tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958049442061988552024-03-05T21:00:21.731-08:00Here We Go Again - My Second Bout with CancerFrom Discovery to Recovery. Trying to be the "best I can be" while dealing with cancer.Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-69018840949281041632019-11-16T20:17:00.000-08:002019-11-16T20:17:03.251-08:00When you have Cancer why does our Health System make life more difficult?<br />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->It’s been awhile
since you’ve heard from me – and that’s been deliberate on my part. My last
post wasn’t my finest work as I wrote about some of the negative aspects of my
cancer journey. Afterwards I gave myself a serious talking to and decided that
if I couldn’t put a positive spin on things that were happening, I wouldn’t
bother. ‘Cause describing the bad stuff seems to make me feel worse and keeps
me focusing on all the wrong things. But, in the interests of full disclosure,
I have been writing – I just haven’t posted anything ‘cause most of it’s crap.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To paraphrase Robert Burns… “The best laid plans of mice and men often…
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So… This is going to be about some of the negatives that still seem to
be trying to rule my life. And I’m rationalizing my decision to write about
them by telling myself that someone who reads this might become forewarned, and
be able to avoid the situation I’m now in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->It’s just over twelve months since I was
diagnosed with cancer for the second time in six years. As I’ve wandered along
through scans, tests, clinics, consultations, surgery and radiation therapy,
I’ve met and interacted with a lot of very smart, dedicated and emphatic people
who work in both the Medical Profession and associated services. Everyone has
been fully focused on making sure the right decisions were made to ensure I
received the best care possible – in the moment. But, when those moments pass,
and there’s no one looking at you, asking “How can I help?” Who do you turn to
when you need help, guidance or support? Perhaps the Cancer Society.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had a bit to say about this organisation in my last post, and I felt
a little guilty afterwards, so I sent a link to the post to a Manager at the
Cancer Society, asking for feedback on the post and for any comments they
wished to make. Here’s the response I received…</div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Hi Chris,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I
just left a garbled message on your phone. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I have passed your email
and link to your blog to the Supportive Care team in Hawke’s Bay. I have asked
them to read your Blog (very good and identifies a number of areas we need to
work on), and get hold of you re any support we could help you with. Either
Angie or Pauline will give you a call at some stage. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I will follow up the team
on Monday to make sure you have had some contact. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Kind Regards”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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I received this email on 12<sup>th</sup>. September. As I try to be an
eternal optimist, I’m still hoping someone will contact me. </div>
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Perhaps tomorrow…
perhaps not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, my big issue at the moment – the one that keeps me awake most
nights – is to do with money. When plans for my treatment in Auckland were
being made, we were told that travel and accommodation costs would be covered
by the Hawkes Bay District Health Board. Not long after that I received a
letter from the National Travel Office, letting me know that my upcoming travel
and accommodation costs for treatment in Auckland had been approved for financial
assistance. So, with assurances from everybody involved – off we went.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Now here we are, three months after the end
of treatment and… to be quite blunt about it, the Hawkes Bay District Health Board
– and or – the National Travel office, still owes me a significant amount of
money. The silly thing is, they know they do and acknowledge that I need to be
paid, but, for some reason that no one wants to explain to me, it seems they’ve
both decided that it’s the other’s responsibility. The result of this standoff so
far… </div>
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No money for Chris. <o:p></o:p></div>
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No… I’m not saying anything more about the six weeks of living in a
motel room while going through radiation therapy. I just want to forget it ever
happened. But afterwards, I sent all the paperwork for the accommodation costs
to both the National Travel Office and the HBDHB. Then we went home - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>took money out of our savings to pay the
credit card bill – and started to focus on putting our lives back together. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, here we are, more than three months later, and the silence from both
the National Travel Office and the HBDHB has become deafening – to the point
where I don’t even know how to start to find out how to get some money back. Two
weeks ago, I rang the National Travel Office to ask about the status of our
claim, only to be told that it had been declined, and referred to the HBDHB. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJllix8ktigFF8-E6xUgwyzfEIUBiG8EKY-34hnFV2gteGB8rbdjMtUIaynoNyCiTfS2EYJt4Whj4MFUCCeiu5qR59Z5RV5rPgHJOawQaZGawvS_FjwIzxKTTVK-SCsqu4-3hYaILGvU/s1600/Dont+know+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="323" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJllix8ktigFF8-E6xUgwyzfEIUBiG8EKY-34hnFV2gteGB8rbdjMtUIaynoNyCiTfS2EYJt4Whj4MFUCCeiu5qR59Z5RV5rPgHJOawQaZGawvS_FjwIzxKTTVK-SCsqu4-3hYaILGvU/s320/Dont+know+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>When I spoke to a person at the DHB (the
only person I know that I thought might be able to help), I was told the claim
had been sent to the “Panel” for approval and that I should hear something from
the DHB in a couple of days. When I asked how to get in touch with the “Panel”,
I was answered with an alarming degree of waffle about systems and processes
that clearly indicated the person I was talking to either didn’t have a clue
who the “Panel” were, or were very disinclined to tell me how to contact them.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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So here I am, writing this and thinking about “what ifs”…</div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000;">What if… I had gone to Palmerston North
for therapy instead of Auckland?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">I’d probably only have one eye and
be struggling to write this rubbish.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000;">What if… The Cancer Society had been
able to give me accommodation at Domain Lodge in Auckland?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">We’d
be thousands of dollars better off.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000;">What if… The Cancer Society had
arranged alternative accommodation in Auckland?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">We’d be thousands of dollars
better off.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000;">What if… The National Travel Office had
been able to arrange accommodation in Auckland?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">We’d
be thousands of dollars better off.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000;">What if… The Hawkes Bay District Health
Board did what they said they would and paid us back?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">We’d
be thousands of dollars better off.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000;">What if… We didn’t have the savings to
be able to pay thousands of dollars for accommodation?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
In hindsight, and knowing now what I didn’t know then, I would have
asked for the Radiation Therapy to be delayed until accommodation became
available at Domain Lodge. I know that everyone would tell me not to do that,
because there’s an optimum window that all the experts seem to agree on – being
within forty-two days after surgery. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
In my case – I had surgery on 12<sup>th</sup>.
