~ 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.

07 October, 2010

Latest News.

Not such good news for Hamada this week. In the past few days it has be detected that Hamada's kidney function has taken a sharp downturn and in an effort to halt this as quickly as possible and thus the need for dialysis, Revlimid, Dex, and the GCSF injections have all been stopped, certainly for the time being. This has been a huge disappointment, as Revlimid was proving to be of some help to Hamada. He has only completed two cycles of this regime and all blood counts had improved a lot and PP also reduced. This has been an exhausting week for both of us and we complete it tomorrow with a further morning at Lincoln for a consultation with two renal specialists for their assessment and will up-date when we have further news.

9 comments:

Noelle Dunn.... A Poet in Progress said...

thinking of you...

Jean said...

Best wishes always coming your way.

Sandy said...

This is discouraging, to be sure, and I am intending that the specialists can offer you some answers that will be productive. Thoughts winging their way to both of you from the mountains of South America...

Linda B said...

Susie, I've followed you and Hamas love story for the past several years from afar and read your beautiful poetry. This is definitely a breathtaking dip in the roller coaster ride your family has been riding for so long. I pray for ongoing miracles and good things for you and all of your beautiful family.

Dom and Nan said...

Oh, my love... I hated to hear this news... just posted on your other site. Our thoughts are with you, honey.

Nan and Dom

Sunshine said...

Love and prayers, Dear Ones.

Don said...

Wow,

I wasn't aware that Rev & Dex could go after the kidneys. I wonder if it's the GCSF.

I sure hope this is a minor and temporary setback, and Hamada is back on Rev/Dex or at least Rev soon. Rev is good stuff.

Susie Hemingway said...

Thank you all wonderful people, for your most kind comments here. This is indeed a rollercoaster with very depressing news in what seems like days - more on www.susiehemingway.com

@ Don - yes perhaps the GCSF injections but Hamada was diagnosed 4+years ago because of failing kidneys and this is his most vunerable area. Revlimid is known to gather in the kidneys, hence the lower amount allowed (15mg every other day) but my worry is also the aspirin which certainly may have caused this sudden huge drop. The biggest sadness that hurts so much is that Revlimid was showing to help the MM and had lowered the PP for the first time this year.
The latest is that H has decided not to have Dialysis!
Keep well both.

Susie Hemingway said...

Whoops!* vulnerable

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