Kerri Reynaud passed away Monday, June 15, 2009 at her home in Redwood Meadows, Alberta, Canada.

Kerri's funeral service will be held on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 1 pm at Foster's Garden Chapel Funeral Home, 3220 4th Street NW in Calgary.

Thank you for all your love and support.

Here is the link to Olivier's website.

http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Alberta2009?px=1778621&pg=personal&fr_id=1282

Tuesday already....that means tomorrow is my fun-packed day! I really have loaded it with appointments this week - Dr Ruether, Dr Hergott (the lung clinic), chemo, ultrasound to see if they can take some of the fluid off the abdomen (they tried once before but couldn't find a pocket with enough in one area to be worth while). It will be a long day, but hopefully some questions will be answered, particularly from the lung specialists - why is the new drain not draining any fluid? why is my oxygen/breathing still a problem if there is no fluid on the lungs? can they take out the left drain now? I still have my stitches to come out from the right side as well. Hopefully they will be able to take some fluid from the abdomen this time which will give me some relief even if it is just for a couple of weeks or so.
I also have my appointment rebooked at the lymphedema clinic for this Thursday, so we will be able to discuss any possible solutions to the swelling in my legs. The knee-high socks work well for that area, but then the swelling starts justs at the knee, making bending of the knee difficult. A sort of tension tubigrip was mentioned as something to try for the knee and thigh area, which I could take on and off, leaving the knee-high sock, to try to control the swelling higher up, but also allowing me to take it off if it was causing more pressure in the abdomen or causing further breathing problems. I am willing to try anything to make mobility easier.

Carol - only a few more days and you'll be here! I really can't wait! I suppose I should warn you that Olivier is looking forward to you coming as well, so that he can get a bit of a break from his duties! You do like doing laundry don't you?! I have discovered that Olivier really doesn't like it much at all! It takes a whole week just to get one load through the process of actually getting downstairs and into the washing machine, then it has to make its way into the dryer, then it has to get out of the dryer and wait, patiently, to be folded, and then finally get into the right chest of drawers/wardrobe, before the whole process starts all over again! We all laugh about it! As I type this, I can see a basket full of laundry left this morning for me to fold!

Claire - glad to hear you have now joined the party on the blog.

I will soon be posting a link to Olivier's website. He is doing the Ride to end Cancer taking place here at the end of June. He is part of a team and you will be able to donate funds directly through the website if you want. He has to raise at least $2500, but hopes to raise more. All information about this fundraiser will be on his website.

Hello everyone. Sorry I haven't been in touch for a while. Things are going well after last weeks procedure. I am not nearly as sore as I was when they put the first catheter in, which is a relief. It does look like the left side is slowing right down - we barely got 3 drops of fluid yesterday when we tried to drain it. I am due to go back to see the lung specialists on March 18th, so I am sure they will be able to assess the situation then. The new catheter is giving off a fair amount of fluid, but similar to how it was on the left side at the beginning - yesterday we drained 300ml.
My oxygen levels are still very low, so I have to use my oxygen as much as possible and not just at night. I am still not very comfortable about wearing it out in public, but if I need it, then I am sure I will manage to swallow my pride.
Carol, I liked your comment about air bags!
Sarah, great to catch up with you on the phone the other day and good to see that you have managed to sign in to this blog.
My appointment at the lymphedema clinic yesterday was cancelled, so they will call me to reschedule. The knee-high stockings are giving me more mobility, but I find there is now a lot of swelling from the knee up (obviously), so not sure what they can suggest.
Tomorrow is chemo day and if they are on time, then I should be finished much earlier, since I am meant to start at 11am (it takes 2 hours), which would be a nice change. When I start late, it just seems to consume the whole day and makes for a very long day for everyone.

Tody went well. Such a difference, when you ask for a little sedation! I am pretty sore right now, but that should calm down over the next few days.
Now we can keep control on the fluid build up on the right side, thus helping my breathing. The left side is draining less and less, so hopefully that could mean that they will be able to take that catheter out in the not too distant future.

Got word today, that the procedure to put a catheter into my right lung this time, is happening tomorrow morning. I have requested to be sedated this time (not a pleasant experience when I had the left one put in), so should be a lot easier this time. I am to be at the hospital at 10.30am and will be home in the afternoon. They will probably want to keep me under observation for a little bit after the procedure, since I am having some form of sedation. The procedure itself should only take about 30 - 45 mins. Breathing should be a bit better, as a result, tomorrow.

For those of you in the Rockyview district, you should get a copy of this week's Rockyview Weekly, there is an article on us which is worth a read.
It can also be accessed online, for anyone else interested.
We will be contacting more media to see if they would be interested in running a story as well - the more publicity, the better.