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| DIARY Sydney, 23 August 2008 We've completed chemo session #3. One more to go, then the next phase will begin. Lyndall's specialist could not be happier, he's amazed that the leukemia symptoms have all but disappeared which is certainly good news. However, Lyndall feels very weak and uncomfortable due to her super-enlarged spleen, the result of ongoing blood transfusions and a new production regime from the revitalised bone marrow. The idea now is to remove it when she is able to cope with the operation. It will be a tricky procedure and getting her to improve her fitness when she is so weak won't be easy. So ... even if it hurts it's back on the exercise bike for her while I schedule an increase in fresh juice production as we try to keep an optimistic outlook. Our previous idea of driving to Townsville together just won't work with so much medical treatment going on so I will again fly up to prepare illywhacker for the trip south. This time I will be accompanied by an American couple, Ralph and Glenda who have left their yacht "Our Country Home" in French Polynesia while they visit us. They have agreed to sail illywhacker south to Sydney. It is an arrangement that suits us both. They will see some of Australia with a leisurely cruise in the season of northerly winds and we'll finally have our floating home back. Hooray!! 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 |
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