The Grape Escape

Tuesday 29^th January 2013

Hi All,

Just a quick update of everything that’s been going on since my last post, before I go into hospital for my next dose of chemo...

So, I was gutted to have missed out on seeing David Beckham last week, when he visited the Young Persons Unit at the QE hospital. Of all the times I’ve been there, it seemed typical that I should have been discharged only a few days before! However, even though the week started with some disappointment I ended up receiving a phone call, telling me I’d won a ticket to see Olly Murs! The concert’s in March at the LG Arena and I can’t wait to see him, as dedicated followers of my blog will know I’m quite a fan to say the least!

Becca and Luke returned home from India last week. It was so lovely to have them back, we even had another Christmas Day to celebrate as we’d missed being together the first time around. Think they were pleased to be back but happier to finally be receiving their presents and filling up on some good home cooking courtesy of myself and Flo! A shopping trip to Birmingham the next day to spend some of Dad’s money also made Becca happy! I wasn’t so happy when I slipped over in M&S though! Two employees rushed to my aid to check if I was ok, which I was. But Mum however suggested I should sue them, telling them my hair had all fallen out a week later from the shock of it!

Yesterday Flo and I set off on the train to Manchester to a salon run by Nicky Oliver, hairdresser to the stars! I was having a wig fitting and have chosen a red/brown style, medium length, which I’ll have cut and styled once it’s ready in a few weeks time. He was telling us that they’re made in India, I thought if I had gone a few weeks earlier, Becca and Luke might have been able to collect it for me!

A follow up article is planned to be published in the local B&R paper in the next week or so, catching up on my progress since the last article was written a number weeks back. I guess I’ve produced enough material for the reporter to steal once again and make the article sound decent! ;)

I had another check up on my head last week too. The doctor was happy with how it was looking, so much so that he doesn’t want to see me again until my treatment finishes and I’m ready to have the Wayne Rooney style treatment to sort my hair out (hopefully!).

To keep myself busy, I have been reading books. The latest being by Katie Piper – the young British girl who survived a horrendous ordeal of rape and acid attack in 2008. She’s such an inspiration, having been so brave and by turning something negative into a positive, setting up a charity to help other burns survivors. Her books are brilliant and if you get a chance to read them do. It puts things into perspective, there’s always someone worse off than yourself and it teaches you to be grateful for the little things in life and not take things for granted.

Florence and I have been trying to eat and drink healthily. We have decided we eat well in terms of having enough vegetables in our diet; however our fruit intake has a lot to be desired! Especially for me and the nightmares I have regarding the baked banana incident!! So we decided we must increase our intake through the next best thing, fruit juices! We already had a routine of drinking orange juice each morning; however Flo now makes me have an apple and mango in the afternoon and grape in the evening! There’s no escaping it!

I decided that we should try and increase our fitness levels too, I haven’t really done much exercise expect walking since my second operation in October and although Flo owns a t-shirt saying ‘Just Do It’, really she says ‘Just Don’t Bother!’ I attended a Hip-Hop dance class the other night and Flo and I went to a Ballroom/Latin class last night, which were great fun! Strictly Come Dancing eat your heart out! It took me a lot of effort to persuade Mum to go, as I make her take the lead role and pretend to be the man! She wanted me to ask the local butcher, who she jokes she’s going to fix me up with. I told her, well I am partial to meat and two veg, as long as he doesn’t have two left trotters! On that note I think I should probably go and get myself ready for my fourth session of chemo tomorrow morning...thanks for reading J

 

 

“I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again!”

Wednesday 16^th January 2013

I have just come out from hospital following my third lot of chemotherapy. The staff can’t do enough for you there, always greet you upon arrival as if we’re checking in for a weekend break! Judging by my cases you’d think we were! In true Thomas style, Mum and I rock up with sleeping bag, pillow and even a toaster in hand and Mum has to make a few trips back and forth to the car! I don’t do travelling light as my Dad only knows too well! Even for Beach Break festival, lasting a few days I managed to fill Becca’s rucksack, which she’s using currently for four months of travelling!

It was a very tiring five days and unfortunately this time there was more sickness and I also required a blood transfusion. Flo tried to be her supportive self but also ended up feeling queasy and had to have a lie down! Even when I fancy a cup of tea or it's time for a meal I need to put in a request about an hour before, as she’ll always find someone to talk to down the kitchen! Met a nice couple from Bridgenorth, Shropshire called Mel and Dan – Dan has been receiving treatment on the unit around the same time as myself and Mel is due to give birth in a couple of weeks. Flo said she’d step in as birthing partner if required, should she go into labour whilst there! I think it was anything to get out of looking after me personally!

Everything ok now though and have been taking it easy since being discharged. I also found out whilst in hospital that Ewing’s Sarcoma is usually treated with 14 sessions of chemotherapy – they’ll review my case at treatment four (the highest doses being the first six). Also the radiotherapy could be for five days at a time lasting for six weeks. But whatever they decide, I know my best interests will be at heart and I’ll go with the Flo ;) Next session of chemotherapy is booked in for 30^th January.

