Day 2 round 2

30 June

Day 2 of chemo. So far so good. We had a bump back to earth with the lovely oncologist, Dr Keo Mafafo, reminding us that it is stage 4 melanoma that we're dealing with. It's so hard to absorb and we seem to forget inbetween. We had omitted to mention that we would be going to Mauritius, but admitted it happily. She was pleasantly surprised to hear that I'd been snorkeling and playing tennis. My white blood cells had recovered so well that they were perfectly normal, so Mauritius every third week seems a sensible idea! No one in this family can flaw the logic.

I had an interesting email which resonated strongly with me. It's a new analogy about highs and lows in life. They're like paralled railway lines; you deal with them both simultaneously. The sheer delight of a magnificent family holiday, great university results, Ali , James and Nic teaching the Salvazione children, with competence and such kindness. This combined with the oncology centre, where there is a 28 year old man fighting lymphoma and Ben, aged 24, in Aus is preparing for a bone marrow transplant and Tim and I sit and watch this poison drip in. I certainly can't sustain the dark thoughts which do creep in, with so much wonderful stuff around.

We feel tangibly supported. Thank you.

Post Mauritius

We couldn't have had a better holiday! Mauritius was perfect by all accounts. It was a relief to feel our Joburg bones defrosting and to be so remarkably hosted by the Club Med machine. Our accommodation was generous and stylish, the food, sublime, the setting almost too beautiful to believe and being surrounded by happy people, who had no idea of the challenges we're facing was a tonic in itself.

Happily, the dreaded day 10 to 14 white cell low didn't cause me any difficulties and anyone who saw me snorkling, playing tennis, swimming and dancing would never believe I was anything but perfectly healthy.

Tomorrow the dreaded chemo starts again for 3 days. The drip, which starts with anti nausea drugs, cortisone and local anaesthetic before the DTIC goes in, takes about 2 hours. Tim, who is resolute in his commitment to endure it with me, is a good companion, as always.

All 3 children are working at the winter school for Grade 7 pupils at Salvazione School in Brixton. This is a project I planned with my friend Viv Spooner, a maths teacher, but now can't see to completion, so I'm thrilled by the children's involvement. Nicola is keeping the program on track as well as teaching English and Maths, Ali is supporting the teachers by tutoring small groups and giving an art class every day and James is teaching sport.

We're off to Mauritius!

Thursday 17 June
I've been advised to set this up and it's a whole new world of technology and communication for me. At the outset, it seems strange that anyone would really be interested enough to log on and check the blog, but we have been so well supported and quite overwhelmed by human kindness, that this seems a valid way of saving the family from the trauma and tedium of hearing the same facts (sometimes disturbing) repeated several times daily.

I have secondary melanoma cancer in my lymph system, lungs, liver and spleen and have elected to undergo a course of chemo involving only one of three possible drugs. The statistics show that the results with the combination are no more promising and the side effects of all three are significantly worse. I will have 3 rounds of this chemo with 3 treatments on consecutive days in one week then 2 weeks recovery.

The first 3 treatments were on Tues, Wed and Thursday last week. I had 5 ghastly days of a cosmic hangover with strange effects like a huge visual disturbance, brain fuzz, heavy nausea, body aches, shivers and a return of the pain around surgical areas.

I'm competely well again now, which makes me feel I should really live for ever. The doctor has said that my sound medical history and general robust health stand much in my favour.

Round 2 is on Tues 29, Wed 30, Thurs 1. I have been warned that it will be worse.

I'm taking lots of homeopathic builders inbetween.

I'm so happy to have the children home. Nic from Bangladesh, James from UCT and Ali's on school holidays. The house is full of positive energy and everyone is purposeful (and sleepy in the mornings).

Mauritius calls. We've managed to adjust the dates of this lovely holiday, (which we booked and paid for before the latest test results) so that it fits inbetween chemo rounds. We leave on Saturday, not a moment too soon. Having been lucky enough to have been before, we're all anticipating the holiday with much delight. I can't see any reason why it shouldn't be wonderful.

Thanks for your tangible prayers and generous support.