Although the day ended in a bit of a medical crisis, the rest of my birthday was celebrated in grand style.
First of all Bronwen and I went for lunch at the Tahuna Beach Cafe with Ron and Jocelyn Tucker who live just down the road from us and whom we’ve known for many years.
In the evening we went up to Becky’s house where she’d cooked a lovely roast chicken dinner for us. We also enjoyed a chocolate-iced marble cake that Abe and Phoebe had helped to make.
I went to the doc today about the coughing spasms and tight-chestedness I had on Tuesday night. He listened to my lungs and assured my I am getting a good volume of air into the lungs. Nor is the problem related to the lung metastases. He said I have picked up an upper respiratory lung infection and should just lie low until it gets better. He said I need to be careful exposing myself to the cool night air.
I came away quite relieved.
Yesterday I celebrated making it to my 66th birthday. Overall it was a great day but somehow turned into ‘trick or treat’.
The day was calm clear and cool. We went into the city and Bronwen bought me a lovely warm shirt for the cooler months. We then went to lunch with Ron & Joce, some lovely friends and strolled along the beach. It was a balmy afternoon.
When we came home I ended up having some coughing spasms that lead into a mild asthma attack. I also discovered that I’d lost 250ml of blood.
Later we went to Rebekah’s for dinner where she had cooked a lovely roast chicken and veges. Abe & Phoebe had made and iced a marble cake. We had the party hats and all. It was very pleasant.
When we got home it went from treats to tricks again. I had another coughing fit that lead into more severe asthma that lasted till 4am. I also continued to lose blood and ended up giving away more than the two units I had received last week. Fortunately the blood loss stopped at 850ml at around 5am.
Not exactly the climax to a wonderful day that I had expected. On the other hand, you could say that God saved His gift until the evening – another large measure of His enabling grace through another physical hurdle.
Today is my birthday.
Today I am 66.
In 2008 nobody seemed to think I’d make it to 66 and I’m proud to be here and grateful to God for reaching the milestone. Thankyou to all those who have sent greetings.
66 is also the number of books in the Bible. I just hope this chapter for me is neither the last, nor too much of a Revelation!
I’ve finally put a video clip together for the poem I wrote some time ago, set to the cello solo that inspired the words.
It can be seen on YouTube:
On 3 June I lost 950ml blood. After five weeks on ‘kangaroo petrol’, lurching from one day of normal energy to the next being a ‘blah’ day, back to a good day, then reverting to yuk, I am finally to get a top-up of a couple of units of blood tomorrow.
In discussing this compromised quality of life due to non-replacement of the lost blood, the Oncologist said that the problem is that I do not have a clinical crisis when I lose that quantity of blood, therefore they cannot transfuse me. On the other hand she said that I can get a transfusion if I have symptomatic reactions such as headaches, light-headedness, unsteadiness on my feet, nausea and deep lethargy. I’m not sure why I haven’t been told this before as I have phoned her office on numerous occasions in the last 5 weeks complaining of such symptoms.
The blood tests indicate my liver function levels are raised, but not worryingly so. She did not give me specific figures!
All in all, the Oncologist seems to think I’m doing quite well though and has pushed my next appointment out to three months. (The last two appointments have only been two months apart).