The best news

It's official - Steve is in remission!
The doctor confirmed his scans showed him clear of the disease!
It's hard to express the feeling...
We are grateful, happy, excited, overwhelmed all mixed into one!
He now has a period of rebuilding and getting strong as well as enjoying life feeling good!
Needless to say this path to wellness has been the work of all family, friends, colleagues, staff and clients.
Everyone's contribution no matter how big or small made the difference.
We couldn't have done it without you all...
There were times when it was a struggle but we had great support the whole way -
There were so many special moments through the 6 months that we will treasure forever.
For now we'll spend some special time with our family and new grandson - I think his birth has played an important role in things.
Steve has some follow up tests in a month and then 3 months -
But for now we will enjoy this moment with no more chemo or sickness,
Yeh!!!!
Thanks again for all your comments and contact throughout - it has really helped
TriciaXX

Good news

Steve got out of hospital last Wednesday and has spent the last week building up. His last blood results were good and he is feeling stronger and better each day (apart from a sore back from spending too long on those horrid hospital beds!).
We were happy he was out in time for the anticipated arrival of our grandson on the Wednesday but even more happy that the baby decided to wait until Steve improved his health over the week.
So...I'm happy to inform you that Steve and I ARE GRANDPARENTS!!!!
Sidney Hugo entered the world last night at 10.44 pm and it was great that Steve felt up to meeting him in hospital.
Papa Steve got the best present a parent could ever wish for!
So it's a big week...with Steve off to have scans on Friday...
It may well be the last of his treatment - fingers crossed - I'll keep you posted, XXX

Another tough Part B, but 6th cycle is over

Well the 6th cycle is over but not without its ups and downs.
Steve coped well during the week in hospital even though it was really draining.
He came home Mother's Day morning - a little later than expected, but feeling not too bad.
He was ecstatic he wasn't sick on the first 2 days as was normally the case, however he felt more fatigued than usual.
On the Wednesday he looked very pale and by that night it was evident another infection had set in - so it was straight back to hospital.
It was so important to get him onto antibiotics asap - and that they did - the doctors and nurses have been wonderful...
So I was trying to hold off writing this post until he had recovered from the infection but it looks like it will be a little while yet.
The last time he had the Part B treatment, the infection took until about the Wednesday to settle so hopefully by the middle to end of this week he may come home.
He is hoping to be out for the arrival of our grandson who is due on Wednesday - so we'll see...
I'll let you know when he is out of hospital and back on his way to good health,
warmest regards Tricia

5th cycle over!

Steve has just completed his 5th cycle...
He started out feeling pretty well after the Part A treatment - in fact he felt good enough to watch the crows game on the Saturday - but by early Sunday morning (about 2am) the side effects from the chemo really kicked in and he felt like crap!
For some reason this time felt really tough - probably because it was another on top of another...
Anyway that's history now because 5 days later he has picked up a lot - but he does wish he could just feel normal again...
This next week we'll be picking up his health even more so that he feels a lot stronger. So back on the shakes, good food, lots of fresh air and lots of laughs.
His next cycle will be Part B and so far this treatment has been very tough on him.
After that cycle he'll have more tests to determine if he needs the extra 2 cycles of treatment.
We are anticipating he will -because anything less will seem like a bonus!
Anyway, he's keeping busy - thanks Melissa for the jigsaw and the fun gadgets from the staff (I"m really enjoying them too)
Thank heavens also for the football season (and the TV show 'The Voice').
Thanks everyone for your calls, emails and visits on his good days,
Steve said thanks Enza - it's great to hear the staff at Blow are doing a great job,
Hope all is well for everyone,
He misses you all,
Tricia
PS I hope to bring some positive reports next cycle

Steve's surprise

It was Easter Monday that Steve received a big surprise.

The surprise had been in the making since the beginning of the year when Harold and Josie visited us at Maslins Beach. 

Aware that Steve would have no energy to do any outdoor gardening, they thought it would be a great idea to organise some sort of working bee to help him out.

They left that day with an idea which in time became a well crafted plan that included hairdressing industry, family and friends.

It became the most well hidden secret. Ongoing coordination by Harold and Josie over the months resulted in a 'master piece!'.

It was the landscape design and work of Cameron Polgreen Contractors who eventually transformed a piece of dirt into an amazing garden sanctuary.

A permanent memory of the love from his family, friends and colleagues now exists close to his heart.

A small gathering of family and those involved in the planning were there to witness the wonderful moment when Steve arrived at his ‘Garden of Wellbeing’ (aptly named by Harold).

It was an amazing effort by Harold, Josie, Shannon and all others involved to create another uplifting moment for Steve during this tough period of his life.