March and started Radiation Therapy on 11<sup>th</sup>. July. This is a period
of 120 days. Would an extra week or two have any real material effect on my
survival chances given I was already so far outside the recommended timeframe?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Anyway, it’s all hypothetical now and doesn’t really matter. I just
want them to give me some money back… as they said they would.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Now, here’s a question… Should I send this to Fair Go?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">... too late!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-37873636855388016112019-09-04T14:07:00.000-07:002019-09-04T14:07:43.811-07:00So... What happens now?<br />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">A couple of different people that read my little missives have asked me
what I think about particular aspects of the Health System, and more
specifically, how I feel about the new proposed Cancer Agency. I’ve been kinda
reluctant to do this, ‘cause I know my views are heavily biased by my own
experiences. But, after reading David Downs’ book “A Mild Touch of the Cancer” (there’s
a link to this book on the right) and watching the development and progress of
Blair Vining’s petition, I thought – why not. Maybe my thoughts will resonate
with some of you, and I guess even if I manage to get a few of you nodding as
you read this, it’s probably worthwhile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZdybteE8vjtYzLsaq7Z0gzc2KjsfDbbWKehAT43aYe_IuzaIT8dBZPgLczcUdXd9U5yDRUAhiP6ba_mFdnMPSo5XZ5VBpc01EIe_PWpip1iLo2DSEXKqLWBL1hyJWM6loWoTmov4ljQ/s1600/Rant+in+Progess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZdybteE8vjtYzLsaq7Z0gzc2KjsfDbbWKehAT43aYe_IuzaIT8dBZPgLczcUdXd9U5yDRUAhiP6ba_mFdnMPSo5XZ5VBpc01EIe_PWpip1iLo2DSEXKqLWBL1hyJWM6loWoTmov4ljQ/s320/Rant+in+Progess.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I think this is going to turn out to
be quite a negative rant, (which is not my favourite kind), because there’s some
issues I keep dwelling on, and maybe the only way to get them out of my head is
to write about them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So… for those of you still reading,
here we go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">There’s been a lot of press lately
about “Post Code” medical care and it sounds like we’re now going to create
another level of bureaucracy to oversee the existing bureaucracy we have in
place because no one can get the multitude of DHBs we have in this country to
talk to each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">It’s all well and good to have agencies
and DHBs reporting to the Health Department. But – where’s the tangible and
practical support and assistance for the patients?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">How can an organisation like the Southern District Health Board go on
reporting growing Radiation Therapy waiting lists, and people being forced into
private care – or withdrawing from care because they can’t afford it - without
anyone doing anything about it? I know - there’s a new Linear Accelerator on its
way south. But, in my view, this will only fix part of the problem – and I
guess I’m now talking about every patient, or carer, who has to travel to
receive medical care of any kind. As a result of this travel, they have to “suck
up” all the associated expenses. I guess we can’t all live just down the road
from the hospital. Where’s the help for these people? And I guess, just as importantly,
how do they find out about any help that is available?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The new Cancer Agency will sort this
out, you say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Will it really? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">How? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Let me tell you why I’m sceptical…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Medical professionals are all focused on providing the very best medical
care for their patients that they can. This is a given, and I for one, am extremely
grateful for their efforts. But, for a lot of patients a huge issue is the
financial burden placed on them when receiving this care. I know there are
other agencies and organisations that can provide financial relief for patients
but, in my experience, this relief is very limited and always comes after the
event. In other words, if Joe Average, who live fifty kilometres away from the
nearest hospital gets sick, he has to use up all his sick leave, holiday pay
and probably the bulk of his savings, while his partner and carer has to work
extra shifts to keep some money rolling in, before being eligible for any
financial relief, and, even then, this relief will be very limited. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">It’s a pity he doesn’t live down the
road from the hospital – in the same way it’s a pity I don’t live in Auckland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Let me explain…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Back in March of this year I was
admitted to Auckland City hospital – remember, I live in Hawkes Bay - to have a
Squamous Cell Carcinoma removed from under my right eye. That in itself proved
to be a very expensive exercise. Anyway, the proposed follow up treatment included
six weeks of Radiation Therapy which was to happen in Palmerston North. After,
what seemed like, and actually was, a long wait, I was scheduled to start the
therapy at the end of July. For reasons which I won’t go into, a few days
before I was due to start, it was decided I would be better off if my therapy
was done in Auckland. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now… to my simple
mind, this would have created a gap in the Radiation Schedule in Palmerston
North. So…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Did someone
in Palmerston North report this gap, or did a queue shuffle at Mid-Central DHB
just automatically happen?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">If someone
was to report this gap, who would they report it to? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">If the person
in charge became aware of this gap would they think to ask around the country
to see if anyone is in urgent need of therapy? (Pencil in new Cancer Agency.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Who at
Southern Districts DHB would they ask?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Let’s suppose,
by some miracle of modern communication, the Southern Districts DHB became
aware of this gap in Palmerston North’s schedule, who would then decide which
patient from Southland would receive the therapy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Now for the hard question…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Who pays for
a patient from Southland to receive treatment in Palmerston North?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1030"
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style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:5.3pt;
margin-top:.25pt;width:252.8pt;height:170.15pt;z-index:-251655168;
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBkNGmIpkm4__Pavileg0mePHMkfXeGn5GWP9vvPYdf3jF1omG3ikPi3Y37LyNc9n0t4IZcy2yshnzroWcuV5ntKFse4_8emydbkmfQ-aqKLAZZ5HuLnZunRh0dBFYml75-2vmSqYMiM/s1600/ATM+in+ward+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBkNGmIpkm4__Pavileg0mePHMkfXeGn5GWP9vvPYdf3jF1omG3ikPi3Y37LyNc9n0t4IZcy2yshnzroWcuV5ntKFse4_8emydbkmfQ-aqKLAZZ5HuLnZunRh0dBFYml75-2vmSqYMiM/s1600/ATM+in+ward+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBkNGmIpkm4__Pavileg0mePHMkfXeGn5GWP9vvPYdf3jF1omG3ikPi3Y37LyNc9n0t4IZcy2yshnzroWcuV5ntKFse4_8emydbkmfQ-aqKLAZZ5HuLnZunRh0dBFYml75-2vmSqYMiM/s1600/ATM+in+ward+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBkNGmIpkm4__Pavileg0mePHMkfXeGn5GWP9vvPYdf3jF1omG3ikPi3Y37LyNc9n0t4IZcy2yshnzroWcuV5ntKFse4_8emydbkmfQ-aqKLAZZ5HuLnZunRh0dBFYml75-2vmSqYMiM/s1600/ATM+in+ward+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBkNGmIpkm4__Pavileg0mePHMkfXeGn5GWP9vvPYdf3jF1omG3ikPi3Y37LyNc9n0t4IZcy2yshnzroWcuV5ntKFse4_8emydbkmfQ-aqKLAZZ5HuLnZunRh0dBFYml75-2vmSqYMiM/s1600/ATM+in+ward+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="257" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBkNGmIpkm4__Pavileg0mePHMkfXeGn5GWP9vvPYdf3jF1omG3ikPi3Y37LyNc9n0t4IZcy2yshnzroWcuV5ntKFse4_8emydbkmfQ-aqKLAZZ5HuLnZunRh0dBFYml75-2vmSqYMiM/s320/ATM+in+ward+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">If I had
gone ahead and received my radiation therapy in Palmerston North, Denise and I
would have stayed at Osnam House at no cost, and the Hawkes Bay DHB would have
paid the Mid-Central DHB for my treatment. As my treatment was done in
Auckland, the Hawkes Bay DHB paid Auckland. But who paid for our accommodation?
