help me out. When that wouldn't work they would take water and squirt it in to loosen up whatever was blocking my airway. I felt like I was being drowned.

I remember having to let nurses and doctors touch my body everywhere. I remember letting go of every need I had when it came to modesty and privacy.

I remember the ache in my breasts as they filled with precious milk which was supposed to be for my little Ruthie. My baby was with my mom, and I wouldn't see her for at least 2 weeks. I remember being very sure that my decision to keep her out of the hospital was best for her. I snuggled the teddy bear my mom brought me which was dressed her her sweet-smelling pj's and worn-in leather shoes.

I remember Joe, sitting the chair next to me looking worried and helpless. He stayed in that chair straight for 3 days until he finally had a decent nights sleep at a friend's house.

That was two years ago today.

After the first couple of days in the hospital all the things I love about myself came shining through. I started questioning the nurses about the drugs they were giving me. I started pumping my feeding tube FULL of water every chance I got because I knew that nothing would be better for my body. I forced myself to take long walks around the hospital - drooling all the way - so that I would gain my strength back. I stole the nurses computer every chance I got to catch up with my supportive friends and family. I watched enough HGTV to last a lifetime. I am a fiercely independent woman.

I was out of the hospital and home again much earlier than expected.

Starting my life all over again after cancer proved to be much more difficult than the journey through treatment. But that is another story...

Today I am writing these memories with thankfulness and tears and my eyes. I would not trade any of this for ANYTHING in the world. This experienced changed my life.

Here is a link to the post two years ago: http://bethanypearce.blogspot.com/2007/06/good-news.html