Shades Of Purple - A Jewel Perhaps.

Are you a jewel?
Priceless exquisite, cut of flawless clarity.
A glittering seven carat white diamond perhaps?
A gleaming diadem of chosen stones or a
desirable vibrant emerald, of richly sparkling hues.
No!
For you are shades of purple…

Purple like the dark rings that surround your eyes,
Purple like the feeling of these past weeks,
Purple coloured days that were draining, not pink.
Purple coloured nights that stretched forever,
as purple as the scarf I wore today, for I was sad.
Definitely purple but no amethyst are you
a solitaire yes, a single flawless gem.
A most valuable priceless jewel and extremely rare.
A Jewel to fight as you do,
Yes! A Purple Diamond, that’s you….


All Rights Reserved @ 2010
Written with love by Susie Hemingway for all those who love and now “Shades of Purple – A Jewel Perhaps” is to be published by United Press UK in their new book “Reflections”

What A Roller Coaster!

Hamada has been unwell for over a week with a cold which has now turned into a nasty chest infection. Our visit yesterday to Lincoln for his 3rd Velcade infusion in this the 2nd cycle, was curtailed when I asked to see the Doctor as I was so concerned about this cough and just how weary Hamada seemed to be. At Haematology the first phlebotomist had great difficulty in drawing Hamada's Blood and it took a good deal of time and skill to then achieve this(thank you Jill) It looked like Hamada was going to be admitted but the Doctor give him a good examination and prescribed antibiotics (augmentin) and after a series of tests, ECG, chest X-Ray he was allowed to go home. The Velcade has now been stopped for a week at least, such a shame as so far, Hamada has not been able to complete a whole cycle of the much needed chemotherapy. It is indeed a roller coaster!

Hamada Continues With Velcade

Hamada started his second course of Velcade this week, his platelets have risen back to 33 and although having a bad cold, the Doctor after a good examination, deemed him well enough to continue. Coupled with the twice weekly Velcade, Hamada is taking 20mg Dexamethasone x 4 times weekly and a course of 21 days of Aciclovir. Each week before receiving the Velcade push a full CBC is taken, so we hope that his blood and most of all his platelets remain stable. He is experiencing some 'sweats' which mean a lot of bed linen and PJ changes. These sweats of course are difficult to distinguish between the cold and the effects of the Velcade, but with continuing normal temperatures which I take everyday, I am not overly concerned.

Hamada feels upbeat and cheerful and as the sun is now streaming in our windows and Spring seems well on it's way I leave you these little pictures showing the sheep in our lane having escaped from their field for a little walkabout.


PS: Hamada received radiated platelets yesterday which came all the way from Sheffield ready for him at 10.30 - excellent treatment from the Alex Medical Day Unit at Lincoln - great team there.

A Set Back

Hamada has stopped Velcade after just three infusions as his platelets have crashed to just twenty-two. He is having a rest of ten days with another CBC on Thursday next, to assess the situation and see if he may continue.
A Visit from Grandson Manu for the weekend brought much joy to Hamada.


Addendum: A visit to Haematology yesterday, with a full physical check-up and a further blood test, now show Hamada's platelets have bounced back to 33, Hamada will continue next Monday (dv) his 2nd course of Velcade. Good news indeed.

A Visit To Oncology Is A Serious Affair - by Susie Hemingway

People’s eyes tell their story
as sitting quietly deep in thought,
magazines remain unread,
heads often bow in contemplation.
A visit to Oncology is a serious affair,
the television that no-one watches
or at least in glancing view
doors that often open
but never seem to be for you.
Faces flushed in anxious stares,
no one likes sitting here
on daily wiped plastic chairs.

The receptionist whose eyes
seem not to engage,
that must be thinking of supper
with her lover or of special days,
perhaps of summer holidays spent
in some sunny Costa’s far away…

You wait thinking best thoughts and
then into the ‘hands clean zone’
weak smiles greet you there,
no holidays for the many connected
to their life lines,
some sucking lollies that cool the fire
that hopefully will cure all,
a visit to Oncology is a serious affair.

The “ding ding dongs” of bleepers
tell in never ending harmony
a different ‘chemo story’ for
those sweet worried faces
sitting here, some of fear;
their eyes resigned to all
that fate may bring.
I look at the signs around the suite
telling of special wigs and treats,
the cleverly placed plaque above my head
that reads
“God give me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change”
so beautifully written in perfect
flowing Italic hand by someone
who perhaps also spent many hours in this room.

I smile across at the lady opposite me,
her face lights up but
her weary eyes tell me more,
she says “ I’ve seen you before,
it’s a long haul isn’t it? "
Yes” pretty lady with the pink ribbon
on the black scarf covering your head
“it’s a long haul but one we will win”
I shall look for her next week
and pray she is there….

A visit to Oncology is a serious affair….


A Chemo Poem - All rights reserved.@2010