Update 19/02/09

From Andi:

Hi Guys and Gals,

Tim has had an excellent bone marrow biopsy result. All clear. No more
lympoblastic cells in his bone marrow! This was fabulous news for us
to receive, his body is responding to the chemotherapy.

He is back on track with daily chemo - everyday last week and 4 days
this week. This week he has also had a lumbar puncture, which is
chemo injected into his spine. He has felt nauseous and tired and
very light headed. Blood tests yesterday revealed he now has anaemia
and so today he had his first blood transfusion. This all seems part
and parcel of chemotherapy in high risk patients such as Tim. He is
handling this so well. He meditates in waiting rooms and is very
upbeat in hospital. The nurses just love him and he is Mr. Popular in
day oncology. (as I bet you can all imagine)

This week Tim was a case study for final year medical students. He had
no problem telling them his story from symptoms to diagnoses to
treatment. He was very open with them as they were also interested in
him as person rather than just medical guinea pig. Nice to know our
future doctors are so compassionate. We have found all the doctors
and nurses at the Austin to be this way. This also extends to the
extra care the hospital offers in the form of counseling and support
networks. Both Tim and I have received counseling and this is on
going throughout his treatment.

Tim is juicing like a man possessed. Everyday he goes through a bag
of carrots, oranges, apples etc. We have an awesome, new juicer
(thanks barb & john) and it has become a family ritual. We are keeping
our local organic fruit shop in business, almost every 2nd day I am
getting more supplies. ( I bet the bottle shop boys are missing
Tim.....he was on first name basis with all of them there!!) Tim has
said he wonders if he will ever have a beer again....at this point he
doesn't think he will.......actually both of us had our last alcoholic
beve on New Years Eve. I'm thinking if we hear good news in about a
years time we will be cracking some champagne for sure!!

Well, that's all I can think of for now.

Love to you all,

Andi

P.S. - Thanks to the following blokes, who pick up a blower and a mower for
THL this week:

Trent Collins, Chris Collins & Wayne Armstrong. We really do
appreciate that you guys give up you annual leave, retirement and
spare time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Update 10/02/09

Hi there everyone,

Hope you like Tim's "HOT" new look! Anyone want to follow his style
and for a great cause do the worlds greatest shave? Help the
Leukaemia Foundation raise funds for research and continue to provide
care and support for patients and families living with leukaemia's,
lymphoma's, myeloma and blood related disorders. It is on the 14th
and 15th of March, so go to www.worldsgreatestshave.com for details.

News on Tim..... He went back into hospital on Tuesday night after
experiencing chronic bone pain in his lower back. This was a side
effect from an injection he had on Sunday in his stomach to help boost
his white blood cells. A couple of days and a fair amount of morphine
later he came home..all good. This injection is a must have for his
condition and he is due to have a few more of them....so he may end up
back in hospital on these occasions. He has had a break from chemo
this week which has been fabulous and he has almost felt normal. On
friday he had a bone marrow biopsy. This test will let us know if the
production of the blastic cells are slowing down due to the treatment.
Lets all hope and pray that this will be the case.

The doctors have decided to delay Tim's radiation for another month.
So he will be having chemo 5 days this week, 4 days next week, 5 days
the week after and 4 days the next. At least he gets the week ends
off and every second week a long week end!!!!!!

More celebrities have sent tim well wishes! These include personal
messages and signed photos, books and dvd's from Natalie Imbruglia,
Casey Chambers, Laurie Lawrence, Chris Lilley ( Dicktation tag and
all!!!!), Kate Miller-Heidke, Tim Freedman of the Whitlams and a very
special card from Bert Newton. The 'Wall of Courage' is taking
over....we might need a pool room! Thanks again to Rod for organising
these for Tim. You should have seen his face.

Other thank you's must also go out to the following men who have given
up their time to work for Tim Hamilton Landscapes over the last couple
of weeks. All of them have braved 40 + degrees.
So a massive thank you to:
Luke Cheers - for giving up his Saturday
Matt Natoli - for giving up his Saturday
Chris Collins - for giving up his retirement!
Wayne Armstrong - for giving up every spare minute

and to Marcus Whitty for keeping Tim Hamilton Landscapes alive.

We appreciate all your efforts more than words can say. It means
everything to Tim to see his business continue trading and be in very
good hands.

We love you all so much.
Until the next update.......

Andi

Tim's new look

From Tim:

'My modeling agency has relinquished all contractual obligations and
finally allowed me to freelance my latest look....'

Update 03/02/09

From Andi:

Hello All,

Well, it has been a busy and eventful week in the House of Hamilton......
Tim has had a very up and down week. Having chemo daily has certainly
taken its tole on his poor body. He has had terrible nausea,
headaches, has dropped 10 kg and also some hair. Most of the time he
just feels exhausted, this is exasperated by the 40+ temperatures and
sleepless nights.

On day 11 of the 15 day straight chemo regime, the doctors decided to
cease the treatment as Tim's liver is being damaged by the particular
drug they have been using for that 15 day schedule (Asparaginase).
This is very common, most bodies don't tolerate 15 days straight and
in patients over 50, Asparaginase is left out all together in the
Hoelzer Chemotherapy Protocol. The up side is that he has a two day
break from chemo and moves on to the next phase of treatment, which is
more chemo (through his picc line and intrathecal therapy) and
radiation.

This Friday Tim is having a bone marrow biopsy - this will give us an
indication as to how Tim's body is really responding to all the
treatment. This along with another CT scan in the coming weeks will
hopefully give us some positive news.

This week Tim received a surprise phone call from Tommy Emanuel! Our
friend Rod organised the call and it made Tim's day. He called from
the States to wish Tim all the best. Tim has also received some
signed and framed pictures and messages from Shane Warne, Elliot
Goblett and Hamish & Andy!! Such a thrill. We have hung them on out
bedroom wall - now known as " The Wall of Courage!". These little
things give Tim inspiration and really boost his spirits.

Other news - Ben took his first steps on Australia Day! He was doing
it for the country and was well praised by his brother chanting "Go
Benny Go" over and over and over and over.....Needless to say Ben is
EVERYWHERE now - even managed a topple and his first black eye! The
fun really begins....gggrrrrrrrr!

That's a wrap for this week. Never a dull moment.
Love to you all
Andi

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