Sorry, it has been a long time since I managed to update the blog. So much has been happening.
We had a wonderful long weekend in Scotland with our friends Lesley and Ray and their absolutely gorgeous Collie pup called Millie. On the Saturday it was great weather and we went on the ferry to the Isle of Arran, giving Millie her first trip on a boat. At first she was terrified, but she soon became used to it and coming back was absolutely fine. We walked from the harbour at Brodick to Brodick Castle, past a small stream and along a glorious sandy beach - in hot sunshine! Unlike our 'Sam', Millie soon discovered the water on the way out, started to swim, and hardly stopped all the way! One very wet dog! Trouble was, no-one had shown her how to shake down to her tail, so wet dog she stayed until experiments got better on the way back!
The little we saw of the Isle of Arran was stunning, definitely somewhere to return to when energy levels are back up for long hiking mode. A new "discovery"for us, Donald had once been there when he was about 5 years old and his memories don't stretch back that far - yet!
On the Sunday, we went up to near Crieff and met up with some friends from Aberdeen, which was great. We had a wonderful lunch at the Barley Bree (a Robbie Burns term for a dram apparently). Unfortunately Linda was unable to join us, but she had returned to hospital in Aberdeen and is making excellent progress. We drank to her health anyway.
On the way home on Monday, we visited my cousin in hospital. Some progress physically but she is suffering from Post Traumatic Amnesia which apparently could last months. She doesn't really know who people are; she makes comments but they do not have much content; and I don't think she really knows what has gone on, nor where she is. It is very upsetting.
On Tuesday we had to focus on things to do with both Sally and completing the arrangements for Pat's funeral. And then it was the next treatment again on Wednesday, but only one more left to go, which feels great. I have not been anything like so bad this time. We started the injections on Thursday and finished them today, so hopefully that will keep my white cells up so I should not go down with an infection. I also have to take a course of anti-biotics starting on Wednesday, just in case.
I have had the flu type aches since Friday and am lacking in energy, but otherwise not too bad. I am going to have a blood test today to see if I am anaemic and may have to have a transfusion again if red cells have crashed too much. It feels like they may have done, just dragging myself about the house and sleeping each afternoon. I'll find out tomorrow morning anyway.
Hopefully with or without the transfusion, I am now on the road to recovery in this cycle and will be fully fit in time for the funeral on 30/6. Not exactly something positive to look forward to, but it is a marker and means we are on the way to dealing with all the matters that have to be attended to. Next and last treatment will be on 7/7 and then it is only upwards and onwards. We will be on holiday in Ireland during August and then I will be building up at work during September. It has been a long haul but we can see the end. I already have my hormone treatment to start taking after the chemotherapy is over. They will be long term, at least 5 years, and should help reduce the risk of recurrence.
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