ROOM WITH A VIEW

Well, here it is...my inspirational view! This is what I have to stare out at everyday...thank goodness we are in mid winter and the days are short, once the dark comes down it all disappears. If there is sun, there is a bright patch of light that moves across the brickwork between 10.30 and 11.30. I bet those incarcerated in Pentonville get a better deal than this!

Internally the room is better. Big bonus is a large flat screen tv with a good range of channels. Thank goodness, as tv/radio is a bit of a life saver. Apparently a former leukaemia patient funded tv's to be put in all 3 transplant wards. What a genius! I have my lava lamp (ordered a second one after the disaster with the first). It is currently turning out slow yellow blobs floating like baby manta rays in blue green water (tho more likely to be some foul cancerous liquid thinking about it).
Wendy gave me Christmas lights which are draped over an abstract print of Venice (donated by Art in Hospitals). Venice, "of all the towns" etc etc, another strange coincidence. Lu gave me paper chains to hang and am sticking christmas cards on the wall too. Anything to soften the medical edge of this room.

Physically, feeling continuously very sick. They put me on a sub-cutaneous "push" of anti-emetics yesterday to try and get the nausea under control. It's reduced it a bit. But too easy to forget I have this thing sitting inside my arm, and I am constantly pulling on it. Ouch. I have still got enough energy to walk up and down the corridor of the transplant unit for ten minutes. Good exercise. Though I look a sight with my hooded spotted dressing gown and face mask. There is a window at the end that looks out over the railway line and directly onto Ruskin Park. I see winter trees and dog walkers. Hair still in but due to fall out in the next two weeks. I get odd powerful stomach rumbles and sharp pains. I pee continuously. I have to wear special flattering stockings to prevent DVT. I am attached to my drip stand 24 hours a day. 3 pumps clamped to it. I get glucose, saline, potassium, sodium, magnesium (electrolytes - I am learning my stuff), anti-rejection drugs, anti-viral drugs...soon I will add platelets, blood and antibiotics to the list. Hopefully though, not food. Really don't fancy being tube fed. Me and my shadow. Just have to live with it for the next few weeks.

Pretty much though I am feeling ok. I may get lucky and not get too many side effects. The gates of hell are due to drag open around the end of this weekend. Normally 7 days after TBI the body reacts - mouth, gut, bum. Ooh, fun to look forward to...

Luigi putting his Italian cooking skills to best use. He made me some delicious broth with fresh chicken and vegetables, sieved down till it became a clear honey coloured liquid. Every warm mouthful felt like the best medicine, even though my taste buds are on the way out.

I am going to stare at tv now. Thanks for all the messages that are still tipping in. I swear all this positive thinking, vibes, prayers and candle lighting is really working. I am sure me and my new stem cells are going to get along together just fine. We are being buoyed along by you all. Big love and thanks to everyone, everywhere. Back soon tch xxx

PS some people been asking how to contact me. Best not to send via the hospital but to my house. I have my personal postie who comes by everyday.
2 Grassmount, Forest Hill, London SE23 3UW