~ 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.

09 April, 2010

The River Of Life. - An Update.


The very complicated 'river of life' with the quality and careful balances that must be maintained for Hamada to continue with Velcade, is proving to be a really tedious task. As mentioned in an earlier post even before completing the first cycle of chemotherapy he had to omit the last of the required four infusions, due to a lowering of platelet levels. Then during the second cycle Hamada managed the first two shots then succumbed to a chest infection and having antibiotics for five days could not recieve any Velcade that week.
We managed to slot in two further Velcade infusions after platelets were given and then the 'river of life' let us down once again, with the neutrophils deciding they had also had enough. For the next three days Hamada will have the friendly G-CSF injections to chase those neutrophils out of hiding! The plus-side to that is we can do these at home. He must then rest from chemo for a further week.
Although we have Nephrology clinic visit next Tuesday and the Doctors check-up on Thursday it does make a fairly Hospital free week which is rather nice and a lot less driving for me. Rather a bonus really with time to prepare some good English food, as we are entertaining (if they are all cold free) number one Son and family for a long weekend which also includes his lovely French Mother-in-law.

Further to the review yesterday, Hamada's Doctor is reducing the amount of Velcade from 2.4mg to 1.8mg he also informed us that there has been a little reduction in PP M-Spike reading from 18.6 to 15 it is a start but we have a long way to go.

9 comments:

Jinksy said...

Here's wishes for a lovely weekend. :)

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

Heartfelt prayers that progress will continue, and that you are all able to enjoy the weekend!

Roobeedoo said...

That sounds like a good reduction considering how the treatment has been thwarted so many times! Hope you both have a good visit with family and good luck for the next round!

Anonymous said...

The ups and downs we must encounter as we travel this 'River of Life' can be trying, I know. I'm pleased you'll have a break from that long drive to the hospital and hope those injections do the trick this week.

A little improvement in Hamada's numbers is a good sign and my prayers continue for his blood and body to cooperate so treatment may be continued ... with remission not far behind.

Enjoy your week with some Susie-time carved out in the midst of all your prepping for the weekend company.

Dianne in Nevada

Hootin Anni said...

Susie...
I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit. Thanks for taking time to say 'hi' to me. And I do hope you will return when you can find time.

I've only read your blog for the day, and I realize I've been missing a lot...I do hope that all will be well and by what I read, a reduction is a GOOD thing right? Let's hope that trend continues!!!

Be blessed in all that you do.

Have a glorious afternoon.

Lobma. said...

hello. I think you must live nearish to me! Around Somerby. I know the village where the Bluebell is (I think)! I've driven though it on car trips around the Wolds. x

Jean said...

Hoping your weekend went joyfully well and progress continues for Hamada.

Nick said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nick said...

We'll try this again. :)

Just stopping by to let you know that you and Hamada remain in our thoughts and prayers. Your love for each other is inspirational and beautiful to behold. And your courage in sharing your experiences so that others might learn and benefit is, likewise, inspiring to me and many others.

Warm wishes to you both,

Nick

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