Big News:

Hey Folks,

Thought I’d send out a big note with some news to my friends. Some of you are closer than others, so please don’t be offended by the mass email, rather all of you should interpret it as a “I care enough to make a point to tell you” and I’m just too tired to try and contact you all individually.

I’ve quietly been having some health problems for awhile that finally lead to a diagnosis this month of Lymphoma. For those of you that don’t know what that is; Lymphoma is a cancer of the Lymphatic system. There are many types of Lymphoma; mine is called Hodgkin’s.

I thought it important to tell you guys because there are going to be lots of changes that will elicit questions. For example: I’m moving from my home in Bells Corners back to my parents in Kanata; so they can take care of me during my treatment… so change of address. Treatment: gotta have chemotherapy and maybe radiation which means I may look different if the red hair goes… and god willing that extra 25 pounds! I’ve also taken a sick leave from Norwalk, and will not be accepting independent client work for awhile.

Somethings are going to stay the same… like my phone number/ email and my ability to reply to them. I will also continue to be a sarcastic pervert, perhaps even more now that I have to compensate for my “temporary” inability to be a drunken slut (no booze allowed)… but I’m not packing away the tit shirts just yet.

What you should do & not do:
You can ask me anything… I too want to know if my pubic hair will also fall out during chemo. lol But I don’t need to hear your “Uncle Larry beat cancer stories”. No ones gonna die here so I don’t need to be compared to Uncle Larry’s colon cancer. Although I completely respect that practically everyone has had contact with cancer in their lives (sad but true these days) and that leaves different impressions on us… just don’t push your impressions on me. I’m quite positive and focused on my recovery.

Hummm… what else? Feeling a little better these days, but still in the hospital for the moment. I know a lot of you are thinking when was she sick? The Lymphoma has been growing for a longtime, we think almost 2 years, but I really only started to feel ill about 6 weeks ago. It spiraled down hill quickly from there to the point where I can’t hide the symptoms from others and have had to stay in the hospital due to complications.

I start treatment this week my understanding is that I will get 3 hours of chemo twice a month for 8 months. Doesn’t sound so bad; think Ill spend the 2 weeks in-between those days sun tanning!

I’m sure I’ll have periods where I feel fine, and others where I feel like shit. I’m hoping that you’ll keep me in the loop for events and such and let me pick and chose when I can come out rather than assume I’m laid up dying at home.

Okay, so that’s the big life changing news from me. There are many of you on this email list that I have not been able to keep up with and celebrate your new (happy) events and for that I am very sorry; but I have been thinking about you.

Your welcome to respond, but I suspect many of you will have that “oh shit what do I say moment”. Don’t do it to yourself, just keep in touch as you usually do, or view this as an opportunity for us to get together more now that I’m not working.

Talk to you soon,
Tamara