That would be us, so… we’re now thousands of dollars out of pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Don’t get
me wrong. I’m grateful I get to keep my right eye, which wouldn’t have happened
if I’d received treatment in Palmerston North. The point I’m trying to make is…
what if a patient being sent to a different DHB can’t afford the additional
expenses? Do they simply not go? Or do they have other options?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">What about
the National Travel Assistance scheme, you ask?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Well… If
they’re not able to arrange pre-paid accommodation with their own DHB, the
patient has to pay and claim it back. In our case, for our first stay of four
weeks in Auckland we received less than half the amount we claimed… four months
after we sent the claim in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, what
am I actually trying to say here?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Yes, I’m
in favour of the new Cancer Agency, mainly because what we have isn’t working.
But let’s make sure we don’t put all our focus and resources into numbers and
statistics. Let’s remember the patient. It would be great to see some initiatives
directed at relieving the load for those undergoing treatment, and this is now
going to lead me into my next diatribe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 163.05pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Here’s another question – Where’s the
Cancer Society when you need them? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Turns out, they only get involved if
you contact them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Or do they?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Here’s a statement from their
website:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">“You do not need a referral - in fact - due to
privacy issues we are not given your name or contact information by
your doctor or health professional. To access our services we need
to hear directly from you or your carer.”</span></i><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">This brings up another question –
What privacy issues? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I really would have welcomed and
appreciated a visit from a representative of the Cancer Society while I was
recuperating in Auckland hospital. I’d always been under the impression that if
you developed cancer, a routine action, after diagnosis would be to make sure
you were given information about the support they could provide. Silly me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, why didn’t I contact them? Well…
keep reading. I had this impression that the Cancer Society was an organisation
that dealt with advocacy and representation on a broad scale, primarily with
the Department of Health. Seems I was right. What I didn’t realise was that
there’s a significant “disconnect” between patient care in hospital and patient
care after discharge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-CXtrcW73mTlowAil3tc6HbNEzpqRiHDZD9jRYH3pLdQWETuKn2wawexo_2UYbsiOdtrSHYQID0d0EN1vWQ8RuJA5EMDIMohTxuUWZfKFiql5mCemjCIPZpkZz4yi0oiK_gHg3FilCc/s1600/After+cancer+care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-CXtrcW73mTlowAil3tc6HbNEzpqRiHDZD9jRYH3pLdQWETuKn2wawexo_2UYbsiOdtrSHYQID0d0EN1vWQ8RuJA5EMDIMohTxuUWZfKFiql5mCemjCIPZpkZz4yi0oiK_gHg3FilCc/s320/After+cancer+care.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Now I accept they do great work and
help a lot of people. However, as things turned out, I’m not one of them. Looking
back, I realize that I needed to know a lot more about them at the start of
this journey. But, how was I to know that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Should I have expected someone from
my Surgical Team to tell me about them? Should I have expected someone in the
Hospital to tell me about them? Should I have expected anyone – at any time
through this journey, to tell me about them? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">But… if I had contacted them, could
they have helped? As I’ve since discovered… probably not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I gotta say – our Auckland
experiences weren’t nice. Some months ago, we had occasion to spend a couple of
days at Osnam House in Palmerston North. This is a dedicated accommodation complex
specifically for people with cancer and their carers and is operated in part by
the Cancer Society. This experience created an expectation in my mind of what
it would be like in Auckland during my treatment. Unfortunately, the reality
was very, very different.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Even though it’s behind us now, unfortunately,
the experience has further coloured our opinion of the Cancer Society and not
in a good way. I’ve gotta say – in my particular case – they’ve been of little,
to no help at all, throughout this entire saga. Every interaction we’ve had
with them has resulted in disappointment. Over the course of these interactions
they’ve received my contact details on at least three occasions and the silence
afterwards has been deafening. Maybe it’s because my particular cancer pathway deviated
from the norm. Being from Hawkes Bay and getting treatment in Auckland just seems
to kick you into the too hard basket. The distinct impression we get is that our
local Branch of the Society is only focused on providing transport to
Palmerston North and fundraising. Or am I being a bit harsh?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvQPXqils8m6c8K-I82enxyIATFLx3pHuQoCU9HkeQtckm8qYjevq6Q3Ch_dnzbWZWlLkzxz6eeBDGEsHC5wij5WmIqvh7yrPB_nYTZG-2l3zchAvqo4MZCADpmphSQWRfnUXCNPfST8/s1600/Daffodil+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvQPXqils8m6c8K-I82enxyIATFLx3pHuQoCU9HkeQtckm8qYjevq6Q3Ch_dnzbWZWlLkzxz6eeBDGEsHC5wij5WmIqvh7yrPB_nYTZG-2l3zchAvqo4MZCADpmphSQWRfnUXCNPfST8/s1600/Daffodil+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="336" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvQPXqils8m6c8K-I82enxyIATFLx3pHuQoCU9HkeQtckm8qYjevq6Q3Ch_dnzbWZWlLkzxz6eeBDGEsHC5wij5WmIqvh7yrPB_nYTZG-2l3zchAvqo4MZCADpmphSQWRfnUXCNPfST8/s320/Daffodil+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Anyway, I thought to myself, maybe a closer connection with the Cancer
Society will change my view. So, I volunteered to be a collector for Daffodil day,
assuming there would be an orientation session beforehand to explain how it
worked. Maybe this would give me an opportunity to talk to some of the people
more closely associated with the Society. Well, wrong again. A phone call to
ask me if I could be at the designated location from 1:00 to 2:00 and that was
me, done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, I duly reported to the Flaxmere supermarket
at 1:00 where the collector I was relieving gave me a high-viz vest, a lanyard
with a card attached saying I was an ‘Official Collector” and a bucket. She
went on to tell me that things were quiet and that donations had been a bit
slow. Well, that soon changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Now, for those of you not familiar
with Hawkes Bay, Flaxmere is arguably at the bottom of the socio/economic scale
in this region and has a reputation for being a “not very nice place”. But,
collecting for an hour at their local supermarket certainly opened my eyes.
There weren’t a lot of people about, but of those that were, I would guestimate
that between sixty to seventy percent of the people who passed by, made a
donation. Without counting, I know I collected well in excess of $50.00 in the
hour I was there. This might not be much in the great scheme of things, but knowing
Flaxmere and the local economy, I thought it was outstanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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There was one particular guy who
walked up to me and asked how much the little plastic daffodils were? I
explained to him that they were given out when someone made a donation and he
replied: “I’ll take four. But I’ll get them when I’ve finished shopping” and
off he went.</div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">When he came back, he handed me change
from the loaf of bread he’d just bought – about $16.00 – and explained that he
wanted four because he had a wife and two children at home. I’m pretty sure he
couldn’t really afford it, but this is just one instance of the generosity I saw
from these wonderful people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, what’s going on in my life now? I’m
just starting into my third week post-radiation and I think I’m doing ok. I’ve
been doing a bit around the house – just an hour or so each day. Going for some
short walks as well. Gotta say, the walks are a struggle. I’ve tested out every
park bench and seat I’ve passed. My sleep pattern’s all over the place. Sometimes
I can’t sleep through the night and end up staying in bed ‘till lunchtime.
