The above line, since the turn of the year, pretty much defines my existence anymore… and I think anyone with life-threatening cancer can relate: the cancer pretty much becomes the be-all and end-all of one’s life. However, for the sake of accuracy and to more fully allow the reader to understand who and what I am, please let me indulge with a few more details.
I was born in October, 1954, in Geleen, Holland. Long story short: my mother, father, and I (my mother pregnant with my sister at the time) emigrated toMontréal, Quebec, Canada in the spring of 1957. Over the course of the next 25 years I lived in Montreal, Hamilton, ON, Grand Rapids, MI, Calgary, AB, and finally settled in St Catharines, ON in 1987… and have lived here ever since.
I’ve had a variety of jobs/careers: welder/metalworker, licensed real estate salesperson, muffler installer, home renovation salesperson, meat packing plant warehouse worker, greenhouse erector, greenhouse structure manufacturing production supervisor, web developer… and at least a half-dozen other jobs not worth mentioning. Since 1994 I have been self-employed owning/operating H2Only Bottled Water Delivery Service (the past three years in partnership with my wife.)
Married since ’79 to Wilma (usually called either “lucy” or “beloved”), and we’ve raised four daughters, and have a son-in-law. One daughter lives in London, ON… and another near London, England. Two are still at home & at school. One dog. A dozen aquarium fish. Two dozen or so houseplants. A brick bungalow in a quiet neighbourhood in the ‘burbs with a big yard, near the lake and parks and good schools… the perfect life!
And then… the opening line above. And that’s where the story starts for this website. You can follow along using four different tracks: my day-to-day story (Journal), or what’s going on with me medically (DocZone). One of the more fundamental areas of interest for me in this has been my spiritual life… I very early clued into the fact that I was not walking this thing alone, and that God was leaving his fingerprints on me (Touched) And finally, you can also get some idea of where this disease is at as far as the medical science is concerned (Research).
As I have said elsewhere, this site has a number of different purposes. One of those is, for me, very clearly an interest in reaching out, in being in contact. So by all means leave comments!
Wow !! God’s faithfulness is certainly evident in the words I’ve read – we’re always on a journey…..detours, roadblocks, etc. but always in motion.
Thanks for your transparency in sharing your heart – as one who knows, this is not easy, & I know comes with a ‘cost’, yet can’t be bought or sold.
May God be all that you need always.
Hi John,
I’m so glad I found you on the Beacon Forum today. That led me to your journal. I like your positive attitude and posts. I’ve added you to my favorites, and look forward to following your journey.
Best wishes to you.
Lin
John, best wishes to you as you move on in your battle. Take heart- my father was diagnosed much in the same way you were -8 years ago- and is on to his second stem cell transplant. I wanted to comment to you that you may find some relief in acupuncture for your neuropathy. My father was having horrible neuropathy (velcade too) in his legs-actually landing him in the hospital- and he finally found real relief with acupuncture. He is not an alternative medicine type guy, I was shocked he tried it, but it does work for him. He receives it at the pain management clinic at his cancer center. You may want to check it out- no medication so no loss if it doesn’t work. Good luck to you. Amy
HI John:
Just spent the better half of an hour browsing through your site! I think you are doing a wonderful thing here. I wish you all the best and look forward to your posts.
Keep writing!
Laura
Thanks for the comment, Laura.
Yeah, I’ve been keeping a bit of a journal for the past year or so, and this site is the result. I had originally intended for it to be more resource-intensive, but kind of gave up on that aspect (I may yet get back to it). It’s been good for me personally to keep track and clarify my thinking, and I think others have benefited as well.