Steve was overwhelmed by it all – as you would imagine...

Lucky it was a ‘small affair’ on Easter Monday – unlike the full attendance of all contributors planned for the week prior but cancelled due to Steve’s health.

He would have been really ‘blown away!’ (not sure if that would have been too good for him at this point!)

So the last few days he’s found some energy to potter in his garden and enjoy the plants and beautiful weather.

Another ingredient I’m sure for healing and wellbeing.

His health has picked up a bit more now – just in time for round 5 on Monday.

Fingers crossed that he has a smooth run...

Once again thanks everyone for your ongoing communication, calls and emails - they truly do lighten his spirit...

Home in time for Easter

Well it was a long week in hospital for Steve but he is finally home.

Such a lot happened throughout that time - Steve went through a roller coaster of tests, bloods and procedures.

Bottom line his temperature was due to a bug his body got from the chemo but fortunately he responded well to the antibiotics.

His low blood levels as a consequence required lots of support – thank you all you blood donors!

We were a bit concerned he would miss the window of opportunity to catch his stem cells that was a procedure planned to take place at the QEH on Friday.

It wasn’t until the following Wednesday that his body was actually in the perfect state for the procedure so although a few days late, they successfully collected an abundance of stem cells that will be frozen for a rainy day.

So last night he came home and he had his best sleep for weeks!

Despite what feels to be a rocky road the doctor reassured us he is doing extremely well.

As per his usual form, Steve has tackled the challenges with strength, courage, humility and humour – and right now as I write this I can hear him chatting to someone on the phone with lots of laughter in between!

He’s really happy to be home in time to enjoy Easter with family.

By the way thanks everyone for your messages – we may not respond to them all but we are certainly receiving them with much appreciation,

Thanks again

Back in hospital

Well we went into the week quite optimistic after the good test results. Steve questioned the specialist whether it meant he would only need 6 cycles rather than 8 cycles but he said that was not necessarily the case.

I dare say he was disappointed with that news – it would have meant that after this next cycle he would only have 2 more – somehow this seemed more bearable.

He had a day of feeling down about the thought of more cycles but in his usual amazing manner made the adjustment and accepted he may be in for 4 more instead.

The week in hospital started well – he enjoyed visits from a few different faces and phone calls as well.

He commenced his treatment a day later this time as his doctor had planned for him to have his stem cell extracted after the treatment. The later start he said would be better.

For that procedure he will be required to have daily injections at home to prepare him for the stem cell procedure which is to take place this Friday.

He finished his treatment last Saturday and went home again happy. He was glad that during the first couple of days home he wasn’t vomiting but somehow he seemed even flatter and more fatigued than usual.

It was hard to tell at first – was it worse or was it always that bad during the first couple of days? On the Tuesday he went to have his usual blood taken and dressing changed but this was in fact a day earlier in his recovery than usual.

The trip into the hospital was difficult. You see anything more than a short trip to the bathroom and back was taxing on his body – so to North Adelaide and back was big.

The nurses took one look at him and predicted he would need some extra blood. He was very pale and low.

That afternoon they confirmed he would need to go in on Wednesday for a top up.

Around 5pm I noticed he looked paler and began to have the shakes.

I knew this was indicative of a temperature – but the reading was only 36.5.

Within about 30 minutes this had risen to 37.8 and a little while after to 38 degrees.

We knew from our last incident that anything over 38 he was to go straight to hospital.

So that’s what we did.
It seems the Part B of the HyperCVAD treatment is much more taxing on his body.

He wasn’t happy but knew it was best.

They put him straight on antibiotics and took more blood.

Yesterday they confirmed he does have an infection and today will hopefully be more specific with antibiotics.

It was hard watching him with his shakes and discomfort while his temperature spiked.

I can’t imagine how hard it was for him coping with not only the toxic effect from his chemo but the infection on top.

But you know even after he was very sick from the temperature, it didn’t take him long to smile. He seemed to be grateful for just feeling that bit better.

He is truly an amazing man.

Even the nurse on said he was special.

Not everyone goes through such a tough treatment with his ability to still find something to smile about.

But don’t get me wrong he is certainly feeling the difficulty of this very harsh regime.

As I write this, I can tell you he has just had a good night – he slept well and his temperature has dropped a little – hopefully all good signs that the infection is on its way out.

The doctor said he could still have his stem cell preparation on Friday so that’s good news.

For now they’ll keep him in hospital until he is well and truly over his infection because the intravenous approach works much more effectively.

Now we just have to find ways to relieve a little more of the boredom that sets in with long hospital stays.

I’ll keep you posted on when he is ‘free’ again,

Warmest regards and thanks for everyone’s wishes and thoughts,

Tricia