Jo-Ann goes back to work


It's only for today, and she's not waitressing, but still, she's happy to be back at Malic's Delicatessen. Nimer called my sister up last week and asked if she could help out on St. Patrick's Day, working the till and counter. The worst thing about getting chemotherapy, she says, is not having a job.

Jo-Ann's been a waitress for forty years, ever since she started at the College Soda Bar when she was fifteen. This is the first time she's gone more than a few weeks without employment. She worked long stretches at several of the city's more popular restaurants and diners, including the HIghway and the Top Notch. She even did six years at Tim Hortons. Back in the 70s she and my mom waited tables together on the midnight shift at Biffs.

After her first round of chemo, eight treatments over 12 weeks, a ct scan showed a slight shrinkage of both tumours, the big one in her lung and the smaller one on her adrenal gland. And no evidence that the cancer had spread elsewhere.

Aside from a few early bouts of nausea, the only obvious side effect of the treatments has been that she sleeps a lot for several days afterwards. Many days she feels quite healthy, but the damage done to her immune system (very low white blood cell counts) makes spending a lot of time with the public, or even family, a risk. She can't wait for spring so she can get outside and enjoy her garden.

The second round of chemo started two weeks ago. Her oncologist cut back on the dosages to try to bring up the blood counts.

Once she started chemo Jo-Ann finally managed to quit smoking. A recent evening of celebration however, ended up with her sharing a few butts with a friend. She's smoked a handful of cigarettes since then, and says she needs to go back on the varenicline, which is pretty expensive but worked well for her the first time. She's got an appointment with her lung specialist on Wednesday.

Here's a picture of Jo-Ann and Nimer.




And here's the green cheese cake she served me for dessert, after the classic corned beef on rye that Malic's is known for.




Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Posted: Mon - March 17, 2008 at 07:23 PM          

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