~ 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.

05 July, 2009

"The Waiting Game" by Susie Hemingway


Nothing now for you they say
they will not offer yet, no way
no action or depart from same,
it is to be a waiting game...
and so the dictionary spills to me,
tarry, await, bide but see,
expect and watch, kick in one's heels
but do not depart from daily pills.

Continue strong with courage they say
but 'they' don't live from day to day!
stand firm, remain, counter or sustain
is there justice to obtain?
grasp this power of resistance
strong to overcome, do not waver
build your fortress, this war for us
which will be done.

Dig in and fight to stop invade,
your courage will make another day...

10 comments:

A Myeloma Widow's Journey said...

I so enjoy your beautiful words that speak so eloquently of where we find ourselves along our husbands' MM journeys. Thank you, Susie.

Karen Brook said...

Powerful words of courage and resolve, grace spun of unyielding steel on this journey of each day being a gift, like a string of glowing pearls one upon the next. Know you and Hamada are in my daily prayers. xx's and hugs :-)

Brother Ted said...

In the songs of your heart there is such strength and love. You are in my thoughts daily. May your days continue to be filled with love.

Michael Morse said...

Your picture says thousands of words, even though your words need no help!

Unknown said...

I have been continually in awe of what I read here. Today is no different.

Live strong, my friends. You know you are always in my thoughts and prayers - both of you and your family.

Sunshine said...

Thank you for your post, your words, your pictures.
Every day has its challenges, but every day is a treasure.

Sandy said...

What a sweet picture of your sweetheart, Susie! Your words really give us such a precious peek into your life and offer us a reminder of the importance of valuing each day, no matter what our "condition" may be. Thank you.

Lora Conrad said...

Such tremendous words filled with emotion - they made me tear. As one who can personally relate to what your eloquently stated phrases were conveying, I must thank you for putting on paper what is so difficult for the rest of us speak. My heartfelt thanks for the beauty of words that flow from your pen. Thank you very much, Susie. Lora Conrad

Kathi Mathis said...

Your blog is wonderful. You are so blessed to have this talent and I thank you for your willingness to share it with me and so many others. I haven’t read them all but I did read four before I decided that I wanted to savor them by only reading a couple at a time. You and your husband certainly make a beautiful couple.
Kathi
Kathi Mathis
ERA Executive Business Consultant

Nick van Dyk said...

From: "Nicolas van Dyk"

I just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you for coming by my Myeloma blog and for posting your words of encouragement and support. I have commented on your blog in the past -- it is a singularly beautiful expression of your writing gift and the love that you and Hamada have for each other.

There are many new treatment options available, as you most likely know, and there is every reason to remain optimistic that for Hamada, this will be a manageable condition, if not something that he is cured of. You and he exude warmth in the photos on your blog page -- I know that you have the love and the fighter's spirit to never give in to MM. Give it no quarter.

Be well. You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

Warm regards,

Nick van Dyk

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