<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Untitled RSS Feed]]></title><description><![CDATA[Untitled RSS Feed]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 02:08:53 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.benobadia.ca/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[DisneyWorld and back to reality ...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bonjour les amis! The second half of our trip was in DisneyWorld. It was a great time! I think our eyes grew bigger during our stay as there was always something new to see. Our days usually started with a big breakfast as we usually skipped lunch; too many things to visit. We would either take the monorail or the bus to our destination. Ben or Steph would plan the day, especially which rides we needed to go on. Since DisneyWorld theme parks are more or less all separate, we usually picked...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/disneyworld-and-back-to-reality</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c2ccf036a1fdc193bed72f</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Jan 2016 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_11c60786706b41d8a7efbab4bd0c11db~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_592,h_794,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wizardly ways ...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bonjour! We arrived Monday, Jan. 11th in Orlando, Florida around 9:30pm. It was a long day of traveling but we were happy to arrive. We went to sleep right away when we arrived at the house. It was a little chilly at night and not what we expected for Florida but it was better than rain all day! We had a quick breakfast the next morning and headed to Universal and the World of Harry Potter. What an amazing place! They really did a great job making this attraction as realistic and as close to...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/wizardly-ways</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c2bf8eadda444fefb1d036</guid><pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2016 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_bc38dbd66fb049f5b160ffe15f83ed9d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_400,h_612,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[and we're off!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Recently, we've been patiently waiting for Ben's blood counts to go up. Since December 10, his neutrophils have been below zero (normal is 1.9 - 7.3), leaving him vulnerable to infections, colds and eus. The worst he's had over this period of time was some sniffles, a sore throat and cough. All his other counts were low but slowly creeping up. At last check, all other counts have gone up to near normal, except his neutrophils, which were 0.7 on Jan. 7th. The previous week, they were at 0.5,...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/and-we-re-off</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c2137d8f0e652aaa2d8308</guid><pubDate>Sat, 09 Jan 2016 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_457b20f7be6e4083a3d81fb9699687e8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_246,h_94,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bonne année! Happy New Year!]]></title><description><![CDATA[HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016!! We would like to wish all of you a very Happy New Year full of happiness, fun memories, love and good health! Thank you to all of you for your amazing support and encouragement. Much love!! 3 Comments DONNA BYRNE 1/1/2016 07:17:16 pm Happy New Year! Hope you were all able to enjoy the holidays. Great photo of Ben. Our thoughts and prayers are with you now and will continue into 2016. Hopefully 2016 is a positive year for you. Take care. Donna family REPLY COLLEEN MACEY...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/bonne-ann%C3%A9e-happy-new-year</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c212388f0e652aaa2d7fed</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2016 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_8e59ce70b1594dc59246dc0405c767fe~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Numbers critical ...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bonjour! Here is the latest news on how Ben is doing. Ben just got over a sore throat and now has some sniffles. We checked hiscounts yesterday (Sunday Dec. 20th), and only received the results this morning. His neutrophils, which help him fight off any infections, are <0.1, nearly non-existant. As the lab technician put it, "critical". At the moment, he has nothing much to help him fight off any virus or infections. This is most likely due to the chemo bringing his counts down to their...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/numbers-critical</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c20d3b69ed8cb882ac7025</guid><pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2015 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_cf77ede25843430dbbe38ffcd168e197~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_840,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What's "up" with these platelets ?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben played in his trumpet with the school band at the Christmas concert last Thursday. It was a great concert! He just loves music. Very talented! Monday's (Dec. 7th) blood counts were low. Ben had to receive another platelet transfusion on Tuesday. His other counts were low but acceptable at this stage. He had a nose bleed Friday and with low platelets, it takes longer to stop any bleeding. After about 45 minutes it finally stopped. We checked blood counts today (Sunday, Dec. 13th) to see if...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/what-s-up-with-these-platelets</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c2104669ed8cb882ac75dd</guid><pubDate>Sun, 13 Dec 2015 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_ae3bbc1557944835a380d9e7afe6616c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Counts going down ...