helping devo kick cancer's butt

July 16, 1999 is my diagnosis date. Today is my 17 year anniversary! I celebrate (with a few cocktails usually) every year on this day to remember what I have gone through and the people I have lost from cancer.

I remember the day I was diagnosed so well. I was pregnant with Noah and all the uncertainty of what life was going to be…if a life at all. Its family, friends, co-workers, team mates, hockey parents/families/coaches, and every one else in my life that have made it an amazing 17 years to be alive. Thank you for your continued support!

Monday, July 11th was my last and final round of chemo. After over 2 years of chemo-maintenance, I am VERY happy to be done. I was supposed to have 1 more round in October but Dr. Connors feels that the side effects are outweighing the results. I have had multiple sinus and ear infections throughout the last 2 years, which are hard to heal from when your immune system is consistently shot from chemo. I have yet another sinus infection now, thus the reason for this being my last round. My cancer has shrunk as small as it can and it is not growing at this point. Dr. Connors feels the chemo has done the job and I shouldn’t have to do treatment again for (as he said) “many years to come”. This is good news.

After 2 years, I’m finally doing my last round of chemo. Time to celebrate!

On a sad note, my doctor will be retiring next Spring. Dr. Connors has been so amazing to me and my family. I don’t think I could have done it without him. He is so kind, calm and patient. Some of the nurses at the BCCA call him ‘God’ and they are upset to see him leave. So, on my next appointment in January, Dr. Connors will be introducing me to my new oncologist. I have met most of the other doctors in the Lymphoma Unit over the years. Dr. Connors wants me to be with a younger doctor because he knows I will be around for a long time. And he’s right.

The last 3 months have been busy for the Brusse Family:

Noah has been trying out for a few Junior B hockey teams. He has committed to play next season with the Princeton Posse in BC. It will be sad to see him leave to go away and be billeted with a family for the school year, but we are very excited for him to play the next level of hockey. Looks like Eric and I will be doing a lot of road trips and watching Noah play online. Noah finished grade 10 this year at Whistler Secondary. He will be at Princeton Secondary until the end of hockey season and then returning for the end of school at home.

Eric has been busy playing ball again with me, golfing and fishing. He is still loving his job at The Listle Hotel doing maintenance.

After 14 years of being an Intrawest employee, I left and took a job as an Assistant to Shannon Susko. I have come full circle, as I worked with Shannon at Paradata Systems Inc. before starting at Intrawest. I am definitely enjoying the challenge and happy I can still see my Intrawest family around town.

Govenor General’s Award for my dad:
I recently went to Ottawa with my mom. Dad was honored with the Meritorious Service Decorations from Governor General David Johnston for all the work he did by helping to establish Kidney Cancer Canada. It was great to be there and represent my 2 sisters who weren’t able to make it. Dad did so much by establishing KCC. We’re all very proud of him.

Mom and I posing with dad’s award after the ceremony. Very proud of my dad.

I hope that you all are having a good summer. It would be nice if we got some sun here in Whistler, but aside from that – summer is going well. Thanks again for all your support over the past couple of years. Fighting cancer is a lot more manageable with a team of people championing you along.

Devo

We’re definitely going to miss watching Noah’s games while he’s away playing hockey.

Its been a while since I wrote an update so I thought this was the perfect time, after having just heard from the BC Cancer Agency…

Cancer update:

While in Gibson for Noah’s hockey I received a call from the BC Cancer Agency. I had thought it was to tell me when my next chemo appointment was, but it was from my clinical trial nurse, Ana, to inform me of information from the trial I had been on.

As you may remember, after 2 months I stopped taking the clinical trial drug. I had had a chemical reaction to the drug. I was hospitalized twice with awful symptoms (click here and here to read about them) and as a result, we felt it best to stop that chemo drug immediately.  I did, however, continue on 2 of the 3 drugs for the remainder of the treatment, which was 10 months total.

Well…. the call was a bit of a shock and I of course knew I was on the drug & not the placebo. Ana told told me that the drug I was on, even though in Phase 3 of the clinical trial, was halted. People had been dying due to complications from the clinical trial drug. Thank God I stopped taking it! It took months to recover from the reactions I had and I sometimes feel I am still recovering…. I am so thankful I stopped the drug and that I’m alive!

