DHC Hope: Through Tough and Good Times

With my grandson at yesterday's birthday party

The Tough Times

I feel that I have emerged from a dark tunnel. A wracking cough began two days before the stent was removed from between my left kidney and bladder. That was 3 March. Now on 18 March I am feeling much better. I had antibiotics to prevent infection on removal of the stent but it did not reduce the cough. Breathing became difficult and my asthma was the worst it has been for decades. Now on the fifteenth day of antibiotics aimed at the chest, I am a renewed person.

I was at my lowest around Easter. On Tuesday March 29 I walked home from seeing my oncologist Dr Kate at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. It took me four hours to recover. The next day Barbara and I travelled to Seven Hills RSL Club where we had lunch with our friends Pam and Allan and two of their friends Peter and Eve. The air-conditioning was very cool. When we left after two hours I felt very uncomfortable. It was good to feel the warmth of the outside air. When we arrived home I shook violently. It took me until 9.00 o’clock at night before I recovered. I am making sure that I am not letting myself get so chilled.

After nights of coughing fits, it is great to feel so much better. Last Monday I was OK walking to and from the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.

No Bad Side Effects from Experimental Drug

Throughout this time I have been taking the experimental drug. This Thursday I will have a CT scan that will show whether or not this drug is stopping the cancer from growing. Dr Kate will let us know next Monday and I will write a blog update. The only side effect has been some rough skin on my forehead: so far, so good on this treatment.

Renewed Enthusiasm for BezCan

Feeling so bad, I was finding it difficult dealing with The BezCan Project matters. However, at Easter I experienced a renaissance. I began catching up on matters. We have now submitted applications to two Australian organisations through which we might be able to offer tax deductibility for Australian donors. One of these organisations specialises in working with different groups providing support to overseas organisations. I lodged our application with this group on early Friday (April 15) afternoon and we were given a provisional project number within a few hours.

My thanks to The BezCan Project Governance Group whose effective review of the draft applications meantswe submitted a well-prepared and comprehensive application. There is now much work to be done to move to being accepted as a project. We are hopeful of success.

Canaan Junior School has begun digging the foundations for the construction of the ‘shells’ of the two classroom blocks at their primary campus. We are financing the building of the foundations, concrete floors, un-rendered brick walls, roofs, electrical installation and the finishing of the office area to make it secure. Next, our hope is to attract significant funding once we can offer tax deductibility so we can, at a minimum, complete the primary campus of Canaan Junior School.

The Good Times

These photos share some of the joy from some of the good times I have enjoyed through this difficult time: Easter egg hunt on Good Friday; celebrating with friends from a former client on Saturday; and our eldest granddaughter’s third birthday party yesterday here at Club 55.

Easter Egg Hunt