I’ve had the liver scan results back now and they’re showing benign blood vessels, which have probably been there since birth, so a weight off my mind. Results from the heart scan are also all ok, happy days.

I’d also like to put some thanks out for all the lovely cards, messages and presents I’ve received over the last few months. It’s kept me going, knowing I have fantastic support from family and friends. I still don’t know who my mystery parcel was off though, so if the sender reads this please let me know! It contained a lovely notebook, selection boxes and nail polishes. One of the cutest gifts has to be this little pup,  sent from one of Mum's friends. Flo get on the case though please, remember I’m expecting a real one when we’re home!

As mentioned in my last post, a family friend Rachel is running the London Marathon this April, raising money for a charity of my choice, which is Teenage Cancer Trust. Here's the link,

http://www.justgiving.com/Rachel-Williams20 Please let’s all support her and this fantastic charity! My interview for Pick Me Up magazine is also due to be published 31^st January. Look out for me!

Becca and Luke are due back soon, can’t wait to see them! I know they’re looking forward to their Christmas gifts (including a few surprises!!) and plenty of nice food! Will be great to have them back, although I think we’ve spoke more since they’ve been away than when they’re actually in the UK! Gotta love a bit of Skype J

I’ve also been told that I should write a book about my journey...thoughts and comments please!!

 

 

“To Christmas, and beyond!”

Friday 4th January 2013

So I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year’s Eve? My Christmas was lovely – a very quiet one to previous years and different spending it away from home in Birmingham. But I was with Mum & Dad and Skyped Becca & Luke and other family members, which made it a great day. Unfortunately Florence had forgotten to buy the crackers, so we were left hatless. Luckily I was able to save the day and Dad sported a furry trapper number!

To pick up where I left off, which was from my hospital bed during my second session of chemo – all went well and my body seemed to recover a lot quicker this time. I stayed in my usual side room, although was moved on the last day to a four bed ward; however I was on my own. Florence stayed overnight throughout my time in hospital – on this night she decided to undress for bed behind my curtain, instead of going to the bathroom down the corridor as usual. Getting down to her bra and grots, we heard footsteps quickly approaching the curtain. “It’s only me”, a male voice called out and to Mum’s horror speedily drew back the curtain! Being a true professional the male nurse began speaking to me and acted like he never noticed. By this time Mum had sat down on her camp bed trying to hide her modesty with her nighty. For devilment I made sure to engage her in the conversation! To this day we can’t remember what we even spoke about, but he was obviously happy and went on his merry way, leaving us chuckling!

I was sent home with my usual mixed bag of drugs including additional antibiotics to ward off any infections before they started. Into my second recovery week now and although feeling well, I still find myself tired on occasions and requiring a nap. This usually happens when Florence wants me to help her with the chores!

Whilst in hospital, Mum received a lovely phone call from a friend, Rachel Williams – her daughter, Hannah, is a friend of mine, we’ve known each other since we were six. She told us that she’s running in the London Marathon in April 13 and wanted to ask if she could raise money for a charity of my choice. I thought this was a lovely gesture and I have chosen Teenage Cancer Trust, which supports the ward I’m on at the QE Hospital. I will provide the link to the donation page as soon as it's up.

My hair has gone very thin; I’m pretty much a baldy! I’ve got some photos of the scars my head now has, along with the skin graft. In one of pictures I think my head looks like an uncooked baked potato – telling Mum she laughed and said “Ok Mrs Potato Head!” I think she’s trying to get her own back with the various nicknames I’ve given her! It might look pretty shocking to you, but the graft is actually healing up nicely and each day improving in appearance.

On New Year’s Eve the party started with an MRI scan, at the Imaging Department of the QE Hospital. I arrived early but was not even offered a drink (I’m glad to say) as last time I’d had one there it was a fluid containing dye that made me poorly! I went straight in for the scan and always one to enjoy posing for the camera; I’d made an extra special effort with my make-up. Unfortunately they were only after a lot of pictures of my liver! At least I hope that’s what the snaps were of as thinking about it they made me remove my bra! The scan lasted around 30 minutes and I hope to receive the results shortly. Upon returning to the waiting room, the party seemed to be in full swing with numerous jugs of fluid, paper cups and people! However, I decided it wasn’t the party for me and to head to another, namely the YPU ward on the 6^th floor.

I have to visit the ward to have my PICC line flushed and re-dressed on a weekly basis, to prevent blocking when it’s not in use and ensure it’s clean. I’ve taken a picture of this to show you what it looks like. I remember when I first had it in I thought I’d never get used to it, but you do, you just have to be careful with it.

2012 ended in a quiet affair, seeing in the New Year only with Florence. Actually neither of us made it to 12am and were in bed by 11.15pm, although we did enjoy Alan Carr’s show. Perhaps 2013 will be a little better and I’ll be spending it with Woody, Buzz, Rex, Hamm, Slinky and the rest of the gang and hopefully of course my Mr Potato Head!