As I sit at my desk listening to Luciano Pavarotti singing ‘Ai Giocchi addio’ from Romeo and Juliet, the phone rings and it’s our lovely Doctor from Lincoln County Hospital with the latest blood test results for Hamada. After the short course of ‘Filgrastim” the results show a very good improvement, how wonderful is that – so now with the sun shining through my window and this beautiful music – all is well in my world, for the time being.
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Myeloma sufferers take a look at http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/ and click on Myeloma, a great site for simple understanding of Multiple Myeloma.
This morning I went to Lincoln Hospital to collect Neupogen -filgrastim Injections for Hamada. These have been prescribed in an effort to help with Hamada’s, disorder of Neutropenia, a condition in which the number of white cells are extremely low, this of course leads him to suffer from repeated severe infections. We hope the Neupogen will help to increase the number of white cells, which in turn will help Hamada to fight these infections. He is weak and tired but still smiling and never ever complaining!
It has been a challenging time since Hamada returned from Lincoln Hospital and a slow recovery once again from his second bout with pneumonia. He has been extremely weak and suffering with anaemia which is common in Myeloma. Hamada’s kidneys are unable to produce a special growth factor, known as erythropoietin, this stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells. He has a weekly injection to help with that. He is constantly tired but makes a tremendous effort to get up for longer periods each day. He has now had another bone marrow aspirate which involves inserting a fine needle into the bone marrow space at the back of the hip bone under local anaesthetic, and they aspirate/ suck out a few bone marrow cells to stain and view under a microscope. We wait now for ten days for the results once again.
The following is an extract from a wonderful poem written by Arthur Hugh Clough and brought to my attention by dear friends who live in our village, it is a wonderful poem of courage and hope, in the face of diversity and for folk who struggle daily, it is I believe a must to read.
Last two verses from – Say Not The Struggle Naught Availeth.
For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,
Seem here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.
And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light;
In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly!
But westward, look, the land is bright !
~
Hamada was allowed to come home from Lincoln Hospital at 6pm last evening. After spending the afternoon receiving blood platelets, he was ready to go. He was delighted to be home again and after inspecting his new all ‘singing and dancing’ bed, which proved very successful for him, settled down to rest. As he has pernicious anaemia now, he is very weak, but we have seen a good improvement over the past two weeks. He is to continue with the Antibiotics for the pneumonia and we must return to Lincoln Hospital again on Monday and Thursday of next week for further checks. On the 24th, Hamada will have another bone marrow aspiration. Hamada sends his very best wishes to his friends and to his dear family who have once again been supporting and encouraging him.
He also thanks his dear family in Alexandria for their recent telephone messages and for the comment under the poem – ‘You Elude Me’
He also thanks his dear family in Alexandria for their recent telephone messages and for the comment under the poem – ‘You Elude Me’
Hamada has made very good progress with his fight against his second bout of Pneumonia and is now considerably better. We are hoping that if his blood count is good enough today, he will be allowed home perhaps at the weekend. It is really better and safer for him to continue his recovery from this infection at home, but once again we thank all the wonderful Doctors and Staff at Lincoln County Hospital, Waddington Unit for their superb continuing care of Hamada .
Hamada has been moved to a side ward in the Waddington Unit at Lincoln Hospital as he is today, ‘Neutropenic’ meaning his immune system is compromised due to lack of white blood cells and ‘reverse barrier nursing’ has started. The pneumonia seems to be a good deal better and he is quite cheerful but this is indeed a setback.
As we all recover from the Earthquake that shook a large part of the UK the epic-centre being in the next village to us, it appears that Hamada and Lincoln County Hospital were not too affected by the quake. Hamada appeared a little better yesterday, although it’s really difficult to tell. The Doctors do feel he is going in the right direction. He is able to speak a little again and seems to be responding to the drugs and antibiotics prescribed. He was so happy to see Jenny and I when we arrived, a good sign I feel.
Hamada was admitted to Lincoln County Hospital, Waddington Unit, early yesterday morning with a high fever and it was confirmed today that he does indeed have pneumonia once again. I had monitored his temperature throughout the Sunday night hourly, and made a good judgement call in the early hours of Monday – he is comfortable but extremely ill again. I ask for the power of your thoughts and for those who believe, your prayers.
No wretched life from us can take
the steps of love the notes we make,
the frail frame that yearns to try
the arms that lift, the eyes that cry,
tiny steps are all you need
to close your eyes and dance with me
to swirl and sway, to waltz and salsa
maybe soon – but not today,
still just to hold and smell your skin
is all I need, not spin and twirl
your arms are weak your legs move slow
but in this room the music flows
do you hear Count Basie swing?
piano notes that damp your skin
just as snow when flakes begin
to see you there upon this floor
to hear that Sax in blues begin
to twirl and spin,
close your eyes and drift again
tiny steps are all you’ll need
to turn on floor, so close to me
for I will hold you never fear
and as we dance along this year
tiny steps are all you need
so close your eyes and dance with me…
@ Copyright 2008
We Dance Again – Now having music composed by the U.S.A band ‘DAYE’
and chosen by http://www.rescuing-providence.blogspot.com as a poem for their site
Over the mountains and out across the sea
on weathered wings he soars into the edges of the breeze.
Over the water and out across the fields
with eagle eye he watches he’s seeing what our hearts can never see
and he speaks to me.
Life touches nothing, life teaches what it can
It can hold us all to ransom, the woman and her man,
over the mountains and out across the trees
on weathered wings he soars into the silence, on the edges of the breeze,
and he speaks to me.
Dougie Maclean.
A Walk In the Sunshine along the ‘Corniche’ at Sutton-On-Sea. – Jo, Hamada and Susie.
Hamada and Susie enjoying the wonderful Village Sunday Roast
After a very difficult fortnight for Hamada, when he was having quite severe pain in his lower back making moving so painful for him, and now being at the top of the pain medicine allowed, because of the danger to his failing kidneys, he reach a plateau on thursday and over the weekend improved enough to go to our Village ‘Roast’ Sunday Lunch, this is a really great affair and always enjoyed by all who attend. The weather was sunny and so inviting for the walk to the Village Hall, Hamada uses a wheelchair now, which makes it easier for him. As we had Son Jo and a friend staying at Hemingway, we made our procession on this almost Spring-like day to engage in this lovely occasion . Hamada was so pleased to see all his friends from the Village and so enjoyed the day and the delicious food. He is still sleeping rather a lot, but is cheerful and contented when awake. Having family staying this weekend was lovely and Hamada joined us several times for cards and has not lost his touch! He asks to send all best wishes to all our friends overseas, (especially in Alex) who are thinking of him and he thanks them for the recent emails and calls.
21st January 2008 Sent from my friend PIP in Tasmania Australia.
Poems have magic, especially when they come from the heart. They can touch us, move us, delight us, enlighten us, make us laugh, make us cry, and both soften, and enrich our deepest memories.
Poetry is the tie that binds one stranger to another, often in friendship, sometimes in love, always in better understanding. Hope your day will be wonderful.
Luv Pip