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 😊🌹❤️