We hope you all had a great Christmas!
Just before Christmas we got the fabulous news that Tim's biopsy result was clear of leukemia and in fact there was evidence of new, healthy cell rejuvenation. So needless to say, we were all very relieved and Tim celebrated with a beer on Christmas day!
( and me with a number of sparklings!)
We had a lovely holiday in Noosa with the kids and arrived back in Melbourne just before Christmas. However we did have a scare from the hospital just as we were at the airport and about to start our holiday. Tim had to have a PICC line redress and blood tests the morning of our flight, which are routine and weekly. However the hospital called to say Tim's neutrophils had dropped and the haem. doctors were very concerned by this. Great...what were we going to do....yep that's right, still go on the holiday! We did have a great time but of course had some worry in the back of our minds (actually it was at the front of mine). So while trying to enjoy the sun, fun and family time, we had many calls from doctors to organise an emergency bone marrow biopsy 12 hours after our return. One doctor did say that his low neutrophils could be an indication of leukemia cells reforming and inhibiting healthy cells. I actually overheard her say that to Tim on the phone, whilst lazing by the pool. Straight away i had that kick in the guts feeling and the shakes. Tim immediately called the Head of Haematology, Dr Paul Turner for some clarification. Dr Turner assured Tim by saying that if he was him he wouldn't worry and that the drop in counts could be due to a very small sniffle he had at the time and when your bone marrow is so suppressed the drops are more dramatic. However, he felt also that it would be good for everyone to have another bone marrow biopsy to make sure. So this, along with Tim's insistence that there is no way he could be feeling this good if leukemic cells were forming in his bone marrow and that fact that he looks a million bucks, we had a great time away and just immersed ourselves in the quality family time. We are blessed to have enjoyed this Christmas. We are reminded constantly of how quickly things can change with this disease, for better and worse. Unfortunately some of our friends from the Gawler retreat have not had great news since the program.
Tim is having another dose of chemo this wednesday (IV and another delightful lumber puncture) which will flaten him for New Year celebrations no doubt. The good news is that this week was supposed to be a 5 day chemo week, but the haem. doctors have decided that one dose is enough. The plan is that this dose is repeated again in 4-5 weeks and then the blessed PICC line is removed!!! HOORAY! Everything is crossed for that going to plan. This means that Tim will have daily chemo in tablet form and 8 weekly lumbar punctures for the following 2 years.
Tim is going to do the 8 week Integration Program run by the Gawler Foundation in Melbourne starting the 8th Feb. This time his dad is going as the support person, as I am returning to work next year. It is a 3 hour session held once a week in Hawthorn run by the Zen Monk, Seikan. I am sure they will both gain so much from the program.
It is certainly a way of life now...to juice, meditate and eat well. We have found a routine that suits us and it is really working well.
We wish everyone all our best for a good new year. Tim and I continue to focus solely on each moment and really live them.
Love and peace,
Andi & Tim
Extra Update 29/12/09 @ 6pm
We had a call from the hospital today and Tim will not be having chemo tomorrow, but will recommence on Monday the 4th. Unfortunately, he will have to have the 5 days of chemo as originally intended.
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