Hi fellow downhillers. I hope you are all well. I want to start on a positive note and send out my massive appreciation to our my family and friends. They completed a half marathon yesterday for the Brain Tumour Charity. Amazing achievement 👏 you are all super heroes in my eyes. I also want to thank the back room staff (further members of the family) for their organisational skills on providing sustenance at the completion of the walk. A huge thank you to all the people who have sponsored them on this endeavour. Without people contributing the research into this cancer 🧠 could not continue. 💥💥
Last Wednesday my daughter and I had a video chat with Jude from the Brain Tumour Charity who had read my daughters article in the paper. It was very insightful (if talking about cancer can be classed as that). To hear other people’s stories was an inspiration to focus on the positives each day.
In regards to my treatment, well different story. I had further bloods taken last Monday and was advised I required another unit of blood on Thursday, (sorry if repeating myself). This one was at New Cross hospital. I was told to be at the blood transfusion unit at 1250, I wasn’t informed the unit had moved so after wheezing up three flights of stairs I had to descend and go to the department in another area of the hospital.
Our lass wasn’t allowed in with us and I was instructed to wait in the waiting room (corridor more appropriate) for an hour, whilst sitting through two chorus of “Happy Birthday”, appears first one hadn’t recorded. Finally moving onto the unit I was informed I would not be having the blood transfusion that day as my blood wasn’t in the fridge, (probably removed to provide space for the birthday cake).
The nurse then said I needed a blood cross match despite the fact I had this taken on the previous Monday. Explained my chemo was supposed to start this Tuesday, nurse said we will rearrange before that. I said I had all my bloods taken already. Whilst all this banter was going on I had the drip fitted into my arm. If I wasn’t going to have the transfusion why connect the drip.
She then rang the blood bank to be told the blood was in but a form was required to release it. This was subsequently done but I had already been sat there for nearly 2 hours. Transfusion started at 3pm for 2.5 hours duration according to the ward sister. Three times the alarm on my machine went off, on first two occasions no one attended until I pressed the emergency button, on the third occasion I reset it myself.
Finally at 5.40pm the transfusion was finished, then came the fun part. The canulla may as well been glued to my arm. I had the canulla plaster, micropore tape and a chest drain patch over the top. Removing it all and the epidermis beneath was painful to say the least. This being done the nurse left me with just my bedside light on and the rest of the unit in darkness. I then thought is that it, so jumped off the bed and walked out. Honestly I did not use a Carry On script to write that.
How am I feeling now, invigorating and part piebald 😆. I have my bloods again tomorrow and hopefully, hopefully chemo starts Tuesday. I hope I have whittled away some time for you reading this and take care.
Brain Man 