HARD TO COMPUTE

Blimey - that first time round was a walk in the park compared to what lies ahead.  I had a straight talking meeting with my haematology consultant today. I will make this short and sweet (sweet! ha).

A brief account of my treatment plan - it goes in stages - First: Two lots of chemo - stronger than before - (that'll be nice then) starting in a couple of weeks time. Date to be confirmed. I need to go into remission. No remission - no get out of jail card. So thats the first hurdle to jump.  While chemo courses round my system, a world-wide data base search will be undertaken for a 10:10 donor match (lets hear it for a 10:10 donor match please). Next: late September, will have bone marrow transplant at Kings and will be hermetically sealed into isolation unit (see, Ripley all over) for about 3/4 weeks while, we hope, the new donor cells settle into place. Clearly this will be a testing time - and I will do battle with a host of aliens - infections and something called Graft Host Disease (GHD) whereby by my body will reject new cells - though apparently, providing you don't get too ill, this is a good thing - as it shows stuff is working. Once through with all that, I get out of my pod - then minimum of 6 months recovery time. Just in time for world cup qualifiers.

This is terror. Hard core. But I have no other choice. Sometimes life really deals a bum hand.

However, still well enough to fly to Venezia this weekend (two fingers up to you Luek.) and spend some precious time with Luigi in what he calls "our new flat". Its Redentore on Saturday night (firework festival) and there is a gondola race on Guidecca canal on Sunday. It's Venice's best weekend. The sun will shine and I will be in my favourite city with my favourite man. So couldn't ask for much more - well I could, that would be a lie. But in the circumstances...

Back next week. Ciao tutti. (sound familiar?)

BIDING TIME

Thanks for such a huge and quick response from so many people. Wow - won't all fit round that hospital bed!  Have not improved on my computer skills since last time - so blog is already causing me a headache. I have put on a link for followers, but not sure if it works.  Also will have to be updating my blog using my iPad while renewing bone marrow and discovered last night that I can't seem to upload photos using iPad. I am all of a confusion (x10) I guess I could put a link to Facebook, but don't have face book account... I can't even draw pictures and upload. If anyone of you is a geek re  iPad/blogs etc etc (and I know there are a number of you out there) a tutorial would be most welcome...still got a few free days left.

Thursday I have an appointment with the haematology consultant (note: medical speak will soon overwhelm this blog - but today is sunny and my windows are open and I can hear the world outside - indeed, I will be walking into my garden with cup of tea and doing a bit of plant conversing as soon as I have posted this). I will get full run down of treatment plan, length, expectations etc etc - so will fill you all in on my next blog. Meantime, make hay while sun shines.

Lilly - a bit fed up with the current situation

RELAPSE

Well, the air is blue. Many shades of it. Back to the box marked "GO" (and I hope another "get out of jail free" card). Really, really didn't want to be starting another blog. But such is life. Almost two years to the day since my first diagnoses. My head is just a torrent of clichés at the moment. Yesterdays low blood test result required further investigation - although I knew instinctively (but i wasn't counting chickens - well, actually I was, cluck bloody cluck). I had a bone marrow aspiration at 4pm and a phone call at 6.30pm which confirmed that leukaemia cells are back swarming around in my bone marrow. Many ****************'s and a lot of pacing around my sitting room floor, staring out of the window at the trees and sky. Life changes in a spit. I know scant information at the moment. Treatment will start next week. Chemo at Guys and bone marrow transplant at Kings. I think this will be tougher than last time. I have to go into remission. They have to find a suitable donor. I hope that it is all seamless. I am hoping to get a quick trip to venice to see Luigi in his new flat this weekend. Consultant has said I am still well enough to go - so maybe a little bit of sunshine before the gathering storm... I am rallying troops - as it really helps to have support and virtual contact. So please keep checking the blog. New name,"hairwegoagain" which seems very apt and thanks Aid for your quick thinking and inspiration. Couldn't face badhairday all over again! Though I am sure it will be. And it had all grown back so well too: Back soon.