Peter’s Hospital Diary

Monday morning and I found my way back to work, down the snail trail that is otherwise known as the M27. A bit of a shock at the early start, but it was a mild morning so it wasn’t too bad.

However the best news is that I had a text from Simon, sent late last night, saying that he was OK, but had been away. I haven’t had a chance to chat to him, but he seems OK! The other good news is that I found a post from fellow blogger John who spent much of his Christmas in and out of hospital with his GVHD problems. John, good to see you are back and still fighting!

I was also delighted to hear from a friend from University, Barbara. Thank you for the comments! (on the previous post)

Onwards and Upwards!

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And that is the Christmas season all but over - the tree removed, the decorations put away for another year, and the blog ‘Christmas’ theme switched off! And back to work tomorrow!

But it was a good break, although the cold/’flu that seems to have done the rounds has left me with lots of aches, but I’m sure they will clear up soon.

I am concerned at not having heard from John at Disabled rants for a while, and it has also gone quiet from friend Simon. We exchanged texts earlier this week, when he said he was suffering a bit from the latest round of chemo, but I haven’t been able to contact him since then - so Simon, if you are reading this - we are thinking of you.

So, as I said in the New Year’s Day post, lots of changes and challenges on the horizon for 2008 - the first is a check up at Guy’s on the 17th!

So… Onwards and Upwards!

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And a big thank you to all of you that have supported us during the last twelve months, through posts on blog, visits, phone calls etc. It really made a difference, especially during the very difficult moments of last January and February.

2008 promises to bring new challenges - hopefully not on the medical front, although with the two year anniversary of the transplant, and a year since the donor lymphocytes, it is a key point! Still, appendages crossed and I have a series of check-ups at Guy’s in January - routine bloods, a Lung Function test , and a visit to a dermatologist to look at what might be a small skin GVHD problem. Still, while GVHD is present, my immune system can be seen to be active, so that’s a good thing!

However chronic GVHD is not doing fellow blogger John any good at the moment, and so I would ask you all to think of him, and friend Simon - also undergoing chemotherapy, at the start of the New Year and hope that it sees an improvement in their health.

Looking further to the future (dangerous given the circumstances but, whatever!) it looks as if my extension of service contract, which expires in September, is unlikely to be renewed, so there will be more challenges there, so one way or another it will be a year of changes!

But back to the present! We are in the midst of a New Year Party - similar to one we did a few years ago, out in the garden (under cover - with a large space heater!). Not quite as many friends as we had hoped, because of the flu cold that is doing the rounds - but still a good gathering, as you can see from this photo taken a little earlier in the evening!

So wherever you are reading this, from the Falkland Islands to New Zealand, from America to Europe (and everywhere in between) raise a glass with us to:

“2008 - Onwards and Upwards”

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