January 10/08 - I feel I’m slowly on the mend. Ann and I have been going “out” a little more often. Yesterday, we attended Murray Hatfield’s Magic ‘n Miracles at the Royal Theatre (terrific show). This afternoon, we went for “tea” at the home of Jim & Galina Lewis (fly fishing buddy). I’m feeling good…
January 11/08 – Ann and I went to Glenwarren Lodge (Seniors Home) to perform a 30 minute magic show for the residents. No cramps and not tired…
January 14/08 – The doctor has started to “cut back” on my medicine. e.g. My Prednisone was originally at 50mg and now it’s been cut down to 5mg. Also had a chemo treatment today.
January 18/08 – We went for “tea” at the home of Case & Doris Emke. Case (retired baker) made his famous Cinnamon Buns. They were deliciously awesome. I’m the President of our Good Sam Victoria Wanderers and the Emkes are members of the same Chapter. I did have a rest before heading out for this visit …. Didn’t feel tired all…
January 19/08 – I was feeling very good and Ann & I built a “feature wall” made of knotty cedar in our laundry room, downstairs in our basement. We cut, nailed and oiled the wall (7’ x7’). Looks great!
January 21/08 – Ann and I drove to Whistler, BC. I performed a close up show for a group of Financial Planners (Western theme – Rawhide & Rhinestones). We stayed at the Fairmont Whistler Chateau. I was feeling good but my nurse phoned long distance and said my white blood count was very low and not to rush back for my Chemo Treatment, as it had been postponed. I was a little disappointed as I wanted to keep a steady continuation on my treatments…
January 25/08 – I finally found my dream ¾ size guitar through “Used Victoria”… it’s called a “Baby Taylor” guitar. It’s perfect for traveling. I was very happy… made me feel really good…
January 26/08 – Mike & Nicole Norden came from Vancouver (President of the Vancouver Magic Circle) to stay with us for the weekend. We attended the Victoria Magic Circle’s annual Dinner/show, at the Edelweiss Hall. I even performed close up magic at this event. Again, I rested up before going out. I wasn’t tired at all.
January 26/08 – Mike Norden and I attended a magic lecture given by John Kaplan at the Langford Fire Hall. To our surprise, after the lecture, we had a snow fall of 4-5 inches. Ann was working, so I cooked supper for the Nordens and myself… again, I didn’t feel tired or sleepy…
January 28/08 – I went in for my tri-weekly blood tests. Again, my white blood count was low. At that time, my white blood count somehow dropped down to 2.5, which is extremely and dangerously low (average is 4-10). My medical team goes crazy when I’m NOT in the “average”. Ann had to give me a shot of Neupogen, a drug which brings my white blood cells up.
January 30/08 – Again, I went in for the tri-weekly blood tests. I had an 11:40am appointment with Dr. Yee (My Hematogist). Later, I had a 2:00pm Chemo appointment. After two sessions with Neupogen. This drug brought my white blood count up to 9.0 (again, average is 4-10). Nurse Ann Eng does it again. She’s the one who punctures my arm to administer this medication. Everything went very well with the chemo session. Doctor Yee put me back on 100mg of Prednisone (which periodically makes my hands and feet cramp up). Apparently, I need this drug on these “double whammy” chemo sessions… part of the over all treatment. Other than the cramps, I feel great…
January 31/08 – I had another Chemo session at 9:30am (2nd part of the “double whammy”). Neighbour Fred Allen dropped me off at Cancer Clinic. This is the “long Chemo treatment” following up session from yesterday. I brought down some books and 4 DVDs to watch during the treatment to amuse myself. The reason for the “long day is so that the medical team can monitor how I react to these medications (Vincristin aka Oncovin; Cyclophosphamide; Prednisone and Rituximab aka Rituxan). Sometimes, these drugs may cause the patients to become nauseous, get fatigue and/or sleepy, itchy, fever, hair loss or break out with hives. Ann picked me up after the treatments, to bring me home. Other than the fact it was a long session (6 hours)… so far, I’m feeling good… no side effects what-so-ever.
The bottom line is that I’m ON THE MEND!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
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Obituary: Tony Eng Lived a Magical Life
Former owner of Trick & Joke Shop succumbs to leukemia and skin cancer
Jeff Bell, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Published: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
A meeting of the Victoria Magic Circle last night turned into a memorial for one of its most accomplished members, Tony Eng, who died Sunday at the age of 61.
The hope when the meeting was planned was that Eng would present his namesake trophy to the winner of a competition for the best close-up magic trick. Instead, fellow magicians like Shayne King took time to share thoughts of a man they respected and admired.
"He taught me a lot, he gave a lot of magicians their start," said King, who managed Tony's Trick & Joke Shop for Eng. He has continued at the store since it became Murray's Trick & Joke Shop two years ago under Murray Hatfield.
Hatfield said running the store has shown him just how far-reaching Eng's influence has been. Eng's legendary demonstrations of his sleight-of-hand at the store counter were a long-time attraction, Hatfield said.
"I can't tell you how many times since we took over the shop that I've had people coming in and saying thinks like 'We're here from Bakersfield, Calif. and we were here five years ago, and it was just the high point of our trip'".
It was all because of Tony and the way he made people feel.
"Tony was a master and definitely one-of-a-kind, and he will be greatly missed by both the magic community at large and by a lot of non-magicians who just happened to come in and meet him through the shop."
Hatfield said that many people he speaks to are finding the news of Eng's death hard to believe.
"This has been such a blow. For the last three days, I've been hearing nothing but people just being in shock. Tony was such an awesome guy -- not only was he an exceptional performer and a great businessman, he just was a really nice man."
The response to his death means a great deal to the family, said Sandra Eng, one of his two daughters.
"The word is starting to ripple out there now and it touches my heart every time I hear how significantly Dad made an impact on people."
She said her father, born in Victoria in 1946, was diagnosed last October with both a form of leukemia and a rare type of skin cancer.
His fascination with magic went back to his early childhood, she said.
"He got his first magic kit when he was eight and did his first paid gig at the age of 12."
His ability as a musician had him performing at innumerable charity events over the years. He also became a Sunday night fixture at the Japanese Village restaurant, where he entertained diners for two decades.
Her father had many interests outside of magic, as well, his daughter said, and entrepreneurial skills that saw him run a successful wholesale business and establish the Premier School of Bartending.
"He loved to play racquetball. He was a fierce competitor and his Y buddies are going to sorely miss him. He also went fly-fishing, he did woodworking and he went RVing. Mom and Dad started travelling in the last few years quite a bit down south to Arizona."
A tribute is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
2 comments:
Way to go Tony, you TIGER!
Been there, done that, had a BLAST!
Make the best of it.
Lots of love,
Suley
Tony we wish you well.
Take Care from Dave Cathie
Trevor and Lorena.
Love to Ann
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