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!
2025 12 23
Hi everyone –
Really, really good news today!
I had a CT scan yesterday and received the
results from Garth today:
Everything has either improved or stayed the
same, and there is nothing new!
This mirrored how I’ve been feeling lately. I
had been a little anxious in case the scan results might contradict that, so
this news was wonderful to hear. Garth was amused when I said I’d wondered if
he was having me on, when he’d told me – while I was really struggling a few
months ago – that he was trying to get me back to the point that I’ve now
actually reached. Back then, that felt unimaginable!
My blood counts are currently also excellent,
so I’ve just had chemo session 1 of Cycle 6. All going well, I’ll be having my
last session of this entire chemo treatment next week, and will get to ring the
bell!
Today Garth, Gail and I also needed to decide
on our next steps:
Two weeks after ringing the bell, I’m going to
start a "holiday" from chemo (and low blood counts) – we’re switching
over to an injectable anti-oestrogen hormone, for as long as that works. (It
will be one every two weeks for a shortly while, and will then be monthly.)
Then possibly back to chemo, depending – in Garth’s words – on my
"appetite for treatment" at that stage.
In other news:
- Gail’s daughter Jessica, Jess’s husband Tim,
and their sons Will and Ali are visiting Cape Town from London for a month. We’ve
already had some great times with them, and are looking forward to many more.
- Gail and I had a wonderful time at circle
dancing on Saturday. I danced 13 of the 18 dances that were done while I was
there. Huge appreciation to all the dancers for the fantastic welcome!
In case Gail and I don’t get to send a further
message before Christmas: we wish all who celebrate it, and those who don’t,
joy and peace at this time.
Lots of love 🌹❤️
2025 12 30
Hi everyone –
A quick update on what could have been my last
day of chemo ... but wasn’t.
My blood test showed a white count that was
way too low for chemo. So we need to try again on Friday.
I also have to stay away from gatherings of
people, so no New Year’s Eve circle dancing for me! 😢
Over the past few days, the tummy bug that’s
going around paid a visit to me and left me rather washed out, to the extent
that I thought a transfusion might be necessary, but my red blood count was
extra high – a pleasant surprise.
So a mixed day, like the bougainvillea we
spotted when we stopped for some waterside fresh air before I came home to go
back to bed.
Lots of love to all of you 🌹❤️
2025 12 31