Other days I’m up<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and wide awake at
4:00am. The aches and pains come and go. Nothing too bad. It’s getting harder
to work out if the aches are related to the therapy or just old age. I know
what my wife thinks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I got a phone call from Auckland
Radiation Oncology on Wednesday, asking me to confirm my follow-up appointment
in Auckland at 1:00pm on Thursday. When I told the lady on the phone that this
was the first I’d heard of it, and that no travel arrangements had been made,
she became very defensive and told me it was on my calendar. When I asked her; “what
calendar” things became a bit tense. Anyway, she ended up saying she would let the
doctor sort it out. Haven’t heard anymore about it since. Hopefully they’ll
decide to let the Hawkes Bay doctors do the follow-up. Time will tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Anyway, that’s me for now. I hope I
haven’t been too hard on the Cancer Society, but we really could have done with
some support and direction along the way. Hopefully those with more “mainstream”
cancers will have a better experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4VY-PwY93j8Nfm88EKIJXuuIqb5KwHsPBxYwhUyUIXCw7EVbhi5QD4-WcnzDdaJLrnoCdgmCODwBpgVwAZ8eaVi3cNzBZgf1z0vGtchbwkw8sY-6DUa-wBlL4Oie39aSj9aKZEEok3E/s1600/Kindness+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="87" data-original-width="134" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4VY-PwY93j8Nfm88EKIJXuuIqb5KwHsPBxYwhUyUIXCw7EVbhi5QD4-WcnzDdaJLrnoCdgmCODwBpgVwAZ8eaVi3cNzBZgf1z0vGtchbwkw8sY-6DUa-wBlL4Oie39aSj9aKZEEok3E/s320/Kindness+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-1843797256526676662019-08-04T21:24:00.000-07:002019-08-04T21:24:45.465-07:00Radiation Therapy - Past Halfway<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFD-yB0n-hch86UWuxhxGMqDIYaYP7hOOz0s2SwSJMqM2_s9NDwW_ggdU2yFt3pd9lDSqZ_DVaUqEQRi-zmCIjuw4iOxdu3iEz7VEYcr_FgaY4yQ2ioCzasDVklUSmShdh7MJtplJK00/s1600/Rainmakers+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="782" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFD-yB0n-hch86UWuxhxGMqDIYaYP7hOOz0s2SwSJMqM2_s9NDwW_ggdU2yFt3pd9lDSqZ_DVaUqEQRi-zmCIjuw4iOxdu3iEz7VEYcr_FgaY4yQ2ioCzasDVklUSmShdh7MJtplJK00/s400/Rainmakers+1+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It seems like forever ago I started Radiation Therapy – so far I’ve
had eighteen of the thirty sessions I’ve signed up for. (Sounds like a Gym
membership, doesn’t it?) At first the novelty of it all was a little bit
exciting, but it certainly wore off pretty quickly. Once again, we weren’t able
to get into Domain Lodge. No one’s actually said anything but I‘m pretty sure
if you come from south of the Bombays (as we do) you go to the back of the
queue. Sorry, for those that aren’t Kiwis, the Bombays is a line of hills to
the south of Auckland that separate it from the rest of New Zealand – both
geographically and culturally. So, we’re staying in a motel just down the road
from the hospital, and by down the road, I mean, down the hill.</div>
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Remember when I came to Auckland to get the rust cut out? Well,
thinking it was the right thing to do we came by car. Denise ended up staying
in Auckland for a month, waiting for me to sort myself out and for that whole
month, I think we used the car three times, and ended up paying an eye-watering
amount of money to park it each night. So, this time we decided to leave the car
at home. A good plan, ‘cause using buses and Ubers has been cheap and easy. The
only downside – the hospital’s on top of a mountain. Well… that’s what I reckon.
Each morning the hill to the hospital seems to get steeper and steeper. And
wetter and wetter. Have I told you about how it rains in Auckland?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before I started treatment, everyone said, “you’ll probably start to feel
fatigued after the first couple of weeks.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnJXhJ62zuUEWVKewYQlWj7OotS6hiU-xBCeUCgknNitqMw66ygv_zJcwO-LLHwGXsHxn-AMq_Mrbyn4BjgcljkUz_CQI_cpdwt7QstoZ-AHeTHeqOcZWlMXRWM7A2EUWkMzcWeMlq6s/s1600/Wake+up+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="195" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnJXhJ62zuUEWVKewYQlWj7OotS6hiU-xBCeUCgknNitqMw66ygv_zJcwO-LLHwGXsHxn-AMq_Mrbyn4BjgcljkUz_CQI_cpdwt7QstoZ-AHeTHeqOcZWlMXRWM7A2EUWkMzcWeMlq6s/s200/Wake+up+1+cropped.jpg" width="171" /></a>Ha! Were they wrong!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before the end of the first week, all I wanted to do was sleep – and sleep
I did. As well as sleeping eight plus hours through the night, most days I’m now
sleeping another four or five hours through the day. My best (or worst) effort
was into bed at 10:00 am – after treatment and up at four. My poor, darling
wife. Not only does she struggle to get to sleep most nights, she gets to watch
me sleep for most of each day. Luckily, it’s not too far to the Newmarket shops
and cinemas, so she can escape occasionally. If it’s not raining.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s a shame the Westfield Centre isn’t open yet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a huge shopping complex that’s being
refurbished in the middle of Newmarket. From what I can work out it’s taking
years to finish, but after walking past it a dozen or so times in the last few
weeks, it seems to be providing a great deal of long-term employment. It’s easy
to spot the workers – unless it’s raining.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8R2a8yRfJBT61CxMpN8wKtVSkUb5c8Ix0IGHk1s1fnXVciEfckFrXtphdPTdXt7CZTU518VaZ1IeZot9kp3I7uQ15mBbe7F2UQchTuErMfIeOGaCZ1Dls3Tc4UUvO-t3upxaqLjRFLw/s1600/PhotoEditorCollageMaker+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8R2a8yRfJBT61CxMpN8wKtVSkUb5c8Ix0IGHk1s1fnXVciEfckFrXtphdPTdXt7CZTU518VaZ1IeZot9kp3I7uQ15mBbe7F2UQchTuErMfIeOGaCZ1Dls3Tc4UUvO-t3upxaqLjRFLw/s320/PhotoEditorCollageMaker+%25286%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>You can watch them wandering down the street at all times of the day,
or standing around in their various tribal outfits. They pretty much always
seem to collect in tribal clusters, sporting different coloured plumage. The easiest
and most common variety seem to be the “Yellow Vests”. But there are also quite a lot of the “Orange
Vests” variety as well. Both types are scattered all over the place in small
groups, and if you listen closely you can hear them chatting amongst themselves
while standing about conserving energy. Sometimes you’ll see a group of them
marching behind a “White Hat” heading for some unknown, but obviously important,
