As most of you know I moved from the hospital to the Hospice just over two weeks ago,when scans showed that the chemo was not working. So we made the decision to stop chemo and go for quality of life rather than quantity. The chemo was killing more of the good cells than the cancer cells so there was little benefit, if any. The hospice is a wonderful place with such caring compassionate staff who are dedicated to making the patients comfortable and helping them to meet all their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. The decision to stop chemo albeit a difficult one has been an enormous relief for me. I feel so good without the toxicity of the chemo side effects and the worry of the next test result. In hospice the tests are not needed because the treatment goal is comfort, not killing cancer cells.
When I made the move to hospice my goal was to see one more Christmas. I have made such progress that I now know I will see Christmas and have started to talk about seeing 2011.
All my symptoms are under control and my doctor said yesterday that for some reason the cancer is being "well behaved." So we are making the most of the good days.

Now to my bucket list. I am working through my bucket list on a day to day basis and savouring every moment. We took Abby to the pantomime and attended her Christmas Carol service and we are planning a survivor dinner this weekend at Glenda's that I am really looking forward to.
My big item that I have recently added to the list is my "Choosing to Smile Book" dream. I so much want to live long enough to see it hit the best sellers list. I know it will be there but I need the time frame to speed up so I will live to see it and this is where you can help in lots of little ways.

1. Please go to your local library wherever you live in the world and request that they get "Choosing to Smile" in stock. This can be ordered from any country by visiting the website at www.choosingtosmile.com.
2. If you have been inspired by the book recommend it to a friend who you think would be helped by choosing to smile.
3. Buy a book as a Christmas present for a friend.
We are moving towards a best seller and I know that you and my facebook friends and supporters can help me see this happen before I die.
Watch my blog regularly for new ideas of ways to help complete my bucket list.

www.choosingtosmile.com
julie@choosingtosmile.com