More chemo and more holidays!

Another update!

Today David had his second chemo session. I was able to take him in for it as a dear church friend Michelle looked after my son Miles (thanks!!!), and this gave Catherine/Mum time to prepare for their trip away (more on that later). However, just the energy it took for him this morning to get up, showered, dressed and there totally wore him out and he was also feeling very nauseous and weak. Couldn't even sit up or hardly talk, poor guy. I could tell the chemo nurse was very concerned when we arrived at how bad he was, so she ordered blood tests to check if he was up to having the chemo and also checked in with his oncologist. This meant a lot longer waiting around but the plus side is they gave him a bed rather than an armchair, so he could properly sleep (woohoo, upgrade!). Oh, and after a bit of rest and a drink etc, David did start feeling better, he wasn't totally wiped out the whole time.

So, we arrived at 11am and after checking bloods and talking with his oncologist, the chemo was able to start around 2.30pm and he finally got to go home with Catherine about 5pm (I left at 2.30 to get kids from school, Mum arrived to switch over).

I just have to share this photo and give a shout out to the AMAZING, lovely and dear Cancer Volunteers at the cancer centre, These ladies are so sweet, they walk around offering to get everyone a drink, a sandwich, whatever they want. They even have *real mugs* not those tiny plastic hospital mugs and even TIM TAMS not just boring plain biscuits. You can see from this photo that they really hit the spot with David :) These volunteers are just so wonderful, they are there every day and are so caring and supportive and kind to everyone, it really melts your heart and brings a tear to the eye too, that they give their time to show some practical love to the many, many, many people there getting cancer treatment. Anyway, just had to give them a shout out! I haven't found out details of what their 'organisation' is, or if you can donate etc, but I might try to next time. I could actually go on and on about the many wonderful organisations and people who do so many lovely things for people with cancer, it has really been so heartwarming to learn about them all.

Anyway back to David... who btw is blinking in this photo because he *always* blinks in every photo! I took three photos - blinked in every one!!!!! ;)

Anyway, another good thing to come from the day was that after seeing how he was struggling with nausea and energy they proscribed him another medication which is actually some kind of steroid. It is only a short term drug (he only can take it for about 2-3 weeks) but it should not only help give him a break from the nausea but also give him more energy, appetite etc. Needless, to say we are pretty excited to see if it does have this result, even for a little while!

On the down side, blood test results showed his haemoglobin levels were very low, hence his lack of energy. So he will probably be getting a blood transfusion in a week or so.

Anyway, the other bit of news is that David and Catherine are off on holidays again tomorrow (I know, I know, life is a holiday for these two right now, heehee! Good on them!!). They are going to the coast with four or five other couples, very dear friends from church who they usually holiday with each year. So glad they will get some time together and hopefully David is ok for it, they will just see how he goes. They are going for about four nights, but C&D are planning to stay a couple more nights afterwards, just to have some time together the two of them by the beach, which will be very special. Really praying they can make some lovely memories together and David will be well enough to enjoy it, chat, maybe walk down to the beach, etc.

I think that's everything for now. Thanks everyone as always for your love, prayers, support, meals, help, calls, etc etc. Love, Kate