location, and you quite often see them during feeding times at the local Café or
Takeaway.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2WCvfwkSPCuyBK07JFJd5cqMC5VoChd-50oqVjUUIYn6fOXMQK6IRwLgBXOHeIEbgBRmINGXvm8LGMhzkgeKF74qiBFiwmqA4nmW8z2D1lpAIB5yeZiHmu5sFIfMo5CXr3DmqSZx2Hk/s1600/Workers+2+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2WCvfwkSPCuyBK07JFJd5cqMC5VoChd-50oqVjUUIYn6fOXMQK6IRwLgBXOHeIEbgBRmINGXvm8LGMhzkgeKF74qiBFiwmqA4nmW8z2D1lpAIB5yeZiHmu5sFIfMo5CXr3DmqSZx2Hk/s320/Workers+2+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There’s also a third group. These are the “Pink Vests” and are a much
rarer variety and a lot harder to spot. Both the Yellow and Orange Vest groups seem
to be controlled by these Pink Vests and you’ll quite often see the “Pink Vests”
gesturing and pointing to direct small groups of the other coloured groups in
different directions.</div>
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I wasn’t really aware until we went exploring in the city, but it
seems there are different colonies of these groups scattered throughout
Auckland. We spotted all the same groups, doing the same activities when we
wandered down to the bottom of Queen Street. Apparently, as is the case in
Newmarket, these colonies have been in residence for some considerable time and
it seems the locals are expecting them to stay for quite a while yet. While the
employment opportunities and influx of resources is helping a lot of the locals
surrounding the various colonies, I believe some of the locals are becoming
frustrated with the disruption and mess and are attempting to shorten the
length of time these colonies stay. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I kinda wish I could shorten the length of time I’ve got to stay. I know…
I should consider myself lucky – and I do. I won the Post Code lottery. Another
few weeks and it’ll all be a memory. It’s not the therapy that bothers me - sometimes
I almost fall asleep on the table. It’s not the hospital – everyone’s very nice
and always friendly, even if sometimes they seem to be on autopilot. It’s not
even Auckland that bothers me – even if it’s raining. I think it’s just that I’ve got no energy. I stagger up the hill every morning and then try to
act like a human being for the rest of the day, but sometimes – it’s easier just
to go to bed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sorry folks – but just trying to concentrate while I write this is too
hard, so nite nite.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-49753225277036286602019-07-12T01:55:00.001-07:002019-07-12T01:55:46.483-07:00Radiation Therapy - I'm starting to understand what's involved.<br />
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I scanned the barcode, like you’re supposed to. Instead of the “Self Check-In”
machine walking me through the check-in, like it was supposed to, it printed
out a slip of paper that told me I required assistance with my plane ticket and
to see an Air New Zealand representative. So, I looked up and spotted a bloke,
standing behind a Check-In counter with, what appeared to be, a permanent frown
on his face - probably caused by the long line of passengers he was facing, all
waiting to find out why they <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had little
slips of paper telling them they needed assistance. So, like a good little
Lemming, I joined the queue.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Turns out, most of the domestic flights in
and out of Auckland have been cancelled because of fog. The 10:15 flight I was
booked on now becomes the 14:20 flight. Mmmm, challenging. I’m supposed to have
my first radiation therapy treatment at 15:30. How do I fit a one-hour flight
and a thirty-minute shuttle ride into the forty-five minutes I’ll have between
arriving in Auckland and my appointment time in Epsom. After pondering this for
a while, and applying my High School maths to the question, I decide I’ve
either got to use my superpowers to make the plane get to Auckland faster – or –
phone the Radiation Lab and let them know what’s going on. End result – my first
radiation session has been put off until the next day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I never realised – “Unaccompanied Minors” has become a big thing now.
Apparently as a result of the huge increase in modern day “blended families”. While
I was waiting for my flight, I watched a couple of other flights come and go,
and each of them had four unaccompanied minors on them. The flight I took had
five as well. Anyway…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Because Auntie Arben had been staying with us in Hawkes Bay, Denise decided
to stay behind and come up to Auckland with her later in the week. For some
reason, known only to females, she’d liberated a heap of Pam Ayres CDs from the
library and the girls listened to them all the way from Hawkes Bay to Auckland. </div>
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Glad I was flying.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next
day and I’m off for my first session. According to the famous explorer, Mr. G
Maps, it should take about fifteen minutes to get from our hotel to the
hospital. But I thought I’d better take a leaf out of my wife’s book and leave
an hour early – so I arrived at the hospital an hour early. But that’s OK. Turns
out they’ve got all the latest Reader’s Digest magazines in the waiting room –
so…</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bahnschrift",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why does a man twist his wedding
ring on his finger?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bahnschrift",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He’s trying to work out the
combination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">They call it the “Bunker”.
It’s where the Linear Accelerators are. There’s three in this facility. Four
months on from my surgery (almost to the day), and despite all the appointments
and scans I’ve had, this is the first time I’ve seen one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re pretty impressive machines. These three
are the latest and greatest and have CT scanners attached to them. Remember how
I was going to have this treatment in Palmerston North with a “not very nice”
outcome? Apparently the CT scanners and the newest software are the things that
are going to save my eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The “round” bit above my head is the “business
end”. That’s where the radiation beam comes from. The flat plate opposite, is
the CT Scanner. The way it works is that after they’ve bolted your head in
place, the head of the machine rotates around you while a CT scan is taken.
