If you saw me with my walking pole on a 1mph walk to church yesterday, you may think the above refers to the two walking poles that travel in the car with us to give me help with balance. The chemo side effects of drained energy and numbed feet mean the above are helpful on the streets of Bishopston, as much as the mountains of Austria that we will visit in 3 weeks time.
But my title was actually suggested by Elaine this morning from the Swahili phrase (slowly,slowly) that was part of the mantra as a team of us climbed Kilimanjaro ten years ago. The phrase is not only descriptive (per above), but from Elaine's point of view prescriptive - she regarded even the walk to church as a step too far!! - from my perspective I feel the need to make at least some effort towards rehabilitation.
There is a definite psychological shift from the last seven months where medical appointments and treatments have prescribed our path (like the snow poles referred to Jan 20), to a season for listening to my own body, and particularly listening to the Spirit for the shape of days and weeks to come. We have a week in Austria booked in August, and two weeks in Albania in September - and presumably somewhere in it all strength will return to body and mind to enable a return to work.
So we are back to those words I wrote on the very first blog - You are with me, your rod and your staff (two more poles!!) they comfort me. (Psalm 23 v4). Pray that we may we rehab well under his correction and protection.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
A God story
Was speaking on Skype this am with Miriam, when she said her computer monitor had gone on the blink - lighting up briefly and then going black. I loggged onto Tradeit, the local sales website, typed in monitor, and found one posted last night for sale at £30!! So after chemo, drove to Sth Bristol, and are now in possession of 17" LCD computer monitor including TV tuner!! Amen Lord, Your timing is perfect, and I agree with your idea of a bargain.
Chemo went well today, helped by the extra two week break, but tiredness creeping in this evg- but off to eldership for the first time for a few weeks.
Chemo went well today, helped by the extra two week break, but tiredness creeping in this evg- but off to eldership for the first time for a few weeks.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Surprise! Surprise!
That's what we got when we opened the front door on Saturday! We were expecting Ian and Gill (Dave's twin brother and wife) instead I found Amelia (our 8 month old grand-daughter ) in a baby car seat. I was silenced (for once) as I tried to process how she could possibly have arrived.
Steve had been out to Albania on holiday and flew back last Friday and Ruth had taken the opportunity to travel with him. This is a sacrifice for them as this is a manically busy time for them with the children's activities in Durres in full swing-which was another factor whizzing through my brain as I opened the door -There was no way that they could visit now! So Maki has been abandoned in Albania while we enjoy the company of his wife and daughter .
This also is another illustration of 'all things working together for good'. Last week we had been disappointed not to have completed the course of chemo but had Dave had his planned treatment he would undoubtedly be horizontal for the entire visit and feel cheated not to be in a state to enjoy it. A reminder, yet again, that we need to trust the One who can see the end from the beginning.
Dave is gradually gaining strength and we hope will reach the blood targets needed for the last chemo next Tues.(Ruth and Amelia return the following Friday).
During the last 6 months Dave has experienced phases of food cravings- sausage rolls, cheese biscuits, scotch eggs, omelettes - the latest is lemon meringue pie. I have joked that he must be pregnant. Please continue to pray with us that this waiting time will indeed produce new life.
Thank you for all your prayers, we do experience the benefit from being buoyed up by them.
Steve had been out to Albania on holiday and flew back last Friday and Ruth had taken the opportunity to travel with him. This is a sacrifice for them as this is a manically busy time for them with the children's activities in Durres in full swing-which was another factor whizzing through my brain as I opened the door -There was no way that they could visit now! So Maki has been abandoned in Albania while we enjoy the company of his wife and daughter .
This also is another illustration of 'all things working together for good'. Last week we had been disappointed not to have completed the course of chemo but had Dave had his planned treatment he would undoubtedly be horizontal for the entire visit and feel cheated not to be in a state to enjoy it. A reminder, yet again, that we need to trust the One who can see the end from the beginning.
