"Anyone who signs up to the stem cell register must have at least a minimal level of goodness," I was telling our guests on Saturday, not long before they went on their way. And it's true. You're offering to help a stranger – if you're found one day to be a match – with no benefit … Continue reading ♫ And you were there, my good man ♫
Imperfect 10: a defiantly different decade
My relationship with diaries is a troubled one (erm, happy belated birthday, everyone!), but a growing number of dates have been sticking in my mind. Back in March I celebrated my first second birthday, a year after my stem cell transplant. A few months later, as I celebrated my 33rd birthday and fourth wedding anniversary, I … Continue reading Imperfect 10: a defiantly different decade
My 100th post: 10 months in pictures…
"You know what?" said Mariacristina. "It's been a great year." She's right, of course...
Days +79 to +82: ‘A matter of life or death’?
For a coffee-lover and football supporter, what could be better than marrying an Italian? There are plenty of other reasons why I hit the jackpot with Mariacristina, but in the early days of our relationship, I assumed that fantastic coffee and long arguments about the relative tactical merits of the 'false 9' and the trequartista … Continue reading Days +79 to +82: ‘A matter of life or death’?
11 Reasons Why You Are The Boss Of Cancer
So, cancer reckons it's in charge? I'm 77 days post-stem cell transplant following my relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and I say it's not... 1. Cancer fails to deny its inferiority As a trained journalist, I'm keenly aware of giving the 'other side' of a story the right to reply. So I tried contacting cancer through various media … Continue reading 11 Reasons Why You Are The Boss Of Cancer
Day +9, by Mariacristina: Between shameful truth and hidden strength
Mariacristina writes... Two days ago, one of my favourite colleagues at work asked me to go out for lunch to our "usual" place, Pronto – a really great Italian place I was introduced to by the Raleigh gang when the office was based in London Waterloo. She asked me how things are with George and I gave … Continue reading Day +9, by Mariacristina: Between shameful truth and hidden strength
Bring on the transplant!
Sixteen years ago, Mariacristina was happily tied up in a serious relationship with an Italian boy (and to give an impression of what a serious relationship means in Italy, you should know that Italians use the same word – fidanzato/a – for boy/girlfriend and for fiancé(e)), I was a shy English teenager living in Naples … Continue reading Bring on the transplant!
Mariacristina posts: Our life, upside down… NOT
Some of you might think that since we got the news on George's relapse our life has changed dramatically. I assume so, at least. However, as my former manager Laura used to say: by assuming you make an ass of you and me, so maybe I'll refrain. Either way, what I would like to explain … Continue reading Mariacristina posts: Our life, upside down… NOT
Now and then (part 2)
I have been blessed, on both occasions of my coming into hospital for treatment, with the most astounding support from friends, family and beyond.In 2005, I was hopping between cheap places to rent, scraping by in London on the romantically low (!) salary of a budding literary journalist and generally trying to make my own … Continue reading Now and then (part 2)
What’s going on? Leukaemia? Eh?
My first post was a bit abrupt and didn't really explain very much, and having forgotten that I'd linked the blog to Facebook, I realise it will have left lots of people wondering what's going on. Much as I might love to cultivate an air of mystery, this probably isn't the time or place, so... … Continue reading What’s going on? Leukaemia? Eh?