I’ve run out of time this week. I haven’t been to visit all my favourite blogs or made my usual blog comments and I know how much comments mean to bloggers. [In fact, some of us can be childishly overenthusiastic about them!] But I have a good/bad reason. Rod [Mr A.] was hoping [we were all hoping] he could avoid having that stem cell transplant that I’ve been muttering on about in my blogs, but the hospital say that it must be the next course of treatment. The amyloids are building up and if left unchecked they’ll damage his kidneys and spread to other organs in his body. He has no choice and so he will be going into the bone marrow unit on 3rd August.
I used to think that a stem cell transplant meant putting something new into the body, much like a heart transplant, but it’s not. It’s a way for them to give him an extremely high dose of chemotherapy. The dose would be fatal without the reintroduction of his own stem cells to help his body to recover. They were harvested last year and are stored at the hospital in what my mind imagines to be a container full of swirling dry ice, akin to something from a Frankenstein movie. Joking aside, it’s an aggressive treatment. He’ll be in hospital for about three weeks and convalescing for about three months. During that time he must avoid infections. He won’t even be able to touch his lovely garden. [I will try to make sure that it still is a lovely garden when the hospital gives him permission to dirty his hands again but I’m no gardener. Truly I’m not.]
And so we’re going to go out and about this week. We’re going to spend time with good friends, visit exciting places, keep busy and have fun. I won’t be around much in blogland for the next seven days so I thank you in anticipation [that’s a lovely old phrase, isn’t it] for your visits and your comments. Once he’s undergoing treatment I rather think I’ll be visiting you all quite a lot.
Wishing you both - and especially Rod - lots of strength to get through the next few weeks. And hoping you have a really fun week before the treatment starts.
ReplyDeleteWow, no need to apologize about not commenting on blogs in a situation like this! I'm wishing you both the best, and much success with the treatment.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and hopes will be with you both. Take good care of yourselves. I think your plan to enjoy as much as you can this week is an excellent one. Enjoy and take care. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteMy heart and mind is with you Ros and with Rod. Its going to be a bit uphill, this, but look forward to coming out the other side. Sorry I haven't visited your blog for a while : I loved the cliche blog, I'm commenting here, as you had a lot of comments over there. Keep blogging over the summer, it'll help to keep your mind off stuff. xxx Miri
ReplyDeleteSending supporting thoughts your way, Rosalind.
ReplyDeleteI always find it hard to put words together. Often wanted to put a comment on your great blog Ros but being not exactly 'tongue tied' more like 'word tied' (if there is such a thing)!! I've left stuff unsaid. This time not so and whatever it comes out like here goes ...... "You and Rod are in my thoughts, my prayers and my meditations. I so believe in the healing power of prayer. I'm sending you heaps of strength and loads of love. Nothing quite like a sisters love you know...... I think you're both very brave and I'd give anything just to be able to give you a big hug but as we know, distance prevents. Hey and don't you go worrying about that garden - I have every faith that its gona be just fine"..... lots and lots of love x x
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all your kind wishes. It does help.
ReplyDeleteYou're not 'word tied', Rifka, not at all and thank you for all your love and support.
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