Inspiring Video Clips on Health and Wellbeing - Worth watching!

Dr Dean Ornish outlines simple, low-tech and low-cost ways to take advantage of the body’s natural desire to heal.
http://www.mindfood.com/at-healing-and-other-natural-wonders.seo

Willian Li.-  Can we eat to starve cancer?
http://blog.ted.com/2010/05/17/can_we_eat_to_s/

Dr Gerald Lewis (NZ) will share his over 40 years experience in how to prevent and treat diseases, using the best of both conventional and complementary medicine.
Video intro to site:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by0VzhclbMQ&feature=player_embedded
His website:
http://sites.google.com/site/drgeraldlewis/home
Should we take Dietary Supplements?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaqvr4N6jCw

Benefits of Laughter Yoga with John Cleese (Odd Spot)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEfjVnYkqM

"Just Keep Swimming"

Some good advice received from a fellow cancer conquerer;

Click link below to see video and some simple yet good advice on life from Dory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmyUkm2qlhA

Status T50 - Radio's a B@$%&! - 17 down, 8 to go

I have decided that I don't like RT, it's a progressively debilitating regime.
I do like that it is killing the cancer and enjoying the fun and professional team at the RT department. But it comes with a cost of sneaky side effects and it steals some of your joule de vivre. Generally keeping positive and active although have had to moderate back somewhat. Good food, lots of sleep/ rest and fresh air seems to be the best strategies to get through. 17 treatments down and only 8 to go. The impact progressively builds and it's meant to be at it's best/ worst 2 weeks following treatment. Although 1 week and a bit to go until the last daily dose and I think physiologically this will be a good milestone to get through.
Dates for next stage getting locked in some more imaging/ test late sept, surgery planning in Christchurch early October. surgery and recovery in Christchurch from mid to late October.
Great to get all your supporting emails and comments on the blog.
Cheers
G

THE BOYS

feels like winter and its heading for spring

I haven't had the energy to write in the last week or so. Felt crook all last week and it seems to be a slow drift into this week.I thought I was being overly empathetic with Gary but as Zac has been home all week with the same symptoms I think it was 'the nasty bug'. (when is a bug ever not) There is wattle flowering in my yard and its yellowness is everywhere. I am sick with raging hay fever..urghh. Sometimes I just need to grizzle.
Gary is plodding along with his Radio therapy..it is slow and painful process. He is sick and sore and tired.Because he has scar tissue from the previous surgery his back is reddening up creating a few problems. The staff at the radiotherapy department are awesome and onto it. Gary is feeling well cared for.
Our section is looking amazing due to Dads and Gary's efforts -  building walls and constructing. I am impressed at how organized and capable they both are..lol. We are about to start as much planting as we can afford..there is a lot of ground to fill in with trees..It is all taking shape now though and for the first time I have been outside and gardened properly and planted..so satisfying.
Our lawn is sown.Gary and Graham (his brother) spent quality time with the Holy Roller...laying down bird seed for our feathered friends. Zac counted 21 sparrows , two yellow hammers and "too many other birds to count mum I will make you a cup of tea instead'
We are hoping that enough seed was laid to feed birds as well as grow.
We read that it was best to sow some for the birds some for the dirt and some for chance..so it should be fine.

Therapy at the bottom of the garden - Pudding Island (Te Pao Titere Moana)

7 ½ Things to do Before you Die

Life is a terminal condition and you are likely to have multiple serious health issues in your lifetime. Here is a list of things you should do beforehand:

1.                   Seize the Day (Carpe Diem) – Your hospital check-in maybe tomorrow, so do it today. Make a bucket list of priorities and things that are important in your life and focus on them now.

2.                   Choose Wellness – Buy yourself sometime; most health issues are avoidable or can be postponed. See earlier posts on Hauora Wellness and Cancer is a preventable disease. Whether it’s driving your car too fast, smoking, bad diet, poor exercise, etc.; make a decision: choose wellness and extend your quality life.   

