Aboard Dignity (Lagoon 420) Blog

…. Accepted.

Say no more. (For now)

Of course, the biggest, recent event has been the visit from New York by Ben and Amy who have been over here for a long weekend. They have spent much of their time just in the hospital room with us in typical family mode – reading, tinkering, random chatting, not a lot. Family time sometimes is almost exactly that, just being in each other’s company and being comfortable. Ben and Amy were also able to spend time out and about, getting a feel for some of the places they may stay when they come and temporarily work over here early next year. Now they can visualize some of the areas they’ve been researching which can only be helpful. They also got to see friends / future colleagues. A good weekend all round. The next time we meet there could well be Wedding Bells in the air. Exciting stuff.

I’ve just been told the Methotrexate levels in my blood have been measured below the magic number whereby I come come off the regular bladder inducing, immobilizing drip. It’s not out yet but the nurse is coming in. It means I can shower easily and be a lot more mobile. All good stuff.

Earlier today we met with Prof Linch again. He expressed some surprise that the E-B virus possible cause for what’s happening inside my brain showed up in my face biopsy but not in my brain. Current hypothesis is my recent decent to unwellness (the original T-Cell Lymphoma returning) lowered my cell counts sufficiently to allow he E-B virus in to give me a second lymphoma which manifested on my face.

The good news is that I’ve responded well to this first round of chemo (in terms of how I feel and look). Due to the distance home they want to keep me in for observation until my cell counts return high enough to repeat this first round of treatment verbatim. Another MRI could well be in order at that point to check up on things and decide what to do next. Next could include stem-cell therapy which is a euphemism for even more aggressive chemo. But that’s a way ahead of and very uncertain.

Everyone here knows about Ben’s Wedding date and our utmost desire to time things so that, if nothing else, we can make it. Even Prof Linch knows. If it can be done, it will be done. But at then end of the day, this new fight takes priority over everything else but we’ll do what we can.

I remain as well as can be expected under the circumstances and thank all of you who have contacted us. As ever it means a lot.

One final piece of news is that I heard today that Dignity’s new owner will keep the name. That is a warming thought. Thanks for that. Enjoy that new rig, it’s a dream.