Update: November 2026
2026 11 07
Hi everyone –
Yesterday,
the Wayward Choir was drunk and disorderly! The story is so complicated that I’m
not going to use any metaphors to describe it – although Gail tells me that,
hearing about the process by phone along the way, she feels like she went on
every ride at the fairground!
(Photo: a drunk and disorderly beetle, after eating the centres of some cactus flowers and turning its white spots pink in the process)
On Thursday morning I had a blood test because I knew I needed a transfusion. The results: haemoglobin 10.2 (OK), platelets 20 (extremely low), so we booked a platelet transfusion for 09:30 yesterday (Friday) morning. A platelet transfusion is a short procedure, but one is always admitted for it. I was expecting to be discharged by about 11.
It
turned out to be a day of surprises, delays and waits.
First
surprise: I suddenly had a CT scan while there (instead of next Tuesday, as
originally booked).
Main
delay: the unit of platelets had not been ordered as it should have been,
because the ‘match test’ had fallen through a crack! (Flowchart loading ...) So
the match test was done about three hours late, which created a domino effect
of delays.
There
were also waits while deliveries were delayed (with drivers negotiating Friday
traffic).
The
unit of platelets eventually arrived at about 17:00, the transfusion finished
at about 18:00, we had to wait an hour before a blood test would give
meaningful results, and the person doing the tests was run off her feet and
arrived at 19:40. (Gail had already joined me by then.)
🌟Best
surprise of the day:🌟
Garth
phoned me at 20:15, with the results of the CT scan: everything has shrunk, and
one nodule in my liver has disappeared! He said that such good results at this
stage are quite rare! We still have to discuss my next steps for treatment,
which also (of course) depend on how much more of the side-treatments like
transfusions and injections I can tolerate – I’ll keep you posted.
After
a further wait, I received the result that my platelets were 85, so I could be
discharged and go home!
We
got home at 21:15. Phew!
Lots
of love to all of you. Thanks so much for your company on this ride! 🌹❤️
After
hearing from Garth 😊🌹❤️