3.                   Find your Faith and Identity – If you rely on things, activities, wealth, status or image to define who you are, you will be doing it hard on the home straight or if you no longer have these things. Seek and explore your faith, beliefs and values and complete this question: I am...?  Then reassess your priorities in action 1 above.

4.                   Enjoy the Small Things (Joie de Vivre) – Develop ebullience for life and stop to smell the roses.

5.                   Become Financially Secure – For most, with sickness, this means crisis or income protection insurance. The last thing you want to do if you are sick is stress about money. Blokes if your identity (3 above) is all about providing for the family, how do you think you will feel when you can't? Remember to insure all family members for additional health costs and time off work to support a non income generating member.

6.                   Get a Partner - and invest in a relationship that believes in "for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health". Remember it’s reciprocal.

7.                   Be the Best that YOU can Be – Fully extend and develop your capabilities and be replete in your achievements.

Live life now – If every second day is a bad day, you are halving your ‘life’ expectancy.   Be brave make changes that improve your quality of life, be careful when changing external factors because maybe the thing that needs to be changed most is YOU.

I would love your feedback on this, I’m sure I am missing a couple of items; maybe jointly we can get to 10. J  

Todays Therapy Highly Recommended

Been feeling a bit icky and fatigued with RT, but have discovered a new post RT treatment to overcome the side effects and it worked a threat.  

Out with Ian P. today at Otakou Golf course, my golf was terrible but the experience sensational. Back bit dodgy but OK, I'm on a mission to keep active. Glorious Peninsula weather today.

Last lecture before his death - Simon posted as a comment but it's so good I have reposted on main page

Not funny, Inspirational, watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ya9BXClRw&feature=related

Posted by Simon to Conquering Synovial Sarcoma at August 11, 2010 6:36 AM

The Story of Cosmetics : Did you realize how many toxins your putting in your body everyday?

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfq000AF1i8&feature=youtube_gdata

Sent from my iPad

SAMOA

We would like to go to Samoa before Gary's next operation..this isn't very far away:-) Somewhere warm and salty where we can float.Does any one have any good suggestions about where to stay.We havnt been before..We are planning on a week and inexpensive is good..
We need suggestions in the next few days..thanks KAT

Radiation update - Kat

Gary is off to Soccer this morning with Zac.Last few games of the season.Then its paintballing for zac and his mates out at Abbotsford..Zac turned 14 this week.A long stretch of a boy.

Gary has been pretty tired with the start of Radio therapy,napping alot. Completely zonked the first day.He has a bit of inflammation in his lower back but we are hopeful that this is just beginning symptoms.We were told that he would probably get a good burn from the radiation as he has a good amount of scar tissue that is susceptible to this.

It was a gorgeous sunny day yesterday and after napping Gaz charged out and raked the lawn out front ready for sowing next weekend.Graham, brother & green-keeper extraordinare -is coming down from Timaru to sow the lawn and Calvin has sourced the seed. Yaahh thanks for that! We have inherited the most amazing antique roller to smooth out the bumps.It is rather sexy piece of metal. I shall post some photos' with Gaz looking manly beside it. I predict with all this good stuff being directed at the lawn it will be somewhat special

Have a great day everybody KAT

Status T38 Days - 4 down 21 to go

4 sessions down at the RT department only 21 to go. Scheduling sessions early morning so I can get on and do some stuff in day. Clinicians there very competent and friendly and it seems to be very efficient and well run department. Also found most cancer patients are very friendly; everyone sitting around in their hospital issued gowns (all ages, stages and sizes), all keen for a natter. Music in radiation suites is terrible so have playlist under construction. Remember to add your best joke in the comments of my last post. Lovely day on Peninsula and Zacs birthday.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. Laughter is strong medicine for mind and body, it is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Laughter; relaxes the whole body, boosts the immune system, decreases stress, triggers the release of endorphins and protects the heart. Read more here.  

So supporters please post your best joke or link to something funny on internet in comments area below. :-)