Update: December 2025

2025 12 01

Hi everyone – thanks, always, for your support and wishes!

In the past week, I’ve had the usual post-steroid energy surge, dip and then lesser resurgence. It was enough to complete the content of my book! Next steps: the editorial page, info for the back cover, and ensuring that all photos are high resolution. Then it will be ready for printing (probably only next year) and self-publishing.

In other good news, our wonderful friends Jimmy and Alec from England are in Cape Town for a brief visit, and Gail and I spent time with them over the weekend. We intend to see them (in safe environments) this week as well.

Frustrating news: my blood counts this morning were too low for Day 8 chemo, and we have to wait a whole week to try again. This also means that the earliest that Cycle 6 can start will be 22 December! When this chemo treatment began, I had thought that Cycle 6 might end round about now, but I had reckoned without the delays from low blood counts. I learned today that those injections don’t have a lasting effect, and also that my white count is not so dire that I need more injections. 😅

Love and appreciation to all of you 🌹❤️

Collage from our visit to Little Stream with Jimmy and Alec

2025 12 08 

Hi everyone –

Here we go again!

After this morning’s blood test and the usual wait for results, I found that my red blood count has dropped further and I now need three units of blood. My other counts have increased slightly, but I can’t have any treatment until they rise further and I’ve had the transfusion.

They needed to admit me early this afternoon, while a bed was still available, even though the blood for the transfusion will only arrive this evening. It will then be done overnight.

I’m in the Medical ward this time – getting to know yet another part of Constantiaberg hospital. The Haematology ward is still my favourite, even though my stay last time did have some challenges (in terms of other patients) – I didn’t write about those!

I have been low on energy for a few days, and am hoping that the transfusion will be as helpful as usual.

May you receive a transfusion of whatever you need – be it joy, energy, kindness, love ... my ongoing appreciation to the people who donate blood (and thereby joy, energy, kindness and love).

Much love to everyone reading this 🌹❤️

 

2025 12 09

Good morning, everyone! Thanks for the lovely wishes.

The transfusion is still going – it will only finish by about 9:30 or 10!

Then there’ll be a blood test to see what comes next.

Lots of love 🌹❤️

 

Afternoon:

Home!

With a much improved red blood cell count.

Thanks for all the support and the transfusions of good vibes.

This was quite a marathon: the transfusion only started quite late in the evening, and lasted until 11:40 this morning – almost 15 hours in total (the expected time had been 12 hours). Then came the blood test and the wait for results; then the news that the counts were good and I was being discharged and must go straight to the chemo room for an hour of chemo ... which became almost two hours (no idea why), ending at about 15:15!

But all is good, and it’s wonderful to be home – if somewhat tired.

Appreciation to Gail for all the fetching and carrying!

Lots of love 🌹❤️

Photo: red salvia “hotlips” this time!