Things are now picking up a pace - only a few days left before my return to Samaritan Ward. A visit to the day unit yesterday to discover my blood counts have dropped even further and I am now neutropenic. So no more havelock barbecues, or train rides or crowded places (though Luigi and I did do a quick sprint into sainsbury's this morning to pick up supplies for Lilly). Food boiled to a mush and everything must be pasteurised. Soft fruit, salad, eggs, soft cheeses etc, all off my menu for a while. Two days ago Lulu, Jan and I ate a colour-scape of fresh berries: raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, with fat white dollops of organic yogurt. Got in there just in time... Luigi arrived from Venezia yesterday. Am having to re-aquaint him with household gadgets - practical skills are not his forte! So good to have him here. Talk in Italian. Asparagus risotto tonight.
Bad news is that I have a rare tissue type (oh, so bloody typical) and despite world wide search, no donor match is showing up on the computer (perhaps it needs to be re-booted). This means they are now doing a search for "cord donors"(stem cells are taken from umbilical cords of new born babies) - and failing that, Adrian will be called upon to give me some of his stem cells (your best bunch Aid!) He is 5/10 match, but apparently there is a new research going on showing "promising results" for 5/10 sibling matches. So could be that my darling brother saves my life. This really all feels a bit much to take in. I had been told initially that a donor match should be reasonably easy. So I was totally unprepared for yesterdays news and my heart hit the floor at some speed when it was announced. Seems the tightrope I am walking is getting tauter by the day. No slippage allowed. All this information just drives my anxiety levels up. Warm, strong arms to rock me at least. I guess it will be best to get in and get started. What a marathon ahead. Puff x an awful lot more. I want to win gold. Infact, I must win gold.
Lots of you out there have said you would be happy to donate bone marrow. I don't think you can donate for me but you can sign up to Anthony Nolan Trust at http://www.anthonynolan.org or the British Bone Marrow Registry at http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/ - if not my life, it will be someone else's you help to save. I will try and find out a bit more info. But this is a start. Over 50's need not apply - so that wipes out at least half of you!
Switching off from all things blood and bone marrow now. Off for a hair cut (before it all falls out) courtesy of the Sisters on Havelock Walk - thanks you all for your generosity and inspired idea! Then will plug into the Olympic Ceremony. When the London win was announced all those years ago, Luigi and I were in the car driving down the A303 heading for Croyde: sea, surf and summer camp. We had the radio on and the roof open. It was blazing blue and we hooped a big cheer and sounded the horn... so glad we cannot see into the future.
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