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bonjour! Hello! Some of you may know, but Ben's tortoise he's had since September, passed on last week. We don't know why. We did everything we were supposed to do. We fed it properly, bathed him everyday, took care of his environment keeping it at the right temperature, the right moisture etc. Bruce, the expert we emailed suggested it could be choking on something or a precondition we didn't know about. Difficult to say. Ben, and all of us, were saddened by this but we move on. Ben is...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/counts-going-down</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c20a4badda444fefb0293f</guid><pubDate>Sun, 29 Nov 2015 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_14f217282e9f423e82e85af7acedffb4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Weekend trip, start of chemo &#38; MRI date]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bonjour. It has been a while since I updated Ben's site. Things have been going relatively well for Ben. Though he has been tired, here and there, Ben has had good energy since being off the chemo and having stopped the radiation over a month ago. He is in good spirits and continues to go to school regularly. We were called with a date for his next MRI. It will be November 19th with a meeting with the doctor the next day. Most likely, the next phase of chemo will start then. The doctor has...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/weekend-trip-start-of-chemo-mri-date</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c2077736a1fdc193bd0825</guid><pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2015 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_f89a82c460a84329ae476b1e1485a27d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pentamidine complete]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben completed the inhalation of his Pentamidine today. He was given the Ventolin first this time instead of after, to open up his airways. Big difference! He had to breath the Pentamidine for 20 minutes instead of 10 but he tolerated it much better than last time. No choking, no gasping for air etc. We then had a meeting with Dr. Cheng and everything seems fine. His counts today are excellent. You would never have known he just had 33 sessions of radiation and 42 days of chemo! Now it's 4...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/pentamidine-complete</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c204e369ed8cb882ac5d84</guid><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2015 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_5ec2767fa3fa4ebb8aa08c636933040e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_674,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stormy weekend-busy week (radiation #15)]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's been a stormy weekend. We lost power all day Saturday before it finally came back on at 11:30pm. Sunday we had power but no internet. So, sorry for not updating Ben's site. The internet just came back on now. Ben has been coping well with the treatments so far. He's had 14 sessions of radiation to his head (it's difficult even to type this). The left side of his head is where they aim the radiation and it is becoming more and more red from the exposure. His hair is starting to fall out...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/stormy-weekend-busy-week-radiation-15</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc8e2cc6c9669173c99c90</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2015 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_c684bc30004f499f80cc97107be9636d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_612,h_916,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Call from oncologist's office ...]]></title><description><![CDATA[We received a call from the oncologist's o`ce this morning. The results of the pathology of the tumour are not yet completed. There is another patient who is in the same situation, waiting for results. We should anticipate going to the hospital this Tuesday to discuss the results and the protocol Ben will have to do. So, for us, this is "good news" in the fact that for the next 4 days, we can "relax" and do what everyone would normally do with a summer ob. Wish we could escape to Disneyland...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/call-from-oncologist-s-office</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc8c6506e9acd4d41d0f17</guid><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2015 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_851fa6455d2f47d581ebe16bfab5d045~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_444,h_444,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[NO!!!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben, at the end of the school year was hit accidently with a badminton racket. Since then he was having headaches. So naturally, we had to have him checked out by our family doctor. He said it is probably a concussion from the hit. He recieved some pills for headaches and sent home. We started seeing him being tired often, the headaches we not going away and he couldn't talk very coherently, having difficulty finding his words. That's not normal for Ben.  So  we took him to Children's...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/___no</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bf62fa915fd340e9e9bf69</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2015 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_c81b5ed5b4684e48a073c852e363ca72~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cancer free for 8 years!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben has been cancer-free for over 8 years. We keep checking his blood work to make sure everything is where it should be, and it is more or less considering everything he's been through. He's been doing everything a normal kid his age would doo. He in the school band, he plays on a soccer team, he's getting perfect marks in school, he's involved in many extracurricular activities, and he reads, writes, draws, films his own scripted movies and just plain enjoys life and everyone in it. He is a...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/cancer-free-for-8-years</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bf5b986e2d8139248e000b</guid><pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2015 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_849ff411fc6f492db65975fa8c76b8f3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Shot of reality ...