A busy start to 2013

After a very full end to 2012 and a really great time away over Christmas and the New Year, we thought we would settle down to a relaxing routine for 2013.  Well, that was the plan.

And we all know what happens to "Plans" now don't we?

My last blog entry finished with us at Tracey & Mike's place at Evans Plains, outside Bathurst.

Alex had been helping Mike build his future greenhouse, and Bandit was helping Alex help Mike.

We came back to Sydney and had our first appointment for 2013 with Dr. Brennan for an update on how Alex's neck has been healing now that he is free of that dreaded neck brace.  There was really good news - his neck is healing remarkably well.  So well that Dr. Brennan said he didn't need to see Alex again for a while, and suggested that he will review him again in September.

We had a very busy weekend with social engagements and then Alex and Mark drove off for a week with their friends up north.

The following Monday, 14th January, Alex had chemo in the afternoon.  We called in to the hospital that morning so Alex could give some blood.  We also had an appointment with Dr. Corey Lau who is the wonderful Palliative Care Doctor looking after Alex.  During the previous weeks Alex pains have changed, and so a new set of medications was prescribed and it was also decided to give Alex a week of Radiotherapy on his hip area.  This was scheduled to commence on Wednesday of the following week.

His blood test results also showed that his hemoglobin levels had dropped and so a blood transfusion was organised for the following morning.  This was given in the same area as the chemotherapy and it felt like a busy start to the year to leave late after chemo on the Monday and return early on Tuesday for the transfusion.  At least it was a relatively quick process!

How handsome can a guy look after a transfusion?  As great as Alex looks!

Our "RPA Week" continued because we were back on Wednesday afternoon for a Radiotherapy planning session.  This is where they tattoo Alex and programme the machines so when his sessions do start, it is relatively quick to have Alex settled and the machines aimed at the right area to zap the offending tumours ...

That evening though, Alex's pains did not respond to any of the medications, and so on Thursday morning we were back at hospital.  Alex spent the day in Emergency - they did extensive tests and x-rays to eliminate some of the more major concerns they had.  It was decided the best course would be to admit Alex so they could keep an eye on him and adjust his medications accordingly and so he was settled into a different ward on level 6.

His Radiotherapy was brought forward to start on Monday instead of Wednesday.  The nurses and staff we encountered while Alex spent a week in hospital were wonderful.  We could borrow a wheelchair from the hospital to allow us to escape the hospital for visits to the coffee shop up the road.  Having this forced rest in hospital gave him plenty of time to catch up with his reading.

He was collected each day and wheeled over to the Radiotherapy.  Some of the nurses remembered him from his last sessions and this made it feel quite relaxed.  If you can feel relaxed having daily Radiotherapy!

Alex left hospital on Wednesday afternoon and the Radiotherapy finished on the Friday.

That weekend was the Australia Day weekend.  On the Saturday morning Alex's bike was collected for its trip back to Worthingtons BMW to look for a new owner.  We hope the new owner has as many adventures as we enjoyed.  We are busy planning our future travels on 4 wheels, but it was sad to see the bike go.

On the public holiday Monday we went for a drive to have a look at the heavy surf.  It is supposed to be summer in Australia, but you'd never guess.  A day at the beach in summer means sun, blue skies, perfect surf and crowded beaches.  This is 2013 summer ... on a public holiday long weekend!

The following week's Boys Night was at home.  Alex hadn't recovered enough and so Paul, Muddy, Mark and Ric came over for cards and Pizza.  Fantastic!

All up, it was a very busy January!

Friday 1st February Alex was feeling much better and we decided to celebrate by heading out to Newtown for a meal out.  We decided to try a new restaurant rather than go to our usual Thai favourite.
We enjoyed our meal but it did take a while to get through the coffee afterwards.  Thankfully we had the time as we had decided to try the movies on another night.

Have a guess how many sugars one needs for a coffee this size ...

Sadly, our enjoyment disappeared about 4 hours later.  Alex had a bout of food poisoning and this meant that the new medications also weren't working very well, so the next week we had several visits from Donna, our friendly Yorkshire Community Nurse.

We were back at hospital on Thursday and Friday for appointments and chemo.

Chemo this time went very quickly, and there was a fresh orange juice to celebrate at the end.

Once again, we headed up to Tracey and Mike's place after chemo.  Bandit was pleased to have us back.  How could you not like a pup so cute?

On the drive up we had all 4 seasons.  Sitting on their deck on the Friday afternoon, it looked like the storm we'd driven through may catch up - the changing skyline was amazing.

Alex had planned to stay for the whole week to help Mike with the greenhouse and other chores.  He had a very unusually bad reaction this time to the chemo.  I went to collect him on Tuesday and bring him back to Sydney.  We left Tracey & Mike's place under sunshine and blue skies.  Two hours later we were driving through the Blue Mountains and stopped at Blackheath to stretch our legs - it was like we'd fast forwarded 2 seasons straight into winter.

Donna and Barbara came the next morning and it was decided that Alex needed a Syringe Driver machine - this would provide him with a constant release of the medications and it should hopefully only take a few days for his body to recover and get back on track.

It was quite daunting to have this but Alex coped unbelievably well with it.  Donna or Barbara would come every morning to inset new supplies and check all was well.  They are both very friendly ladies and it was almost like having a friend call in for a coffee and a chat!

The machine worked so well that Barbara removed it yesterday - Sunday - and we have reverted to our previous schedule for medications.

And another week has started.  And yes, we were back at hospital, this time for a scan early this morning.  Alex had a full body scan and we will get the results on Friday next week before chemo.  Hopefully it will be good news to start the next month.

To celebrate being off the machine and having the scan, we headed back to Little Treasures in Petersham to check out their breakfast menu.

Definitely worth it!  An absolutely delicious brunch.