Dave is gradually gaining strength and we hope will reach the blood targets needed for the last chemo next Tues.(Ruth and Amelia return the following Friday).
During the last 6 months Dave has experienced phases of food cravings- sausage rolls, cheese biscuits, scotch eggs, omelettes - the latest is lemon meringue pie. I have joked that he must be pregnant. Please continue to pray with us that this waiting time will indeed produce new life.
Thank you for all your prayers, we do experience the benefit from being buoyed up by them.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Countdown on Pause
Today we were expecting to be the last chemo. Dave has been blessed at going through the 12 treatments with no hiccups until today. We arrived to find that yesterdays blood test was too low on the white cells to go ahead .This was a bit of an anti climax so we took a trip to the Chew Valley Lake in brilliant sunshine and had a gentle walk followed by lunch.
Although it was initially disappointing not to have completed the course it does mean that Dave now has the potential for 2 fairly recuperative weeks.The later chemos have not really allowed Dave to come up for air before being slugged again.
The title of the blog is also reference to the surprise disc the kids had obtained for Dave (for Father's Day) from Yorkshire TV of 2 Countdown episodes in which he took part in 1982/3. A spritely 31 year old - no grey hair! Very novel viewing - thanks guys. Elaine
And on reviewing, I managed to improve my score on two rounds, so some brain cells must still be working!? Dave
Although it was initially disappointing not to have completed the course it does mean that Dave now has the potential for 2 fairly recuperative weeks.The later chemos have not really allowed Dave to come up for air before being slugged again.
The title of the blog is also reference to the surprise disc the kids had obtained for Dave (for Father's Day) from Yorkshire TV of 2 Countdown episodes in which he took part in 1982/3. A spritely 31 year old - no grey hair! Very novel viewing - thanks guys. Elaine
And on reviewing, I managed to improve my score on two rounds, so some brain cells must still be working!? Dave
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Kili 10 Chemo 11
This is a first as this is Elaine writing.
Today was the eleventh chemo -only one more after today! Again we thank God for Dave being fit enough and his blood up to taking todays treatment. However Dave returned tired and a bit queasy so resting tonight.
This week-end was the tenth anniversary of the Saltmine sponsored climb of Kimanjaro which Dave took part in. It was agreed that the reunion would take place on the summit of Y Garn in Snowdonia at 1pm on the 6 June. To reach the summit was not going to be possible but we did make the Llyn about a mile up the track! The weather promptly closed in and we were glad to get down and back to our b and b to change and dry.
It was good to meet up with other team members and the success of the w/e was marked by talk of meeting again next year.
Sunday saw us in a Baptist church in Bangor only to see a familiar name from our distant student days -Peter Cousins as minister.
Then our reunion week end was completed by a slight detour to Liverpool to meet up with Nic and Jen Harding. The years slip away and it was great to renew friendship.
So a busy time and now back to quieter times.
We covet your prayers to finish the course of chemo well. As time has gone by it has become progressively more difficult with Dave fairly blotto most of the time but we are thankful for the absence of many of the possible chemo side effects.
Please do keep in touch with added comments.Thank you all -we need you.
Today was the eleventh chemo -only one more after today! Again we thank God for Dave being fit enough and his blood up to taking todays treatment. However Dave returned tired and a bit queasy so resting tonight.
This week-end was the tenth anniversary of the Saltmine sponsored climb of Kimanjaro which Dave took part in. It was agreed that the reunion would take place on the summit of Y Garn in Snowdonia at 1pm on the 6 June. To reach the summit was not going to be possible but we did make the Llyn about a mile up the track! The weather promptly closed in and we were glad to get down and back to our b and b to change and dry.
It was good to meet up with other team members and the success of the w/e was marked by talk of meeting again next year.
Sunday saw us in a Baptist church in Bangor only to see a familiar name from our distant student days -Peter Cousins as minister.
Then our reunion week end was completed by a slight detour to Liverpool to meet up with Nic and Jen Harding. The years slip away and it was great to renew friendship.