They compare this image to the planned image and small adjustments to the
machine and table are made by the software to make sure they deliver the dose to
the exact same place every time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ever wondered what it looks like to the experts?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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This is me.</div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The yellow line defines the area that cops the
full radiation dose. The green line is like a cliff. The radiation dose drops
to “bugger all” (that’s the correct technical terminology) when it gets to this
line. The outer blue line defines the total area affected by the treatment. Each
day the CT scan, combined with the software, makes sure that the dose is delivered
with an accuracy of less than one millimetre. Pretty fancy, eh?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ11sZAfk7fPqVREys4Q0_Lu6htDELAvmIOgS_ZeeYWAEi1X8BpraJ-_FAlM54YmKFs60y6ksInaoQM1hVrPHgzut9hnWrMOmwsWpoMU2eCiKdBX8zJftUfbqP1S9omjEWWvFSkCos8Ak/s1600/Alexander+Inn+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="693" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ11sZAfk7fPqVREys4Q0_Lu6htDELAvmIOgS_ZeeYWAEi1X8BpraJ-_FAlM54YmKFs60y6ksInaoQM1hVrPHgzut9hnWrMOmwsWpoMU2eCiKdBX8zJftUfbqP1S9omjEWWvFSkCos8Ak/s320/Alexander+Inn+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">So, two down, twenty-eight to go. We’re staying
at the Alexander Inn in Newmarket. We tried to get into Domain Lodge (run by
the Cancer Society) but for the six weeks that we’re in Auckland, they only had
a week’s vacancy. Given the increasing numbers of patients requiring
accommodation and the plans to centralise more of the treatment facilities in
Auckland, I wonder if it’s time for them to think about expansion, or another
facility?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, this place is nice. We’re in a large
studio room at the moment – bedroom, kitchen and lounge combined – but we’re
probably going to move to a one-bedroom suite in a few days. The management here
have been very accommodating. I’m pretty sure they had to move a few other
guests around to get us in on such short notice. (Two days). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmcD66gImr9V4g7oDhlIo22MScc6-_mrQevvmDDPu4J5xSJ2DqWMgy8hyphenhyphenma_EUEEOjR5yrDUbGNNKq5_oVcM50mEGF7di-JnO3D8ikrXIOYjssHL_LP8UMY8sLOscGs76iSU4GekoVTo/s1600/Dog+tired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmcD66gImr9V4g7oDhlIo22MScc6-_mrQevvmDDPu4J5xSJ2DqWMgy8hyphenhyphenma_EUEEOjR5yrDUbGNNKq5_oVcM50mEGF7di-JnO3D8ikrXIOYjssHL_LP8UMY8sLOscGs76iSU4GekoVTo/s1600/Dog+tired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="190" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmcD66gImr9V4g7oDhlIo22MScc6-_mrQevvmDDPu4J5xSJ2DqWMgy8hyphenhyphenma_EUEEOjR5yrDUbGNNKq5_oVcM50mEGF7di-JnO3D8ikrXIOYjssHL_LP8UMY8sLOscGs76iSU4GekoVTo/s320/Dog+tired.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">After the treatment today we walked down to
Newmarket on a bit of a discovery tour. Found a Yoga Studio, so Denise has
signed up for some classes. Lots of nice shops and plenty of places to eat. No
supermarkets. There was one in the Westfield complex but it’s being done up at
the moment, so the nearest one is about a thirty-five minute walk. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Quite a way
to go for a loaf of bread.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">No treatment tomorrow so we’re going to try our luck
with the buses. We’re planning to try to get to Castor Bay. Could turn out to
be an adventure, but if we get stuck there’s always Uber. Let’s hope the rain’s
stopped by then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-30505333204624950052019-06-24T20:08:00.000-07:002019-06-24T20:08:13.373-07:00So... Here's what I think.<br />
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After reading my last Post, a friend replied by sharing a News Article
from RNZ and she asked this question…<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I've been
thinking a good deal about what you've shared in your last two blog posts. I
can see from your experiences that there are some profoundly disturbing aspects
to the randomness of treatment & consultation processes that you have
experienced. And the lack of coherent flow of information is woeful &
unacceptably stressful & burdensome to patients. So... I imagine that this
re-frame (see link to article below) would be a very good move. Would that be
true?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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You can read the article here…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/100000828565998/posts/2266951403342456?sfns=mo">https://www.facebook.com/100000828565998/posts/2266951403342456?sfns=mo</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Catherine, thank you for this. I’ve been thinking about how to reply
for a few days now, and while I don’t normally express my own views and
opinions in a public forum, this question is probably a good excuse for me to
tell everyone what I think.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, paring back the article to a fundamental question…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Should there be a
National Agency to oversee Cancer Care in New Zealand?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-KBFD6kiiBkMiibdM52OV6XPkl3qPRRMo8hynQeS3fxCCWa9RCzxvQCzzDGCmzihfDdnMfaJPiuMGaZaU6rKdpY4OVQyICjeREu9QdMf_PJaSf3d7gZYvIyx7RYphLMzH318nQQ9FuM/s1600/Bureauocracy+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-KBFD6kiiBkMiibdM52OV6XPkl3qPRRMo8hynQeS3fxCCWa9RCzxvQCzzDGCmzihfDdnMfaJPiuMGaZaU6rKdpY4OVQyICjeREu9QdMf_PJaSf3d7gZYvIyx7RYphLMzH318nQQ9FuM/s1600/Bureauocracy+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-KBFD6kiiBkMiibdM52OV6XPkl3qPRRMo8hynQeS3fxCCWa9RCzxvQCzzDGCmzihfDdnMfaJPiuMGaZaU6rKdpY4OVQyICjeREu9QdMf_PJaSf3d7gZYvIyx7RYphLMzH318nQQ9FuM/s1600/Bureauocracy+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-KBFD6kiiBkMiibdM52OV6XPkl3qPRRMo8hynQeS3fxCCWa9RCzxvQCzzDGCmzihfDdnMfaJPiuMGaZaU6rKdpY4OVQyICjeREu9QdMf_PJaSf3d7gZYvIyx7RYphLMzH318nQQ9FuM/s1600/Bureauocracy+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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My answer would be – Probably Not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My reasoning… <o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->I’m not sure what the formation and
operation of such an agency would contribute to improving a cancer patient’s
pathway. While walking my own path, I continue to meet others on their journey
who have experienced confusion, frustration and ongoing costs due to
“disconnects” between services. I don’t think a National Agency would alleviate
these issues to any great extent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSB0JtiSH561ZpbH4CZYuy834q2WOrjTtf2dt2xhyphenhyphenMiInuWW8YqJWenOrAKir_sFrHJvTTe0E2fsn5eVi68kngpIr2w5FXkVCN_GqLwS2OGmYF-ptK1rkgvbsfygDzKyT1Dz2Sjx4Eboc/s1600/Bureauocracy+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSB0JtiSH561ZpbH4CZYuy834q2WOrjTtf2dt2xhyphenhyphenMiInuWW8YqJWenOrAKir_sFrHJvTTe0E2fsn5eVi68kngpIr2w5FXkVCN_GqLwS2OGmYF-ptK1rkgvbsfygDzKyT1Dz2Sjx4Eboc/s1600/Bureauocracy+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="198" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSB0JtiSH561ZpbH4CZYuy834q2WOrjTtf2dt2xhyphenhyphenMiInuWW8YqJWenOrAKir_sFrHJvTTe0E2fsn5eVi68kngpIr2w5FXkVCN_GqLwS2OGmYF-ptK1rkgvbsfygDzKyT1Dz2Sjx4Eboc/s320/Bureauocracy+cartoon.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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If I was King of New Zealand, I would establish a Health Service Patient’s
