I am feeling much better this week. I have much more energy. It is amazing what a difference a few days make.
Yesterday, I had a consultation regarding the stem cell transplant. It was a great meeting, at a Hamilton hospital. Most of my many questions were answered. I need two more rounds of chemo before the operation. This makes all kinds of rational sense as the chemo I am presently taking is working, and the stem cell transplant will be much more effective if the cancer is already reduced greatly. This will mean that the process for the transplant will begin in early May, with the actual transplant occurring in early June. There will be a three to six month recovery from this.
It is disappointing to hear that I need two more rounds of chemo treatments before the transplant. I had wanted the last treatment to be the last! I am also realizing that there is no quick end to this process. I am now getting more accustomed to the news, but I know that patience will be needed. The grace will be there to take this a step at a time. The upcoming spring weather will help me get through it, I am sure. The good news, I have to remind myself, is that the present chemo is working! The ulcers continue to heal.
All Creation is Groaning... 
Glad there are some positive things in the midst of the journey. Know our prayers are with you.
That is great news James.We will be thinking of you and praying for your continued recovery.Love from the Spicers.
Glad to hear of your improvement. May it continue. Peace and Blessings John
Sent from my iPhone
Dear Jim,
What good news, even though the journey continues. You have been on this path a long time, so it is natural that you would want things to be “the last”. We’ll be home this weekend & look forward to seeing you, dear friend, face to face.
Lots of love,
Peter & Barbara
Jim
It is so great to hear that you’re making progress. Our prayers continue to be with you.
Brent
Dear Jim,
We are so glad that you are feeling better and we will continue to pray that your healing will continue. I know that that at times it must be very difficult and that you still have a long road ahead of you, but with the coming of spring and the renewal of nature, we hope that this will give you optimism and strengh to continue along this difficult road until you are fully well.
Madis and everyone else here that you met n Estonia
James: May your brother Jesuit be hope for us all. I choose to believe he will be. Peace John
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All praise and honour and glory be to You, oh Lord our God, for your people have raised a prayer to you and you have heard our prayer. We give you thanks for the healing that is happening in our dear and precious Father Jim. Daily, our prayers and our love and our friendship will be with you Jim…your “companions on the journey”, We also celebrate, that today, we have our first Jesuit Pope!!! If there is anything that you need, please call on our family.
The spring is a glorious time for new beginnings, Jim. I hold the space for all good things. With love, Barb
Dear Jim…I am so glad to hear of your positive outcomes of your treatments. I will continue to hold you on my prayers and will be strongly thinking of you as you go through your next treatments in stages. All the best to you from both Don and I ….God Bless you, Fr Jim…..
Hi, Jim,
Glad to hear of the positive news you received, thanks be to God. Will continue to remeber you in prayer that the journey ahead may be blessed with more good news. Adua
Good News James, we are so glad to hear that you are feeling better.. Take care and know that we are praying for good health for you as well
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Jim. I send this Irish proverb that seems so fitting:
‘It is in the shelter of one another that people live!’
You are always in my heart and prayer. I give thanks for the signs healing and hope that you share with us.
All blessings,
Claudia
Hi Jim,
Glad to hear your good news.Prayers really help and you already know God is walking with you on this journey with you.Keeping you in our prayers.
Weather cold in Myrtle Beach this year.we will get home Easter Sunday.
Love and best wishes Rusty and Jeanne.
Hi James, greetings to you from regina! We are so glad that you have had a reprieve and are feeling better. Quite honestly we can’t imagine, as we have been overwhelmed by moving to a new house 5 blocks away! Your journal helps keep the inconvenience of our own lives in perspective, and we thank you for so courageously sharing your journey.you are in our hearts and our minds as we pray for you. They tell us at spring is just around the corner. Well it’s about a Minus 28 with wind here and drifts so heavy I could barely see the street on my way to choir tonight. spring is probably coming to you a little quicker than to us. And with that promise of spring comes new hope and opportunity for healing for you, which is very exciting! Hang in there James, and know that we are thinking of you. Dawn and Dave henry.
(Ps. Can’t find my glasses so hopefully autocorrect isn’t “aut correcting” me to something that I didn’t mean t say and can’t see to correct! )
Hi Jim!
Laurie from Spokane, WA (Faith and Sharing years ago). Your latest blog is so encouraging! I can relate to your sharing as I am a couple of months toward completing my cancer treatment. Although! The work with my naturopath will continue for several years. What struck me most in this latest blog was the comment in reference to one day at a time. I remember Fr. David Leigh at GU back in 1980 telling me God is with me in the most present moment. And that my scarey thoughts of days, months, or years down the road would, of course, be frightening . . . As God isn’t there but with me in the very present. I was just learning about this God in our lives and I just thought that was the coolest thing about our God! God bless Fr. David Leigh for our conversation as its message as been deeply consoling for me over the years. I think of you often and hold you in my prayers.
All the best with this next phase.
Chris, Margit, Xav and Baz
Hi Father Jim, I was so happy to hear of your positive news, I hope and pray it continues in that direction. We think of you often and pray that your healing will continue in a positive manner.
Well Jim, I think spring has finally sprung, the reason I say this is because it is very wet and muddy outside my front door. We now have to wait for the ground to dry up a little so we can enjoy the nice weather. My cat Charlie is very anxious to go out but he does not like getting his paws wet. A lot like me, I don’t like getting my paws wet either.:) I will keep checking your updates and will pray that you keep on improving. God is with you.
Veronica