Dansk is in the hospital --- emails from Claire (page 10)

bisous

all my best wishes for progress and restored health, kim

ithinkisee

I never understood the prayer vigil things and now I do ... after being directed to your Torn Apart thread.

I truly wish you all the best and hope you can make it through this round.

Your torn apart thread was a great boost to me this afternoon, as I am getting ready to make my first presentation to my wife - and I am shaking and extremely nervous.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/94888/1.ashx

Your thread has given me a nice calm.

(Hope I didn't hijack such a sacred thread)

Best of wishes ...

-ithinkisee

bebu

and hugs to you, Dansk and Claire!!!!!

You are cared about very deeply, and I hope that reality makes itself clear to you right now.

Blessings to you always.

bebu

LittleToe

He got out of hospital in time to head to Bath. He's now on the way back, so hopefully we'll get more news soon

cruzanheart

Thanks for the update, LT! He has a lot of people thinking and worrying about him.

Hugs,

Nina

Claire kept me informed of all your messages and I couldn’t wait to see them as soon as I got in. Claire and Dominic came upstairs with me and at one point I nearly choked with emotion at all your loving kindness. You’re the best friends in the world!

The fluid on my left lung amounted to 5.8 Ltrs, but after a number of x-rays the procedure was deemed a complete success – so after waiting around for a few hours in hospital I was finally discharged and Claire drove me all the way the Bath (sorry Twinkletoes, but we didn’t see a sign for Hereford and, besides, Claire had put pillows in the back of the car and I fell asleep there). When I’m better we would be delighted to take you up on your kind offer and stay over even one night!

The hotel was delightful and the proprietors insisted on carrying my bags. Claire and I were famished so we ordered a Chinese takeaway to be delivered to the hotel (it’s only a B&B) and the proprietor gave us plates and a tray to eat it off. Gosh, did we need it!

The procedure to drain the fluid off my lung was relatively painless. It was only when the pleura was touched did I wince a little (felt like an electric shock, but this literally lasted only a second). A pain killer was added to the concoction and I felt fine all the time the needle was inside me (around four days). The only problem I had was the tube attached to the needle. I had to lie on it at times and this was uncomfortable. Generally, I lay on my stomach and managed to get to sleep – unless the ward was noisy, which was common, because there was a very sick man in the ward who was constantly being attended to. On the Sunday I was leaving he was moved to a side cubicle. I hope he is ok.

When the tube with needle was finally extracted I had to breathe out while the needle was coming out in order to prevent any air being left in. I had to make a noise so that the doctor knew I was breathing out and then she pulled the needle out of my pleura. Ouch! That was slightly shocking but, again, nothing anyone couldn’t bear. Afterwards an x-ray had to be taken to make sure no air was left in the cavity (this would have caused problems or allowed a build-up of fluid again. As it happened, the procedure was a success so I was allowed to travel to Bath.

I saw the "specialist" this morning but have to say that, really, it was something of a pointless exercise for me because I’ve been doing everything one should be doing, i.e. diet, Reiki, healing, spirituality, etc. The doctor even told me what I had already decided upon myself, that I should take chemotherapy now because the tumour mass is so large. That’s what I really went down to hear. Once that was confirmed I knew that I must now have the one thing I’ve dreaded.

Fortunately, I’ve been much inspired of late by Lance Armstrong (and others) who had chemotherapy and beat cancer. Billygoat (Andi) sent me Lance Armstrong’s book It’s Not About the Bike – My Journey Back to Life which, up until now, I hadn’t read due to everything that has been going on. But now I shall read it avidly!! THANK YOU, ANDI!!

I was somewhat miffed that I had to pay out £120.00 for an hour’s consultation that didn’t really offer me anything new – but it could have been helpful to someone who hadn’t researched as much as I. I have now gone 18 months without any conventional cancer treatment, but now my body is telling me I need some help. So, chemotherapy it is!

Your prayers, vibes and good wishes have strengthened me beyond words and I pray you will continue to do the same. I am confident that together we CAN beat this terrible disease. Your posts always build me up and help keep me positive.

I am also taking a small dose of steroids which were prescribed to help me increase my weight (which has decreased alarmingly. I look like a skeleton). Fortunately, I am always hungry so eat like a horse, but the doctor today said the cancer is feeding on what I eat so I need to eat the right kinds of food.

Tomorrow I should be receiving a telephone call from the Macmillan nurse, thereafter an arrangement will be made with the haematologist to get things moving. I shall fight this with all I can muster!

Well, I guess I’ll leave it there for now. I’ve come home feeling much better – and all the more so since reading your wonderfully caring and uplifting posts. Marjorie, thank you for starting this thread and keeping everyone informed.

Love to

EVERYONE !!!!!!!!

Ian & Claire & Boys

XXXXXXXXXXXX