~ 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.
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9 comments:
I'm sorry you have to worry. I don't know that much about the numbers, I'm hoping that they fluctuate and this is a little dip on the road to recovery.
Best wishes and hopes for a Happy New Year!
Oh, and Merry Belated Christmas!
Thanks Michael, had a good few emails from this post and some useful information, mostly from your side of the pond, which all helps. Just trying to glean as much knowledge as possible all the time. We had an amazingly good Christmas with a house full- some pics on facebook. Wishing you and yours a very super 2009. Rainbows and stars..
Those numbers are disconcerting, especially the M-spike. I don't know what other treatments Hamada has tried other than the SCT. Richard responded really well to Revlimid with dex only 2 days per cycle. He did ok with Velcade also, but this may be coming to an end..will ellaborate in a post soon. Don't give up hope. There are so many more options now, and even the older treatments such as oral melphalan and prednisone can keep the Beast in check.
I enjoyed your christmas pictures!
Thank you TK, always pleased to have your good advice. Hamada has now had almost everything that is available in the UK. Velcade that was not use as a first choice for him, is now the only option left and we start again later this month with some more tests and a decision will be made about when to go with the Velcade. Rather concerned about the effects of Velcade on already compromised Kidneys but if we can manage for a good few months there might be something new passed for him. Till then "we will keep on, keeping on" My very best wishes to you and Richard and thanks X
Oh Susie, I so admire you and Hamada on this very difficult journey you are on. Being so new at this with our first transplant just completed, I am of no help or value to understanding what this means for Hamada. But know that I remain hopeful and think of you both often. Best, Lori
Thank you Lori for your nice comments. How wonderful that David has now completed his first Stem Cell and so very pleased to read the amount of cells collected. Congratulations on that, a remarkable feat! Unfortunately Hamada does not have anymore cells reserved, it was so hard to collect the few he did in 2007. Now as it appears he is out of remission, we shall face the 'Beast' once again. More news later after further tests this month. It's such great news you are returning to California, I shall check in from time to time - Oh well done you two!!
I shamefully admit that I don't really know what most of my "numbers" mean... so I've decided that they don't mean anything. They are numbers on a piece of paper. What matters is how you feel, how you cope, and if you are still able to fill your heart with gratitude and lofe. I wish you and Hamada a year of peace, comfort, courage and strength.
er... love, not lofe. Don't fill your heart with lofe, please. ;D
Thank you La Cootina. Kind words indeed and all very best wishes to you also.
Sincere Regards Susie.
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