It’s hard to believe that it has been over one month since we last updated our blog, it certainly is overdue.
Christmas was spent with our second eldest daughter, Dal, chose his food carefully, he had to take his time as he was concerned that he would choke at the dinner table, he felt more conscious whilst eating and I felt a little apprehensive. Dal reached for his fizzy drink a few times and I noticed myself watching him in a protective sort of way… strange, after all, we were with family.
New Year, I was working night shift with my eldest daughter, she had changed her shift to be able to share New Year with me, we were on security duty as the building had been closed over Xmas, and we were given permission for Dal to spend the night with us also. I had begun to imagine that he was spending what may be his last New Year’s Eve alone, it was making me ill…even though I know that he is doing so well with treatment and everything. I had to acknowledge that the over-bearing fear of losing him, remains in the forefront of my thoughts no matter how hard I try to push them back.
This is one of the realities, this damned disease never sleeps 
We had a couple of small incidents such as blisters around the pic line dressing area, these seemed to come and go, although we kept them as clean as possible in between district nurse visits, and we did have to change the dressings ourselves on one occasion, one particular blister has gone so deep that it may possibly scar him.
No treatment over the Xmas period and the on-going fear that Covid19 would catch up with us one way or another and prevent the next bout of treatment starting was ever present. That fear continued when we got the news that Daren’s surgery appointment to have his Baird Power Port fitted in his chest and his pic line removed, had been brought forward a week. The odd sniffle here and there, the threat of a cough, and out came the lemsips and home-made soups 
just to keep them at bay.
First Chemo session of the New Year, seemed to go fine, Dal said he was so tired as it was an early morning appointment, that he got in his chair on the chemo ward, stuck out his arm, waited to be “hooked up” and once he was, instead of reading or listening to music, he crashed, and woke up to it being all over. This treatment he had a few unusual side effects, feeling nauseous, not really wanting to eat anything, but after forcing a sandwich onto him, he started to feel better.
District Nurse visited the following day to disconnect and flush the dressing, this always seems like a long wait, strange though isn’t it, nothing else to do, nowhere to go…but waiting just seems to have that effect and Dal and I
Roll forward to Monday 18th Pre-op, time for the dreaded Covid19 & MRSA tests on the hope that all is clear, for surgery on Wednesday…..on the one hand Dal was really focused and prepared for the surgery and on the other I was absolutely petrified… (it’s the waiting!!)
All seemed fine, surgery day came, we’d spent the previous evening discussing it, and acknowledging our own anxiety, then we set off for bed, for an almost sleepless night.
The transport came and off he went… (more waiting) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Everything went smoothly - Baird Power Port fitted in his chest, the surgeon (bless him) avoided Dal’s tattoo’s as best as possible, and although awake throughout the procedure, there was no real pain to speak of, the anaesthetic insertion was a little uncomfortable, then on making the incisions, it was a bit tuggy , and feeling the vein being opened was in Dal’s words “weird” but there was nothing to have been worried about. Great Job, Great Team, Much Thanks. Xx 
On the Thursday evening, Dal noticed a slight rash on his neck, at the time it looked a little like a heat rash, non-painful, I went off to work and he went off to bed… Friday morning…Rash now spread, chest, back, under arms, all around his neck, itchy, red, uncomfortable. A phone call to the hospital, and an unexpected return journey to see the Chemo team…. Resulted in creams and tablets, but no major concerns.
Dal has an allergy, what? is not clear, but we will keep on top of it, eliminating things as we go, working with the chemo team to understand the issue.
We continue with the healthy eating, the crystal healing, meditation and prayer, Dal looks well, next week will be his 18th treatment… we are so, very, very lucky….long may it continue
So mote it be!