Brusse Family Update:

Noah: For those of you that know me – I am a true Hockey Mom. I love going to all and everything for Noah’s hockey. This past season was a great year for the Whistler Winterhawks. Noah’s team won 3 banners; League, Playoff & Provincial champs. It was so fun to be there to watch the boys bring home the gold for Provincials in the Midget Tier 3 championships. Attached is a picture of Eric & I with Noah in Gibbons, BC taken March 17th. Noah also turned 16 in February and has gotten his L (learner’s license).

Eric: Eric has been fishing a bit this winter, that is his year round sport. Golf will be stating for him as well next month.

Devon: My hockey season is coming to an end. We are going for bronze this year. It was a good season and I was happy to be back on the ice with the ladies again. Ball season starts in May for me. I am looking forward to being back on the field with the No Joes once again.

Thank you for your continued support – I feel it worldwide from everyone.

CHEERS!
Devo

The Brusses in Gibbons, BC.

Happy 2016 to everyone!

I hope you all had a great Christmas season and New Years. We were working lots and Noah was in a hockey camp, so it was a quiet one in the Brusse household. We celebrated with Erin and her girls on Christmas night. The kids are growing up so fast. Meghan graduates high school this year and Noah, Emma & Hannah are in grade 10.

Eric and I were in Montreal in December. It was a whirlwind of fun. It was great to show Montreal off to Eric. We were in town for 6 days and Eric ate smoked meat 5 of the days. We tried to hit all the Montreal hot spots for food & fun. We went to a Clark family wedding, explored Montreal as a tourist, got together with old friends and saw a Habs game. Erin flew in from Whistler, Mom and Hebs came from Northern Ireland, for the wedding so we celebrated Hebs’ 40th birthday as well at our family favorite restaurant – Gibbys.

Tomorrow I head down to Vancouver to see Dr. Connors for my 3 month appointment and then to have chemo on Thursday. I almost forgot about my appointment… I woke up in a cold sweat last night, ran to my desk to look for my appointment card only to realize that I my appointment is indeed this week. I totally forgot. I guess you can say, my cancer is not on my mind too much, eh? Blond/chemo moment!! My employer is so awesome that they are able to accommodate me getting to my appointments. I was going to cancel, but they wouldn’t hear of it. I’m also happy that my hockey team has a bye this week, so I don’t miss playing. I will back on the ice the following Thursday.

Thanks for your love and support. I hope that you all are happy and healthy.

Cheers!
Devo

Loved having Eric in Montreal with me for a Clark family wedding.

When in Montreal, take in a Habs game!

Growing up so fast!

Well…. its that time again. I am heading to the city to do chemo maintenance. I see Dr. Connors on Monday, Oct 5th and then drive down again to do chemo on Tuesday the 6th. Sucks driving down, up, down and up again but that’s the drill. Part of living life in the mountains, which I would never change for anything.

I feel great these days. I am still walking 2km & jogging 2km (if you know me at all – its a trot at best) daily with my friend Lisa Leppard Davidson. I am also back on the ice. I have played 3 weeks of hockey and am LOVING it! I am of course suckin’ wind, but still out there. The picture is of me with 2 team mates: Helen Johnson (HOJO) our goalie and Shannon Susko my line mate right wing.

I have another year & half to go for chemo maintenance…but it should be fine & good to go. It is only going to prolong me having to do chemo in the future.

Have an an amazing Thanksgiving this upcoming weekend.

Exciting October coming up for the Jays – GO! Blue Jays!

Cheers from Whistler, Devo

Update from Devon:

This time last year during Ironman Canada, I was having a reaction due to my chemo. The meds I was taking burnt me from the inside out and I was having issues on the right side of my face: seeing, hearing and paralysis of my right cheek. I wasn’t sure what to do or how to get into the Emergency. Due to the Ironman Canada the highway and part of the valley trail (not that I could have walked or biked) was closed. Eric was at work in the village and my sister, Erin, couldn’t get to get me due to the roads. So I took my first ambulance drive into town.

It was a long day and I am glad I went in as they were able to help with my reaction. Its now a distant memory – thank goodness. Its now 365 days later and I will be biking into work today. What a difference in a year!

I am back full time at Club Intrawest. Work is going well and it’s been a great summer so far. I am enjoying being back to normal – or as normal as possible. 🙂

I hope you all are having as good a summer as I am! Cheers from Whistler!