It's been a while... I even cheated and used a website to work out how many days it's been since my stem cell transplant. I usually put such a delay down to the fact I've been too busy getting on with life, which is at least partly true. It's also, though, because medically my life hasn't been very interesting, … Continue reading Day +261: Good blood and bad chat
Day +181: The patience of patients
Q. What do you call a winner who is quite happy to wait around before receiving his/her medal? A. ... Remarkably, at my last clinic appointment at St George's, I showed my face at reception pretty much bang on time and was ushered through immediately to see the doctor. I was flabbergasted, having set myself up … Continue reading Day +181: The patience of patients
Day 167: Inspirational individuals
On Thursday evening I had the privilege of attending a private viewing of Anthony Nolan's fantastic After exhibition, and I'm still trying to process the thoughts and emotions it inspired in me. After comprises photos showing patients who have had bone marrow transplants, accompanied by a description of their story, often focusing on a particular aspect of life they have managed … Continue reading Day 167: Inspirational individuals
My 100th post: 10 months in pictures…
"You know what?" said Mariacristina. "It's been a great year." She's right, of course...
Day +139: Remembrance of things past
Every now and then my father turns up at our house with a box of bits and pieces left over from my years in the family home, which I usually try to squirrel away as quickly as possible before Mariacristina can divert them to the recycling bin. It's good that the imminent threat of a cull hangs … Continue reading Day +139: Remembrance of things past
Day +129: Taking control
On Tuesday I had the enormous joy of spending the afternoon with my super-sweet twin nephew and niece, Innes and Matilda, having previously only met them briefly in Oxford the other weekend at their joint christening (at which gorgeous UK-based nephew Benedict was also splashed and blessed). Between accidentally putting squished fruit up Innes's nose, returning Matilda … Continue reading Day +129: Taking control
Day ONE HUNDRED and something…
I'm not sure where to start. Day +100, perhaps? How much hair can one man wear? [beware: video contains some flashes] http://youtu.be/1QUddSmO0gM Yep – I hit three figures and had a small, hairy celebration with a few friends, toasting the three-digit milestone and raising money for Macmillan. This came after promising results from my bone … Continue reading Day ONE HUNDRED and something…
Days +64 to +68: My very own triathlon effort
I've been feeling a bit more tired over the past few days; perhaps because of the triathlon in which I competed on Thursday evening... This was all one take (as you can probably imagine), but hopefully explains the importance of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, and why you MUST support Anna in the Blenheim Palace … Continue reading Days +64 to +68: My very own triathlon effort
Days +51 to +55: The Donor Song (my new bone marrow’s from you)
I sometimes wonder whether I could have been a half-decent musician, had I ever put in the hours practising. "But why break a habit of a lifetime?" I thought this weekend when recording The Donor Song (my new bone marrow's from you) in a fit of gratitude and creativity. I'll use my bunged-up nose to plead … Continue reading Days +51 to +55: The Donor Song (my new bone marrow’s from you)
Day +50 (and +47 to +49): Treatment by numbers
1 readmission to hospital since discharge following stem cell transplant (average is apparently three in first year post-transplant) 2 times as bushy: my eyebrows seem to have thickened dramatically; fine hair has also appeared on the bottom of my nose, my ears and, to a lesser extent, the rest of my head. I'm not sure why... … Continue reading Day +50 (and +47 to +49): Treatment by numbers