Advocacy. Not just for cancer patients, but for all major medical events where
a person requires ongoing interaction and care from the Health Fraternity. Within
this Advocacy would be people who have some experience with “The System”. They
might be ex-patients, or ex-medical professionals, but they would need to have some
form of experience with the Medical Treatment Pathway and know, without
reservation, that they are to act in the best interests of the patient. They
would, with the patient’s permission, be given access to information to assist
each individual as they navigate their own course. They would also be able to create
bridges to remove the “Disconnects” that patients face. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In my experience, there are two different types of “Disconnect” that
occur. One is between Departments within a DHB. For example; Ophthalmology and Radiology,
where delays and miscommunication seem to be almost the norm. In my case it
took the intervention of an ORL Nurse, advocating for me, to get me back onto
the right path. Even then, instead of having a CT Scan of my head and eye, I
received a “full body” scan. Gotta say, the Eye Specialist was a little
surprised to be looking at a scan of my abdomen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The other type of “Disconnect” is between different DHBs. There doesn’t
seem to be any ongoing communication pathways between DHBs whatsoever. In fact,
quite the contrary. Staff within each DHB seem to almost go out of their way to
ensure the least amount of information possible is shared with their
counterparts at other DHBs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4it0PHmqGfKyXfRZZWbnYi0Ym3PXVLUmgJ63XhP4SDmwlO62ykwIYlH4yxQ0B9mSUiLqvoubr3DEXfflCkPh8nq4xIrJlqf7zSij-MnwJab1-Yz0qyK2ZlYyiKBkhIpd2QCmNFNQtZ4/s1600/Advocacy+2+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4it0PHmqGfKyXfRZZWbnYi0Ym3PXVLUmgJ63XhP4SDmwlO62ykwIYlH4yxQ0B9mSUiLqvoubr3DEXfflCkPh8nq4xIrJlqf7zSij-MnwJab1-Yz0qyK2ZlYyiKBkhIpd2QCmNFNQtZ4/s1600/Advocacy+2+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4it0PHmqGfKyXfRZZWbnYi0Ym3PXVLUmgJ63XhP4SDmwlO62ykwIYlH4yxQ0B9mSUiLqvoubr3DEXfflCkPh8nq4xIrJlqf7zSij-MnwJab1-Yz0qyK2ZlYyiKBkhIpd2QCmNFNQtZ4/s1600/Advocacy+2+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="131" data-original-width="199" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4it0PHmqGfKyXfRZZWbnYi0Ym3PXVLUmgJ63XhP4SDmwlO62ykwIYlH4yxQ0B9mSUiLqvoubr3DEXfflCkPh8nq4xIrJlqf7zSij-MnwJab1-Yz0qyK2ZlYyiKBkhIpd2QCmNFNQtZ4/s320/Advocacy+2+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Case in point: I was under the care of a Medical
Team in Hawkes Bay who referred me to a Medical Team in Auckland for treatment.
While in Hawkes Bay, the level of communication between all concerned,
including my GP was excellent. While under care in Auckland the level of communication
diminished noticeably. I sometimes didn’t have a clue what was going on, nor
what the plan for me was going forward. At one point I asked some of the
Auckland Team members if they were keeping the Hawkes Bay Team appraised of my
progress. The short answer was: “No.” It seems the protocol was that
information was only sent back to the Hawkes Bay Team at the end of my
treatment. It turned out that, after being treated for an infection for two
weeks, then undergoing an eleven hour surgery, followed by a period of
recovery, the information that was sent back to the Hawkes Bay team and my GP
was a two page summary of my treatment.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gHjYBptu9FSH16O7MJUjRKtz4efQdedeAh61YfkfvLWOIUsAIYe4aL8hPZNil6986zssCSkEfgSzApxNymG9EDO2sucXdHJpgIFg675aaWsp8IqeebXg9CCqgqv-844NneXHkbmo1iw/s1600/cancer+cartoon+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>When I got back to Hawkes Bay, there was no one in “The System” who
knew what had happened to me while I was in Auckland, nor did anyone know what
further treatment was required going forward. It took weeks, and a weekend trip
to the Emergency Department, for me to get the attention of people in Hawkes
Bay who, in my mind, should have known what was required, even before I was
discharged from Auckland. This wasn’t just a single incident - it involved the
Maxillofacial Clinic, the Ophthalmology Clinic, the Physiotherapy Department,
Radiology and my GP.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->It
would be great to have someone to act as a “go to” person. To make
sure there were no unnecessary delays in appointments or treatments, and to act
as a liaison between different DHBs and departments. As a patient, it would be
very reassuring and comforting to know that there was one person you could “go
to” for any and all issues relating to your treatment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After reading Trevor Flood’s story, I really wonder what his outcome
might have been had there been someone in “the System” acting on his behalf,
and being able to intervene when things became “too hard”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To read Trevor’s story, click on the link below…</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/builder-suffers-brain-damage-after-receiving-pain-relief">https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/builder-suffers-brain-damage-after-receiving-pain-relief</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Somewhere in these words is my
answer to the initial question. I think the creation of a National Cancer
Agency would simply add another level of ineffectual and expensive bureaucracy
that wouldn’t address the needs of patients. But taking a broader view, I
believe there is another issue in New Zealand that is having an ongoing detrimental
effect on patient care - being, the ludicrous number of District Health Boards
we have in this country. But perhaps that’s a discussion for another day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And me – I’m still sitting around at home waiting to find out when and
where I go to from here. Is it Palmerston North for Radiation, probably followed
by more surgery on my eye? Or is it Auckland for Radiation, after which,
hopefully, I get to keep my eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I wonder who I should ask to find out? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-40363562194789444582019-06-18T21:06:00.000-07:002019-06-18T21:06:19.563-07:00No!! Not that way - Let's go this way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPeBFxlrNF8OEjP8l2mYrvaB-Tup4s_X3eXdyHiUTHAp1NZF85boou8n_bJZZAdPo_r45N_wI6wOASZUjwfJmNv1yvPKbHz_aJH5iz7Eo7goS8XHyDYYCGtIbrRsASLXUzIRJTCNOfEA/s1600/confused+sign+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="235" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPeBFxlrNF8OEjP8l2mYrvaB-Tup4s_X3eXdyHiUTHAp1NZF85boou8n_bJZZAdPo_r45N_wI6wOASZUjwfJmNv1yvPKbHz_aJH5iz7Eo7goS8XHyDYYCGtIbrRsASLXUzIRJTCNOfEA/s320/confused+sign+1+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Well,
this is becoming a real trip. Last week, the Palmerston North (PN) Radiation
Oncologist decided he wanted to see me again before the radiation treatment
started – so, Tuesday morning, and we’re off to PN – again. We tried to get the
Nurse who set up the appointment to ask the doctor to phone us but, he said no.
