Last Cycle

We have been pretty slack this week at keeping you all informed at how Kurt is doing. Mum and Michael arrived on Monday and they have been a good distraction to the chore of being at the hospital everyday. Treatment began on Tuesday due to the public holiday so Kurt is in hospital again today. He has been doing well again despite a few delays along the way. He is very tired again and the nausea has set in.

As soon as he is feeling up to it I will get him to write something...it has been hard to get him motivated for much but overall he is doing well.

Happy New Year!!

Christmas wishes

Well I have always known that Christmas makes people go a little nuts but this year I feel especially crazy. Despite the tree and presents sitting just 2 metres away from me it does not feel like Christmas. Already the looming feeling of Kurt's treatment next week has set in and he has said a few times that he is not looking forward to feeling crappy. We had a most frustrating morning today trying to find somehwere that was open for Kurt to have his blood test. 2 places that said on the form that they are open on saturdays were not, the third place was closing as we got there, 4 hours earlier than the form said they should and then we finally found one that was open and he was in and out in 5 minutes. Thank goodness the traffic wasn't too bad but it still swallowed our morning, so I am not feeling much in the Christmas spirit.

Kurt is sleeping at the moment, he gets tired very quickly...I am tired too but I am too worked up to sleep. It is funny how life throws these obstacles at us and we must do all we can to work through them. Being on our own for the build up to Christmas has really proved to me that the most important thing about Christmas is being with those you love. Kurt and I so desperately wanted to be with his parents this Christmas and since we couldn't do that it would have been nice to head to my mums for a few days but that just wasn't going to work either. So we have been alone in the build up to Christmas and it feels so weird. I am used to being in a house full of people with the anticipation of food and gifts building a frenzied excitement, instead I am cleaning the house and playing computer games...not really my idea of Christmas build up. We will be with Kurt's aunt and uncle tomorrow which will be nice.

I'll take this opportunity to wish all of you who have been thinking of us through Kurt's illness a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

May all your Christmas dreams come true.

Love Rebecca

Cycle 2 over!!

Today was the last treatment for cycle 2 and besides an xray and doctors appointment on Wednesday we have nothing until the 27th.

Kurt has been feeling pretty good for the last 5 days and is only really suffering from tiredness. Well that is the only thing in regard to the chemo. He found a strange tender itchy mark on his thigh over the weekend and it has been getting more red over the course of the day. So we got them to take a look at it at the hospital today and they all seemed to think it is a spider bite. Normally nothing too much to stress about but because of his treatment they have given him antibiotics to help clear it up. Hopefully that will work.

Tomorrow is my last day of work so I am looking forward to spending some quality time with Kurt while he is feeling well.

Look at me!!!!

Hey everyone,

Geoff splurged on himself and hired a Porsche for the weekend! I even got a chance to drive it as well. It certainly is another experience driving a sports car. I could see myself having one of these if I win the Lotto!



Thank you for letting me drive the car Geoff, loved every moment of it.

Back onto other things. Going back to the hospital for my booster today. I am finding that I am feeling about the same as last time, just a little more tired than before. So all in all it isn't too bad but am getting the occasional chest pain....can't wait till it is all over.....

Hopefully I don't get stuck with the same guy as last week in my ward. He was a trifle annoying and wouldn't stop talking. The only way for him to be quiet was to either close your eyes and ignore him or if he fell asleep himself. He brags a bit about still going on walks, drinking beer as he is a sponsered drinker (not sure what that meant) and coaching touch rugby. He does seem pretty fit, but the beer sounds pretty stupid.

Not sure if Rebecca has posted it yet, but my next hospital treatment starts on the 27th December, which means I can get Christmas day in good health, but New Years Eve I won't be feeling to well, but something to celebrate for. Thank you once again for everyone's support, and especially Jane & her Family, thank you for all your cards and best wishes!!

Another Week Over

Week 4 is now over and the 2nd cycle of treatment is well underway. Kurt is still doing really well, he is nauseous and really tired but apart from that he says he feels fine. He was asleep early last night...I think his lack of napping during the day caught up with him. He is lying down at the moment, he had a glass of juice for breakfast and said afterwards that it didn't feel as though it was sitting well in his stomach.

I think we will just have a quiet day at home. It has been so muggy lately that both of us have been waking up through the night and finding it difficult to sleep. It is much cooler today which is a welcome change and I think it will be just right for us to take a short walk.

Thank you everyone for all your prayers, emails and cards...your support means the world to us.

Starting Cycle Two...

After a weekend of beautiful weather and Kurt feeling really good the coming of the rain today seemed to represent the looming feeling of Kurt spending everyday this week in hospital. This is the time that chemo feels like such a chore.

We woke bright and early this morning and when we got to the hospital were told that Kurt would need another blood test because his test from Saturday showed his platelets were a bit low. If they hadn't improved enough we were facing the possibility of his treatment being delayed till next week. They started him on the drip with hydration while we waited for the results. Before long we were told that he would be moved to the ward because they don't have enough beds this week in the oncology dept. By the time we were told the bloods were ok to continue and were moved to the ward it was almost 10 o'clock. Despite the delays he was still finished by 3.30pm.

He is feeling pretty good tonight, well I think he is, he isn't complaining...but then again he never complains. I am so proud of his positive attitude and the way he is dealing with this disease...his positive attitude inspires me everyday!!

2nd Time Around

On Wednesday we had our first checkup since starting Chemotherapy. I had a chest x-ray earlier in the morning and the appointment shortly afterwards. We didn't see our original specialist, but one of his team. She was friendly and approachable.

It looks as though the larger spot on the left lung is harder to see, which means it can be less prominant in my lungs, but it is hard to know with certainty without doing a CAT scan. My blood test have also shown my cancer markers are now below the high mark, and my full blood count, although a little low, is okay. Apart from that, everything seems to be going well.

My hair was starting to fall out this week, so I decided to shave my head again seeing it won't grow back. Trying to find a good bandanana around Auckland, but it is near immposible. Going to try calling the cancer society, and see what they have. I am trying to find a nice black, or dark coloured one....

I was feeling well enough and was able to get back to work for 2 half days. It felt good getting back into it, getting a little bored at home! I did start to get tired towards lunch time though, and Friday had a big headache.

So Monday is the start of the 2nd cycle. I have been told the nausea won't get worse, but the tiredness will. I have been given a new medication, Lorazepam, to help me sleep and it also helps with nausea, so fingers crossed.

Having my parents here for the first treatment cycle was great. They really looked after Rebecca and I, and they now know what I am going through. Love you both so much!