Postponement of Camino Journey

[Kennedy1]

After a year of preparation and research I was planning on starting my Camino journey on September 10th flying from Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada to Paris and then on to SJPP to start my walk on Sept 12th. I had retired from work on June 30th and had spend the summer walking . On August 31st my beautiful 31 year old daughter Michelle received the diagnose that she had rectal cancer. Our family was in shock. The last 3 weeks have been a very difficult time for her and everyone one who loves her.
All my plans were cancelled as we tried to deal with this crisis. Thanks to the great public health care system here in Canada she has been able to see a specialist in this field and get all the required diagnostic tests done that would enable us to formulate the best course of treatment. Over the next 6 to 8 weeks she will be going for radiation and chemo treatments in an effort to shrink the tumor. Depending on how effective the treatments are, will determine how much surgery will be required sometime in early January. It is fortunate that I am now retired as I can take her to all her appointments and give her the support and love she will need to get through this.
If all goes well I still hope to start my Camino in May or June of 2013. Please send all your positive energy and prays as take on this very difficult journey. I feel a little better just writing this post.
Buen Camino, Kennedy

 

[PeregrinaIR]

Dear Kennedy, I'm so sorry to hear about your daughters health scare. Sending prayers and positive thoughts for your daughter and your family. The camino will wait until you are ready to travel it. Best wishes, Sandra

 

[grilly]

You can count on pilgrims' prayers for your daughter and your whole family. We'll walk with you in mind, praying for a complete recovery for your daughter and a Camino of thanks for you next year. Maybe your daughter will walk it with you as well. (My first Camino was to say thank you for my own recovery from breast cancer).
Blessings.
Animo! Courage...

 

[sillydoll]

I'll ask a friend who is walking now to carry a pebble to the Cruz de Ferro and leave it there in support of your Michelle.
What a blessing that you will be there for her.
May/June is a beautiful time of the year to walk the Camino. Everything is green, the spring flowers are spectacular and all the vines, wheat, fruit trees are bursting with buds. Its a time of renewal and promise. It will be a good time for you to walk.

 

[David]

Dear Kennedy, so sorry to hear this news ... and, yes, strangely perfect timing, you being free to support her without time constraints ...

... I don't think that you have postponed your pilgrimage, your Camino, Kennedy, I think that you are firmly upon it.

May the Good God bless you and yours - in our prayers

David

Coram Deo

 

[DjennyHeart]

Sending you the MOST POSITIVE VIBES!!!
Your daughter is blessed to have your love and support during this time...
and once she is fully clear of this, you can go on a Camino of gratitude...
I will keep you, your daughter and all that surround you in my prayers.
Jenny.

 

[Gailsie]

Thinking and praying for you, your daughter and your whole family. I wish you a Buen Camino when you finally are able to walk The Way.

We are indeed fortunate to have access to health facilities and wonderful doctors. Your daughter will be in good hands with all the prayers coming your way.

 

[susanawee]

Dear Kennedy,
My heart goes out to your daughter and yourself and family........My prayers are with you from here in Perth Western Australia......I have yet to walk my own Camino but, I am sure that those pilgrims already walking will be carrying you and your daughter in their hearts and thoughts as they journey on toward Santiago de Compostella.

 

[Kennedy1]

I wish to thank everyone for their kind and supportive comments. David as you so wisely said I believe I am now on a very different Camino and I know with all the prayers and positive energy coming our way that I will finish it .

Buen Camino, Kennedy

 

[galwaygirl]

Hi Kennedy,
I will be leaving Galway (Ireland) tomorrow to begin my Camino journey and I will take you and your daughter and your family along with me on my thoughts. All positive vibes will be sent your way. And i think it's so true, you are already on your camino journey. It's a real blessing that you are there for your daughter - with no constraints - at the moment and over the next few weeks and months. And the 'Spain' camino will come when the time is right for that too...and will be no doubt waiting for you.
Aine

 

[capecorps]

I retired last year after thirty years with Canada Revenue Agency. I also have three adult children who will always be my babies. Their pain is my pain so I know how you must feel.

The first thing I did after my retirement was to walk the Camino Francis in its entirety in May and June of this year. It was better than good. In fact, so much so that I am planning to do it again in May of next year.

I found Canadians to be a bit thin on the ground when I was walking so it would be a pleasure to see you on the Camino in May.