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Funny, how even though Ben’s had cancer since 2002 and we’ve had all those ups and downs (woah, those downs) ... we sometimes get complacent with the whole affair and go about our lives trying desperately to live a normal life and forget there’s any cancer. Well, today, we had a big shot of reality! We had a very informative meeting with Ben’s oncologist, Sheila, another oncologist, Jeff and nurse Juliana. They explained in detail what we can expect before, during and after the stem cell...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/shot-of-reality</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc82014cb69c631848a969</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_d04f4cf1da9e4c999e602b9a1afaf937~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[last day ... and back home]]></title><description><![CDATA[Our last day in Disneyland was Monday, June 23rd. It was a great time though quite tiring. There was lots to visit and lots to do. It was sunny the entire time with temperatures hovering around 35ºC/92ºF. We drank water constantly therefore many visits to the Prince/Princess rooms. It was amazing to see the transformation in ourselves as the days Yew by. At the beginning, we were stressing out about where and when to go. Near the end it was more ... let’s go here, take a break, then go there,...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/last-day-and-back-home</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc80a5c6c9669173c974d8</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_b4b612243caf47a89f7d93df9e2ceb39~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_964,h_726,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Starting to relax ...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Having temporarily escaped the “cancer prison”, here we have found ourselves back in prison again... luckily, the bars are rubber and Goofy’s just around the corner. It took a good 3 days before Ben started smiling. Now that he’s more relaxed, yet tired, he’s been joking around and laughing plenty. Ben has organized everything on our Disneyland trip. He’s planned when we go see what and which theme park is when. If we deviate even slightly from his plan, he’ll let us know. Actually, he’s...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/starting-to-relax</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc7e534cb69c6318489fdd</guid><pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_b9122e8d8fdd407db46c795f0a16e8bb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_974,h_728,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[We're here, Mickey!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Well ... here we are. Made it to Disneyland. Look ... up in the sky ... it’s ... it’s ... why it’s ... BLUE! We thought the sky was always white grey or dark grey, and every shade of grey in between. Of course, just when we left Vancouver the sun peeked out after weeks of not seeing it. Here in Anaheim, not a cloud in the sky. Ben was quite tired today and didn’t smile much. Maybe too much excitement. We arrived at the hotel and got to our room. Above is our view. Took a quick look around...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/we-re-here-mickey</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc7cebbec251fc0ba946ad</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_06405df988824c1ab0741bb79b3843d0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_974,h_732,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tired, but let's go shopping...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben has been tired but as all kids, he wants to go out and do things when he can. Though he sometimes doesn’t know his, he’ll try and keep up. We went to Kids Market on Granville Island. There he found one of the fun things he likes ... Ugly Dolls! He’s got quite the collection. He even got me collecting them.. addictive. Funny, having kids you tend to follow what they enjoy and actually get into some of the stuA they like ... or maybe it’s just me reliving my childhood... so much for a...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/tired-but-let-s-go-shopping</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc7acb06e9acd4d41cde00</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_62b03a243e4343aeac0c080fa040127a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Party with friends]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben spent Saturday afternoon celebrating with some of his school friends. We all went to see the new Indiana Jones movie and then went to a restaurant for supper. Though Ben had lots of fun, he almost had to lie down half way through to get some rest, as he’s been very tired lately. On Sunday morning we went out for breakfast with family. It was also the Childrun, which is put on by Children’s Hospital. We couldn’t go as Ben gets tired very quickly. By chance, at the Frogstone Grill, where we...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/party-with-friends</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b74906b77817bc0c9e2328</guid><pubDate>Sat, 31 May 2008 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_a6e229a157f749c8bc2dbdbd001dc31e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Back home until Monday]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben and I finally came home yesterday after an unexpected 6 days in the hospital with very low counts and a fever. We were very tired and slept well last night. Ben’s red blood cells were getting lower everyday and by yesterday, they were too low and he needed a blood transfusion. He had a fast pulse because his heart needed to pump more to get the fewer red blood cells to carry the oxygen to the vital organs. So having the hemoglobin helped boost his red blood cell count and lower his pulse...]]></description><link>https://www.benobadia.ca/post/back-home-until-monday</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b747afb77817bc0c9e1f98</guid><pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ef3af_e8ce2e305bbc475d91e1ee735374e706~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jibs</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>