Alison Stone RMT

Retirement
I have been very quiet on social media as well as email updates lately as I don’t know quite what to say or how to say it.
But now I have no choice.
I am retiring.
Those words are very hard for me to say.
Going to school for massage therapy was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
I put my heart and soul into school and then my career for over 20 years.
Then two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.
I had surgery then treatment and was in remission and feeling great, only to be told that it had come back again.
More treatment, and then back in remission.
However, when it reared its ugly head for the third time the prognosis wasn’t good at all.
The cancer has spread yet again and is labelled incurable. And while I haven’t been given a number, my expiration date has been moved forward a considerable amount. We are talking months.
The cancer has now spread to my spine, brain and cerebral spinal fluid.
It’s called leptomeningeal disease.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptomeningeal_cancer

This is a rare type of cancer and even more rare that it metastasized from ovarian cancer.
I am now permanently hooked up to a hydromorphone drip with a pump and have a cocktail of other pain killers as well to keep me as comfortable as possible.

There has been radiation, chemo, more radiation and an October with more days spent in hospital than out.
And so, unfortunately, I have no choice but to permanently close down my business and retire from the career I love.
It just breaks my heart 💔
I cry every time I think about it.
I have loved every minute I have spent with you over the years, learning and growing both professionally and personally.
Thank you so much for trusting me with your care.
It has been an honour.

(That’s me getting ready for radiation.)

Just an update
December and January were a rollercoaster ride with extreme highs and extreme lows.
The lows:
• I finished my last chemo treatment on December 27 and then felt the worst I had felt for the next two weeks straight.
• I lost 2 dear friends within 2 weeks of each other
• I lost my sweet little 19yr old cat Nigel.
The highs:
My beautiful little granddaughter was born on January 7.
Ada Stevie Alison Wallace
She is my shining light!

And 3 weeks without a cat is too long without a cat. It was the longest I had been cat less in 39 yrs.
Welcome wee Fiona, an extremely skittish cat who was a lovebug at the shelter but hated me when we got home 😂it’s been a rough couple of weeks for both of us but she is slowly coming around.

On my way to hear a tiny heart beating 💕💕💕

One layer of the bandage is off, and I’m unplugged til next time.
2 down, 4 to go
December 26th (ish) can’t come fast enough!

Well, it’s been a day!
I had a port put in early this morning so they don’t have to find any more “good” veins.
Then had to wait until late afternoon to get chemo.
I had allergic reactions to both of them, of course I did 😵‍💫.
Just got home a few minutes ago after 12 or so hrs.
At least I got outside in between and had a nice walk in Sunnybrook park.