10 Minute Update

Hello people of the planet Earth,

I trust you are well. Just a quick update on my medical condition:

Status = STILL ALIVE! :)

Details: I'm now on 18 pills a day, 18 of which are for stabilizing my seizures (also known as reducing them to "none"). What does that leave me for treating my actual tumour? Currently I am taking:

• Lots of optimistic thinking
• A general love of life
• The love & support of my truly amazing wife Nicole O'Leary-Sontag, who is more than I could ever ask for in a wife, soul mate, and best friend. (She's a pretty darned good cook too FYI).
• Proper diet (staying away from sugars, processed foods, 7-11, anything "2 for $5" from any fast food joint, unrefrigerated mayonnaise, etc.)
• The positive thoughts, wishes, and prayers I receive from all of you (so far they're working!!!)
• Doing things. Like work, shopping with that amazing wife of mine, or hanging out with the best friends on Earth. I simply must do more of that last one.

So that's that. I'm starting to yawn now, and I think I'm sitting at 9 minutes, so I should wrap this one up. Cheers to you all! And to those of you in the Central Standard Time Zone like me... have a great night! (To those of you in Madagascar... GOOD MORNING! And kudos on those funny kids movies).

--

Tom

The best interview I've ever seen

I once saw an interview on the program "The Hour" hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos, in which he spoke with a woman named June Callwood. I saw the interview long before I was ever diagnosed with cancer myself, and even then it touched me far more than almost anything else I'd ever experienced in my life up to that point. Finding myself where I am today, the interview only holds that much more meaning. I'd suggest giving it the 11 minutes & 16 minutes it takes to watch it (plus those annoying ads they make you watch first). If you are anything like me, you'll find it well worth the time. Check it out:

CBC Version (this version has the benefit of the full intro, but the annoyance of ads in the middle... IN THE MIDDLE!?!)

YouTube Version (this version only has annoying ads at the beginning, but not in the middle!... though it lacks the "intro" piece)

Obviously I'm still working at avoiding being in the shoes June was in when she was interviewed in the above video, however when I am (be it a year from now due to cancer, or 88 years from now due global warming) I can only hope to be as strong and honest as her. RIP June Callwood (1924-2007).

PS: I had recently written an entire blog update on my iPhone... YES MY iPHONE!!! After pressing "publish" the entry disappeared into thin air. Phones are magic like that. I am still in that "too ticked off at technology" to re-write it stage of grief (aka: "anger"). Once I hit "acceptance" I may just write a version of it again (from a computer this time), and feel as though my words were not lost forever. Until such time, they remain lost. Cheers!
--
Tom