Getting stronger

Lots of good news. I’m on day 32, walking around the local burbs, still a bit of an invalid but much more bouncy! 

My hair is still falling out but Sarah has a her own way of dealing with that.

I’ve modelled my wig (aka Samantha) but not sure I do blonde very well. What do you think?

I’ve progressed from long dopey days asleep on the sofa to a local morning walk extending further afield as my legs get stronger.

Sarah started it all off by encouraging me to get moving from Clark’s Park (next door) to 2km then 4km round McMahons point, Lavender Bay and Kirribilli. Slow progress as 4km took over 1 hour at first with lots of stops.

Kirribilli has a historic foreshore - Ferries used to run from here pre Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I’ve got to know and love several scenic benches (one in the middle of the Harbour Bridge) 

This is Kirribilli foreshore from the bridge.

as well as having time to photograph the flowers.

The Jacaranda trees are gorgeous at this time of the year; out in full bloom bringing a splattering of purple to the Sydney burbs. 

Up close the petals are bell shaped. 

There is one street in Kirribilli that is so famous, it has to close at weekends as they are too many people wandering in the middle of the street taking photos of the trees.

Whilst Sarah has been away, friends have taken up the challenge to accompany me around the local parks 

Deb Curran around Chowder Bay and Middle Head

Simon Collins from Milsons Point to Barangaroo (it is surprising how far you can walk when you know there is an ice cream prize at the end)  

Carolyn Humble Ryan taking out for lunch on Blues Point Rd. 

I’ve also had little adventures for myself. The longest was to 

Watsons Bay 

Camp Cove  (found a plaque to Governor Phillip who first landed here in 1788) 

and South Head, with its light house, sheer cliffs

and historic fortifications (supposedly to see off the French with canon, should thy mount a surprise attack) 

Today my consultant Haematologist told me that she is pleased with my progress. 

She was not in the least surprised that I need a Nanna nap after walking 10km nor that I am out of breath after walking up steps given that my Haemaglobin levels (protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to your tissues/organs) have not recovered yet. 

Despite my liver taking a pounding from the chemo, everything is heading in the right direction. I still have to keep away from people with colds coughs, flu etc etc) until my blood levels recover fully. 

My appetite has recovered but I’m still restricted to the Listeria free diet whilst I am on chemo and taking Daratumumab. 

Sadly that means no raw fish, no soft cheese and everything well -cooked for several years yet. 

I did eat something I shouldn’t last week, just to see what would happen and suffered for 24 hours with chronic diarrhoea.

Instead, to cheer myself up, I’ve made homey safe things that I liked as a child: 

Chicken noodle soup 

and currant buns.

My next treatment is going to start earlier than expected on Friday  9 Dec. I will have 3 cycles DVd of 3 weeks each, 

As long as everything goes to plan, I will get a month off in Feb/March to fly to NZ.

After that it depends on what has happened to my paraprotein levels (markers that indicate how much cancer is left in my blood/bone marrow)  I will either get another cycle of DVd or start on maintenance Daratumumab (once a month + pills) 

Fingers crossed. Whatever, the case, I will need to fit treatment around my life rather than life around the treatment. I may get 2 – 4 years before relapse but who knows what the research teams might have come up with by then. 

Meanwhile I  will get to explore many more of Sydney walks, flora and fauna.

I don't need to go far. I still love the view from Clarks Park even if it is only next door.