As you may remember from my July column, I celebrated my five-year myeloma survival this summer.

I was particularly happy that I have not received any treatment since April 2011. Instead, I have comprehensive blood testing done and see my doctor every three months.

Unfortunately, the ‘watch and wait’ phase that I had been in since April 2011 is now over.

At the beginning of October, my blood test results showed that my M-spike had increased to 1 g/dL (10 g/L), and the serum free light chain ratio was at 11 …

Last month, my husband and I attended the first performance of the season of the Alberta Ballet, the classical ballet "Don Quixote."

Our regional ballet company put on quite an ambitious production, with Don Quixote riding a live horse onto the stage, which to me was a typically western gesture.

The ballet reminded me that I wanted to read the novel "Don Quixote" because the phrase ‘tilting at windmills’ had lodged in my brain, and I thought it might have some relevance to my myeloma journey. I wanted to go to the source …

A few weeks ago, a letter arrived in the mail from the Provincial Motor Vehicles Department. I was puzzled, since my driver’s license doesn’t expire until 2017. The letter contained a notice about renewing my ‘handicapped’ parking pass. My husband Dilip had gotten the pass for us after the catastrophic events five years ago, when I had back injuries so severe I could barely walk for even a short distance.

I don’t use that pass anymore. To be honest, I had completely forgotten about it. So, when the letter arrived, I …

In my new life five years following my myeloma diag­nosis, I am still coming to grips with what it means to me to have a cancer that could flare up again at any time.

The fact that I have my blood tested for myeloma markers every three months, and meet with my on­colo­gist shortly thereafter to go over the results of these tests, tells me that this is not just idle speculation.

While I try to just relax and enjoy life at a steady pace, sometimes my worries get the better …

The month of July has always been a special month for me. There are many family birthdays, and my husband Dilip’s and my wedding anni­versary also falls into this month (it’s our 37th this year).

However, five years ago, in July 2009, I had a very bad month. That was when my myeloma was diagnosed, and it has changed the course of my life forever. Every year since then, I have felt apprehensive as my myeloma anniversary ap­proached.

This year, however, I feel I have cause to celebrate for the first time, …

It’s June, and the spring flowers have given way to colorful annuals and pe­ren­ni­als, such as peonies, poppies, and delphiniums, in my garden. In addition, lilacs and crab apples are still in bloom. This is as close to par­a­dise as it gets here.

After a busy spring of getting the lawn and flower beds tidied up and planted, it’s time to put out a lawn chair, pour an iced tea or lemonade, and find a good book to read. Summer reading has its own charm, es­pecially if one can spend time outdoors. …

As Mother’s Day approaches this Sunday here in Canada and many other coun­tries around the world, I wanted to write a column of appreciation to mothers everywhere. It seems that many times motherhood is a lifelong avoca­tion, and that mothers always try to help their chil­dren, even when the children become adults.

Certainly in my case, my mother is still on the scene for her four children (and her grandchildren, too). Even at her age as an octogenarian, she is well able to inspire and encourage her family members.

When I was …