~ Poems of Love ~

The following poems have been written by me, for my husband Hamada, who suffered from Multiple Myeloma [IgG Kappa] a cancer of the plasma cells, which are found in the bone marrow. After many months of chemotherapy, contracting pneumonia twice, once given only twelve hours to live and having three bad fractures to his spine and also showing in his Pelvis, he made it to four years seven months. The Multiple Myeloma attacked his Kidneys first showing at diagnosis in May 2006 leaving Hamada only a small percentage of kidney function. He never complained, using his most amazing smile even when I knew he had severe pain. Hamada underwent a Stem Cell Transplant using his own 'harvested stem cells' . During October 2007 he spent seventeen days in the "Centre For Clinical Haematology" at Nottingham City Hospital UK. where he achieved this transplant. We had a scare at six months after transplant, when told 'the beast was back' but subsequent tests showed a partial remission. Again in early 2009 it was confirmed that Hamada was out of remission He fought again during 2010 with newer chemo type drugs. First with Velcade and then with Revlimid but to no avail. His Kidneys were failing further and Hamada chose not to have dialysis. This blog contains poems and updates, written for Hamada, telling of our life together.
Now a beautiful book has been published, see http://www.susiehemingway.com/books/
showing Hamada's personal fight against Multiple Myeloma in the first fifty 'poems of love' written by me his wife. I hope you like these poems of love and also 'our story' dedicated to Hamada, who passed away peacefully at home on 23 November 2010 after a most courageous fight against Multiple Myeloma.

23 March, 2010

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!

9 comments:

Margie said...

Oh no!
So sorry to hear about this, Susie.
Sending healing thoughts and keeping Hamada & you in my prayers!

That picture is so beautiful!

Margie x

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

Prayers continue daily for you both. I hope the antibiotics start to work soon.

Does Hamada have the dreadful cough that seems to be accompanying many chest infections in our area at the moment ?

Margaret said...

Sorry to read about this nasty setback, Susie, but glad that Hamada was allowed to go home. Being at home with you will surely speed up his recovery.
Fingers crossed and best wishes from Italy! :-)

Roobeedoo said...

Oh dear! That is the trouble with Velcade - you can only take it if you are well enough to cope. But its good you are able to have Hamada at home - I am sure he will get over the infection faster in his own bed!

Anonymous said...

I hope that Hamada's infection gets under control quickly. Have they considered putting in a PICC line or a Hickman catheter so they don't have to 'stick' him each time? We've had issues with finding a good vein before, too, so Vern prefers to have the catheter which allows blood to be drawn easily for labs and Velcade or other drugs to be infused. I'm able to do the daily flushes at home to keep the line viable.

Happy he was allowed to come home with you. You take care of yourself, too, Susie.

Dianne in Nevada

Susie Hemingway said...

Thank you very dear Ladies, how kind you are to keep-up with all that is happening our end and for taking time to enter your lovely messages of support, so much appreciated. It's been a rough couple of weeks and as the carers amongst you know, rather frustrating and most tiring with the endless trips back and forth and many distrurbed nights.
Hamada seems a little better today but a close eye never stops watching him.

@ Elizibeth: Yes Hamada did have
the dreadful cough that so many seem to have at the moment, this makes visiting the clinics at Hospital, fraught with danger for those there too! He does wear a mask to protect him as much as possible.

@ Diane
Hamada has had both Hickman and PICC lines twice before and he was so happy to get rid of them because of the flushing and care needed to maintain them well, another trip weekly to the Hospital, what with three clinics and the medical day unit for this procedure, he just does not have this energy but I fear that this will be the route again shortly as viens are poor now, although the problem this time, was that the blood would not flow.
We march on (smile)x

Joan Kahley said...

Susie, I am so sorry that chemo had to stop. I hope Hamada recovers from his infection very quickly so that he can start receiving the chemo again. My prayers are with you, Hamada and the family. May God bless you with comfort and peace. xx

Sandy said...

Oh my...it is so hard to have things heaped upon you when the plate already is so full... praying and intending for Hamada to have a good response to the antibiotics and more restful nights for you, though sleeping with one eye open is never restful! I can recall a time when I slept with my hand on my beloved chest to make sure he was breathing all night long...not the best way to sleep! Thinking of you both...

Unknown said...

Hi Susie,
I have followed your blog for a long time...yours was the first one I found when my dad was diagnosed with MM back in 2007. I hope Hamada is feeling better, so glad you were able to stay at home and avoid being admitted to the hospital. I read about the night sweats, my Dad had a horrible time with these, I always felt the steroids were more responsible for those than the velcade...thinking of you and Hamada. Thank you for sharing your journey, and for sharing your beautiful poetry.

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