Horses and courses

Holly had a day off school today and Lee took her to see her cousin Megan who is working in the stables at Gleneagles for a horse ride ! She was really thrilled and called in to the hospital (after decontamination, hand washing etc) to tell me all about it on the way home with Lee which was really sweet. She had an accidental jump and an intentional fast trot, I can see this being an expensive hobby, but it really suits her adventurous, physically brave and outdoor nature. Paradoxically she is also the big computer gamer in the house really applying focus, concentration and problem solving to the games, plus a lot of determination. I find it interesting to see the individual charachters of the girls evolve and emerge in clear themes, not really controlled by us, but by their own individual personality.

One of the chaps in the ward, Paul, has decided to get married to his long term partner in the hospital chapel, perhaps we will get to go, wheeling our chemo machines beside us when I am next in ! He had ministers and officials visiting him today to sort out the legal stuff which was a change on the normal ward activities. Paul had a stem cell replacement seven years ago which cured his lymphoma, but unfortunately now has leukemia which is one of the risks of this high strength treatment. He got through the treatment OK although he found the six weeks in hospital very boring, then had seven good years of health and is now sixty eight so he sees the original treatment as a good thing giving him that good quality time despite the eventual problem.

Chemo 2 is going pretty well, but then it went pretty well for the first day the last time so lets see how I feel tomorrow, I am optimistic and positive about the treatment as I found out today that my virus screen is clear for the stem cell extraction and my blood counts are good so I am well set up, all I need to do is really stay infection free for the next 10 days till they get the stem cells out. Talking through the timing of the next steps it seems that I may be just getting out of hospital when the monster challenge is happening, so its touch and go if I will be able to be in the support team I may be home in bed.

Series 2 of the sopranos has been entertaining me (when Holly and Lee were not her) this afternoon, I think Saving Private Ryan may be on the menu for the evening. I hope you all are well and having a beer after a busy week, have mine for me I do miss a jolly night out with friends - hopefully in two or three months I can gently join in again.

All's well on the chemo course and holly is still smiling from the horse.

Cheers

Gerry