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| DIARY Sydney, 17 July 2008 Lyndall's last blood test showed a significant improvement which the specialist puts down to the first round of Vidaza. He is delighted with such a rapid response and has scheduled the second round for next week. Although Lyndall still feels weak we are buoyed by this news and are already making plans to for both of us to drive north to illywhacker in October. Optimistic?.. maybe but I'm hoping it will provide some incentive for that extra effort she needs to revitalise her system with some walking and getting out into the fresh air. Sydney, 5 July 2008 Lyndall's week in hospital was very hard on her but there was much kind attention from the nursing staff as they learned the new routine, it being a first for this hospital.. It took another week before she was comfortable and blood tests at that time gave us all cause for relief. Since then she has been moving about more and is feeling quite optimistic. The next session of Vidaza is scheduled for the 21st - it should be a lot easier now that we know what to expect. Sydney, 14 June 2008 Monday will be a big day. It is then that Lyndall will be in hospital for 5 days to start her treatment of a new drug called Vidaza. It is heralded as the first of it's kind that seeks to restore faulty DNA with the aim of encouraging the ailing bone marrow to produce healthy blood cells. Like most claims from Pharmacy companies it does come with some pretty severe downsides and has a 50% chance of success. However, we are "giving it a go" and should know whether it is working after a few months. In that period it will be a case of Lyndall feeling a lot worse before things get better. We're hoping it will all be worthwhile. Sydney 1 June 2008 It sure is a struggle. Overcoming the effects of radiation "therapy" has been quite hard for Lyndall. After a few days in hospital and many anxious times at home, she lost 12Kg and still has great difficulty moving about. Nevertheless, her spleen has reduced in size a little (the object of the exercise) and her blood numbers are improving. This is what the specialist is looking for and we are hoping he will suggest we start the new drug called Vidaza. He warned us that Lyndall will feel worse on this treatment before she hopefully shows signs of improving - there is a 50% chance of this happening. We've faced worse odds before so life at the illywhackers is still upbeat!! Sydney 4 May 2008 It was only yesterday, on Saturday that the engine was finally repaired. By then the crew had flown back to Sydney and friends in Townsville had taken over the role of ensuring illywhacker was safe and secure until the next time I can get up there. The SE wind pattern seems to have set in for the season and it will now be October/November before the next opportunity to sail south presents itself. At that time, NE winds start to predominate and the trip will be much easier. Meanwhile, Lyndall is having a hard time recovering from her recent radiation treatment and today was admitted to hospital for more intensive care than I can give at home. So I will be more than busy enough without illywhacker here in Sydney. Perhaps it is better that she is sitting safely in her own berth far to the north - at least I can focus my attention on the other, most important lady in my life Sydney 23 April 2008 Wouldn't you know it! The winds have eased offshore from Townsville south - this is the time to go. However, illywhacker is in her berth with the main engine cylinder head away at the machinists. The mechanic discovered a blown head gasket between cylinders 2 and 3 and since the retaining studs were in varying states of tension this raises questions of distortion of the head itself. By the time new parts are sourced, the head reground and installed it could be next week before all is ready to go again. At this time of the year in the tropics, strong SE'ly winds begin to set in, blowing continuously until October. We thought we might just get illywhacker down before this happened. Every delay makes this less likely. How frustrating! But Lyndall is cool about it all. "There must be a reason for this, we'll find out soon enough", she says. |
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