So a busy time and now back to quieter times.
We covet your prayers to finish the course of chemo well. As time has gone by it has become progressively more difficult with Dave fairly blotto most of the time but we are thankful for the absence of many of the possible chemo side effects.
Please do keep in touch with added comments.Thank you all -we need you.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Brief Note
Round 10 began yesterday, and the thought of just two to go after this is encouraging. Elaine is at work today, and at 3.30pm I'm typing this on the way to my morning shower and shave!!
Blessed to receive two phone calls today, from one friend coming Friday to tackle our garden hedge, and another coming Saturday to finish off the shower that Besmir got to 90% in March, but has remained untouched ever since. I not only lack the physical energy to do such things, even the mental energy to think about them is hard to come by.
Besi is not praying for showers at the moment, as he has taken the roof off his parents house in order to lay a slab for a second storey. I'm concerned that on the BBC weather report today Albania appeared to have precipitation due for Thursday, following days of hot dry weather. Pray that such will bypass them. Bye for now
Blessed to receive two phone calls today, from one friend coming Friday to tackle our garden hedge, and another coming Saturday to finish off the shower that Besmir got to 90% in March, but has remained untouched ever since. I not only lack the physical energy to do such things, even the mental energy to think about them is hard to come by.
Besi is not praying for showers at the moment, as he has taken the roof off his parents house in order to lay a slab for a second storey. I'm concerned that on the BBC weather report today Albania appeared to have precipitation due for Thursday, following days of hot dry weather. Pray that such will bypass them. Bye for now
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Round 9
5 hours at the hospital today, now back home. Time I did a brief update - Elaine is mowing the lawn - another of my roles that she has had to inherit. Since last writing, have spent one week-end in a caravan on the Gower, and a week-end in Worthing with Stephen. Strange to be on the Gower but only manage 300 yards of walking in four days - most of the time I spent horizontal, but with wonderful views over Oxwich Bay. Elaine did a two hour headland walk one day, but otherwise we just enjoyed the rest, and change of four walls. (Not forgetting the snooker)
Good to spend a couple of days with Steve in Worthing, and meet the NFI church of which he is part. My tiredness still a limiting factor even at the end of week two of the cycle, but I did do some of the driving - I'm not a good passenger although it has become increasingly my role!!
Between the two week-ends, made trip to Bristol Dental Hospital for removal of dead tooth - although it clung on like it was designed to stay there for life! Still downing the paracetemol, and occasionally harder stuff, to deaden the ongoing ache of bones healing - but thankfully no infections despite decision to forego the standard prescription of antibiotics in the interest of bowel security.
Have obtained Doctor's note to release me from work commitments for the next two months until chemo is finished - and today we've booked a week in Austria for early August (good old Tesco points!) - a fly and coach deal that will give us daily trips to scenic heights - no walking envisaged! - just relaxation in beautiful scenery - we drove though the area last year in the minibus. So that catches you up - no deep thoughts this time, just deep thanks.
Good to spend a couple of days with Steve in Worthing, and meet the NFI church of which he is part. My tiredness still a limiting factor even at the end of week two of the cycle, but I did do some of the driving - I'm not a good passenger although it has become increasingly my role!!
Between the two week-ends, made trip to Bristol Dental Hospital for removal of dead tooth - although it clung on like it was designed to stay there for life! Still downing the paracetemol, and occasionally harder stuff, to deaden the ongoing ache of bones healing - but thankfully no infections despite decision to forego the standard prescription of antibiotics in the interest of bowel security.
Have obtained Doctor's note to release me from work commitments for the next two months until chemo is finished - and today we've booked a week in Austria for early August (good old Tesco points!) - a fly and coach deal that will give us daily trips to scenic heights - no walking envisaged! - just relaxation in beautiful scenery - we drove though the area last year in the minibus. So that catches you up - no deep thoughts this time, just deep thanks.
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