Anger

I feel bloody angry. A year ago, things were pretty good - so I guess this might be a lesson in complacency - appreciate what you've got while you've got it! I had a decent job which I loved, (not to mention great holidays!); a beautiful wife full of the joys of life and coming up to our first anniversary; a baby on the way, (and what a joy he's been!), and my pretty good health. The best year of my life has turned into a mix of happiness - and those who have met Arthur will agree he's an absolute joy to be around, (Isabel's genes there, then!) - and a seemingly endless stream of bad news. I remember when I was first told of the cancer that Isabel might have a number of years, but I don't think it really sunk it; the news that one's wife has cancer at the age of 34 with no previous or family history, is quite a shock. Prognosis, mistakenly, was then assumed to be 5 years. Eventually found out to be actually 2 years. Now, it looks like another year will be lucky. If Isabel can't restart chemo, not long - we've not asked that question. So now, I'm home alone, (just watched England lose at cricket again), with a young son who, although I have the best intentions, I have no idea what the next stage is, and a wife in hospital and endless shuttle runs between the two. Yes, I'm pretty pissed off right now...

Update 28th February

Well, despite numerous hopes of getting home, Isabel is still in hospital. Unfortunately, we seem to be making progress, but then she'll be ill again will need to stay in longer. What the doctors need to see is Isabel eating okay for 24 hours without being sick. Today, the doctors drained some of her tummy liquid which may have been causing some gip. Amazingly they managed to drain 1.8 litres of yellow frothy liquid... sounds nice! To be honest, these are not good signs though. We need Isabel to be up and moving in order to start chemo, and at least keeping down some high calorie drinks. It's a funny thing to say that we are desperate to start chemo again give the side effects that it causes, but it seems like the best option at the moment. Isabel is thinking about shaving her head. I need to have a hair-cut soon too - we'll be a matching pair then!!!

Update - 26th Feb

Well, no meeting with the oncologist today, but we are going to see Dr Lowndes tomorrow afternoon. I'm doing a morning of school, and then going to spend the afternoon with Isabel. Hopefully, she will have eaten enough for the doctors to let her come home which, to be honest, would be a massive boost. It must be horrible to see your son for only a short time every day. Unfortunately, there are too many things for Arthur to play with (and get frustrated when he can't), not to mention our worries about being in a hospital for an extended time, that we don't want him to stay for long. The concern is that if Isabel comes home and isn't well enough, she will have to go back into hospital and go through A and E all over again which is not pleasant. I was able to take her for a short walk around the hospital pond in today's sunshine and then in the afternoon, Isabel was able to come downstairs for a coffee in Costa for a little while to escape the confines of her room, (which has got a lovely view by the way of the hill where I proposed!!!)...

Italy

Over half term, Isabel and I went to my parents' house in Italy, near Cortona, for 4 days. We had a lovely, relaxing time - although a certain little man managed to catch a cold which meant we didn't sleep so well! On the first night, we were really treated to some home-made pizzas, fired in the pizza oven built into the centre of the house. My 3-cloves-of-garlic beast was my favourite, although some spectacular combinations were created! On the Monday, we went to Montepulciano - a place Isabel had been to before - to visit the presentation of the new Nobile wines. This was basically a show where all the vineyards in the region could offer their new nobile for tasting. An ingenious invention is a pouch to wear around one's neck to carry a wineglass, enabling one to make notes on each wine. However, I was driving so I could only sample one Nobile! We then had lunch in Cafe Poliziano just down the main street - delicious pasta and pate! Tuesday was a gorgeous day, where we spent the morning in the sun on the patio - beer at 12 - and then the afternoon, in my case, sleeping off the drunkenness!!! Fortunately, Arthur was content sleeping and watching Mary Poppins - so I wasn't disturbed too much! On Wednesday, we went to Assisi to have lunch and look around the church. Unfortunately, this is when Isabel started to feel sick and so we didn't appreciate the amazing Basilica as we maybe should. Driving back was difficult, given first of all the thick fog in the mountains, and then the relentless rain all the way up the A1!!! However, we made it - I can't say I was too happy to say goodbye to our nice Alpha Romeo upgraded car - but it was good to get home again. All slept well on Thursday night!!!! Pictures are HERE!!

News 24th Feb

Well, we've had some more information about what has caused Isabel's recent illness. The tumours in the peritoneum have grown, (now they're not being suppressed by chemotherapy), causing a blockage of the small bowel. This in turn is causing a dilation of the tubing, backing up any food to the stomach and causing the sickness. The doctors have advised Isabel not to eat for 48 hours and prescribed a course of steroids, in the hope that a rest will help the bowel return to normal. Following that, the sooner Isabel can start chemotherapy again, the better. Needless to say, this is a serious development, especially if the blockage doesn't clear. We are talking to our oncologist on Wednesday who may be able to give us more information. The "best case" scenario is that the blockage clears and Isabel can resume chemotherapy on Monday 10th of March. However, this is likely to be her last course of chemotherapy and after six months, we may well be in a similar situation.

Recent News

Isabel is currently in hospital, awaiting more information about recent symptoms. At the time of writing, it looks like the cancer in the small intestines is causing a partial blockage meaning that there is some dilation. This is backing things up to the stomach, causing the sickness. She's being well looked after in Melden Ward at the Great Western Hospital. Hopefully, we will have more information tomorrow.