I know things will work out for you

Derek

 

[C clearly]

I am sorry to read of your postponement, and the reasons behind it. Last week I was afraid I might be facing a different camino as well, when my 28-year-old son suffered all the life-threatening complications that appendicitis can bring when it is not attended to promptly. Fortunately he now seems to be out of the woods. But I need him out of the hospital for a few days before I commit to my flight for next month.

Best wishes to you, your daughter and family.

 

[Jenniandjoe]

Dear Kennedy - just read your post and am sending prayers to you and your family and especially your daughter, Michelle. We are also recently retired, have children about the same age as yours, and are planning a Camino Portugal for 2013. I think we are blessed to be on this Camino journey. Keeping you in our thoughts....

 

[joanfromcomox]

Dear Kennedy, I send you greetings from the Vancouver Island ... along with every good wish for your daughter's care and recovery. Perhaps our paths will cross on the Camino next spring when I hope to be walking following a postponement. I planned to be walking now, but my husband took ill in the summer and plans needed to be altered. Like you, I felt comforted by sharing that news on the forum ... and by the kind messages received in reply. Thoughts and prayers to you and your daughter and all those in her community of care.

 

[christy wharton]

Christy from Ireland. Sad to hear this. My dates were and are so similar. I started from Ponferrada to Santiago late september. I am now starting from St Jean on 23 may. I am 67. I hope you make it this time. See you there?????

 

[indyrem]

Remy from Indianapolis. I am so sorry for what you're going through now. I know how you feel. I,too, had a daughter who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 37. She was a school teacher, very well loved by her students, was planning to get married that same year. She was my best friend. But God took her home after a year. This is one of the reasons I will walk the Camino-for her. She and her fiance, also a teacher, loved to take their students camping and hiking. Majority of her students were city kids and had never experienced hiking . So hold on to your faith, pray hard, trust Him. I will offer a special prayer for your daughter to Saint Mother Guerrin here in Terre Haute, Indiana and I hope your daughter gets well and you'd be able to walk your Camino.

 

[Kennedy1]

Update on my Camino journey. My daughter Michelle finished her chemo and radiation treatments at the end of November. She had a follow up appointment with her surgeon last week. He did a complete examination to see how the tumor responsed to the treatments. He was totally surprised that the tumor was completely gone. He cautioned us to the fact that he could not say that the cancer was gone unless they removed the rectum and tested it for any cancer cells that may be there or not there. What a decision Michelle was faced with. For now she decided not to have the surgery but will get another four months of chemo and her doctors will monitor her over the next year at which time she will re-evaluate her progress.

I would like to thank all my Camino family for all their prayers and positive energy that were sent to Michelle. I am sure this played a big part in her recovery.

I have decided to resume my Camino preparations and I plan on leaving SJPP on May 2,2013 to start my journey with Michelle's blessing. I plan to give thanks for her recovery and prayers for her continued health.

Kind Regards, Kennedy

 

[annakappa]

This is going to be an extraordinary Camino for you, Kennedy. I wish you and your family all the very best. What better way to walk the Camino! Anne

 

[robertt]

Roll on May 2. Go get 'em, Kennedy.

Rob

 

[Anniesantiago]

Wonderful news, Kennedy!
I hope to see you on the road...
Annie

 

[DragonLily]

Hello Kennedy,

I just had to write to say how happy I am for you and your daughter, Michelle. I am glad that the news is good and that you will be on your way soon. I am in the midst of planning my First Camino for May as well. You will be ahead of me by about three weeks but I will think of you as I start my Camino.

Buen Camino,

Lily

 

[indyrem]

Hi Kennedy......it's so heartwarming to hear that your daughter is doing well. Thank God. Good luck on your camino and I will continually pray for her complete recovery.

Buen Camino

 

[Melbrob]

Hi Kennedy,

A difficult decision for you both, however I am sure that you will both benefit in different ways from your resumed plan to walk. It will be an opportunity for you to think quietly about the past months and set them into a context for yourself.

I will be walking a couple of weeks ahead of you and we may even meet in Santiago - I walk slowly.

My thoughts will be with you both,

Rob

 

[SaraTorres]

Buen Camino Kennedy, mis pensamientos estan contigo en tu camino. Disfruta del camino y el camino disfrutara de ti. Mucha suerte y 'Buen Camino' :arrow:
Sarita (Melbourne)