I now have four days of chemo to come. All the required stem cells have been taken, and are now frozen safely awaiting reinjection once my immune system has been ablated. To be clear, my immune system needs to be partly destroyed, to allow the stem cells to assist with re-setting the immune system. By … Continue reading Four days of chemo →

by John Greenleaf Whittier When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't … Continue reading Don’t Quit →

Well today I officially feel like a puffer fish ! After 4 days of steroids and IV saline I weigh about 6 kg more than usual and am exploding out of my stretchy jeans ! It's going to be pyjamas from now on I think. They collected enough stem cells today that I can get … Continue reading Puffer fish day →

Today and tomorrow are stem cell collection time, so I'm basically hooked up to a machine ( yes, it goes bing!) for up to 6 hours a day, as it separates out the stem cells from the main blood system using a centrifuge system. Today they got about half the stem cells, so tomorrow should … Continue reading Stem cell collection time →

This, on a very superficial level, was one of my concerns. I've mentioned previously the boost from trying on heaps of head coverings and actually finding them attractive, feeling I can wear those coverings for an extended period. Now that I'm meeting people with venous catheters and no hair, it's amazing how quickly the focus … Continue reading Hair loss & perceptions of beauty →

Oh those steroids are kicking in, my face is puffing up no end ! Forget the cheekbones, they'll reappear at some time I hope. The routine for the next few days is antacids before meals, steroid infusion every morning, afternoon and evening free, painkiller at night plus sleeping pill by choice, then stem cell stimulation … Continue reading Today’s picture →

" Body and Mind. You need them both. Mountain climbing, like most things in life, is 80% mental and 20% physical. Your attitude is the real determinant of your ability to achieve your goals." The Right Mountain by Jim Hayhurst I was sent this quotation this morning, and it perfectly fitted my thoughts for this … Continue reading Climbing that mountain →

Today is the first day of four, where I'll be infused with steroids and given drugs to stimulate production of stem cells. The steroids are to manage the effects of the stimulation drugs, but it'll be interesting to see the effect they'll have on my walking. And water retention, it is highly likely I'll blow … Continue reading First day of stem cell stimulation →

After all the testing I've been through in the last two days, I've been accepted with the final approval by my haematologist, De Federenko. So they start the stem cell stimulation tomorrow. Just sitting in the sun, on my bed, feeling thankful.

Some photographs of the hospital, so you have a picture of where I am .... As today was a day off while all the various samples were analysed, I went into Moscow to the Victory Museum, which is their WWII museum. This was sobering and spectacular at the same time, the majority of the exhibits … Continue reading A thought-provoking day →