So here we are again, driving for five hours for what’s probably going to be a
thirty-minute face to face. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I couldn’t sleep last night. I spent the night composing a rant to
deliver to the Oncologist for wasting our time and money. Problem is, he’s such
a nice guy, and so well meaning that it’s hard to get upset with him. Anyway,
it seems the reason for the appointment was to tell us that there’s no way he
could plan the therapy without causing more damage to my eye, so we went over
the CT Scans again while he explained why. Then we started talking about
options… Seems there’s two…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEzVpw7FqmIgb7_6DI3Kl6wZUeSNN9KV0g9_0ShNZQEYEpMEQNCXR3T7c757yg_84QZB5Pv0bJSiQNhbxN56QzBlAmnHP7oqKbGslAzpQez9asIIlhz_LDrB_VCcRlB1hZH6mrwE7QiQ/s1600/Pants+on+backwards+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEzVpw7FqmIgb7_6DI3Kl6wZUeSNN9KV0g9_0ShNZQEYEpMEQNCXR3T7c757yg_84QZB5Pv0bJSiQNhbxN56QzBlAmnHP7oqKbGslAzpQez9asIIlhz_LDrB_VCcRlB1hZH6mrwE7QiQ/s1600/Pants+on+backwards+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="190" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEzVpw7FqmIgb7_6DI3Kl6wZUeSNN9KV0g9_0ShNZQEYEpMEQNCXR3T7c757yg_84QZB5Pv0bJSiQNhbxN56QzBlAmnHP7oqKbGslAzpQez9asIIlhz_LDrB_VCcRlB1hZH6mrwE7QiQ/s320/Pants+on+backwards+1.png" width="228" /></a></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Option
1 – Take my eye out before treatment starts – which means I wouldn’t be able to
start the radiation until I’d healed from the surgery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Option 2 – Leave my eye alone, put me on pain killers after the treatment,
and sometime in the future, when the pain becomes too great, give my right eye
the flick.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After a long discussion, that seemed to go around in circles, he rings
my Eye Surgeon to get her thoughts. While I couldn’t hear her side of the
conversation, from his responses and demeanour, and after quite a short conversation,
it seems Option 1 is off the table – the eye’s not coming out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, we all agree on Option 2.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But wait – Let’s see what Dr. G has to say at tomorrow’s appointment.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, next afternoon we go and spend some quality time in Hastings
Hospital while we bring Dr. G up to speed and – he rolls out Option 3.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->He knows there’s a radiation machine in
Auckland that’s way more advanced than the PN ones, and this would be able to
target the problem area much more precisely. Then, straight away, he’s
formulating a plan. He’s going to talk to “someone” in the HBDHB to make sure
it can happen – He’s going to talk to “the guy” that runs it, to see if he’s
confident the treatment would be more successful – He’s going to talk to someone
in PN to make sure everyone’s happy there – and, next thing, he’s telling us to
go home and not worry. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So we do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Two days later and I get a call from Dr. G. It’s all sorted. The Radiation
Oncologist has reviewed all my data and is confident they can protect my eye during
treatment, but he wants to see me before the treatment is planned. As Dr. G is
telling me this, I’m having a bit of a mental mind explosion and start asking
stupid questions. Eventually I get my brain to start functioning again and after
listening to me asking questions that don’t really make any sense, Dr. G asks
me straight up: <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Do you want to keep your eye, or do you want to go ahead with the
treatment plan in PN?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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After me replying with an emphatic “Yes, I want to keep my eye”, he
puts on his Travel Agent hat and tells me they’ll sort out all the logistics
and call me again early next week. So, then I wander out to the kitchen to tell
Denise. Her immediate reaction – a word comes out of her mouth at quite a
volume that kinda confirms she’s got a Potty Mouth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, here’s a question…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000;">Suppose your name is Joe Average and you’re
in a similar position to me. If you haven’t got someone who knows the “System”
and is working in your best interests, how do you find out about stuff like
this?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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If I hadn’t had an appointment with Dr. G the day after our PN visit, I
would have “blindly” gone ahead with the Radiation Technique in PN, never
knowing of a better path. And… if Dr. G wasn’t looking after my interests and
fighting on my behalf, had I found out about the machine in Auckland, how would
I have gone about getting access to it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, I guess through next week I’ll find out a lot more. Here’s hoping,
anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><b><i><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1;">A couple of weeks ago I saw an Event posted on Facebook
for a fundraiser for the Cancer Society. I wandered along yesterday to have a
nosey. What an eye opener.</span></i></b></div>
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group of teenagers from one of the local High Schools had decided to organise
and run a fundraiser because cancer had affected a number of them over the past
few years, and those not affected wanted to show their friends their support. These
young adults, in their early to mid teens, showed those who attended what it
means to offer tangible and practical support to those travelling along the
cancer road. From the boys and girls cooking the sausages and selling cakes, to
the young artists who performed to entertain the crowd, watching you showing
your support in whichever way you could was both humbling and gratifying. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1;">And then – some of the youngsters got up on stage and
told their stories. This took things to a whole different level and showed a
level of courage and strength that I can only hope to emulate. It also
reinforced the idea that – no matter how hard your day is, always look for
something positive to focus on. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1;">Congratulations to all those involved. Feel proud –
because you should.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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Now, back to me -<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s some ten days since I started writing this. I’ve been hanging off
posting it, waiting to find out what’s happening. I found out the outline of
the plan this morning. Denise and I are going to Auckland on Friday or Saturday
to meet the team at Mercy Hospital. This is where the “Flash Harry” machine is
located. If the Specialists at Mercy think they can save my eye, they’ll start formulating
a plan. This’ll probably take another couple of weeks, and then Denise and I
will be staying somewhere in Auckland for about six weeks after that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If they can’t protect my eye, then it’s back to Plan A and Palmerston
North. I wonder if I’ll have to go to the back of the queue? I hope not. It’s
already been three months since the operation. According to “everybody” I
should be well into my treatment by now. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, there’s so many unanswered questions now that I’m at a point
where I’ve stopped asking. I’m quickly coming to realise that, for a lot of them
– no one knows the answers. If I step back a bit and think about this, it’s probably
the way it should be. Is it better to wonder what’s going to happen, rather
than have someone create an expectation in your mind that may or may not eventuate?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think in my case, it’s easier for me to not have some questions answered.
This lets me twist things in a positive direction in my mind – then if things
do go pear shaped, I’ll be able to deal with them from a positive point of
view. I realize that Medical Professionals have a responsibility to warn you
about all the things that could go wrong, but sometimes, I just want them to
stop talking. I think if people keep reminding me of all the negatives, it’ll
just do my head in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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See, even now, after knowing just a little bit about Auckland and the
treatment plan, I’ve created a scenario in my head about how it’s all going to
unfold. It’ll be interesting to look back later to see how my imagination
compares to the reality.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<br />
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But for now – I think it probably time to go and watch one of the
British Panel Shows. They’ve become my “go to” when I need a laugh. I think
Taskmaster is probably my favourite.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Take care of each other, and make sure to be kind to yourself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdeWJBIgpCWshkfTTKDo1_hbfdf_UtjBe0Vswrj9-Ijq-uFdTwTmhzErep-Jn-mCp3GgUL2p8z4msg4GDBAhLds16QIl1dRZiYEnMjxVqcC35cuS3kUypNAg7Scoa1EpJhDZo7j4gJWs/s1600/Kindness+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="221" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdeWJBIgpCWshkfTTKDo1_hbfdf_UtjBe0Vswrj9-Ijq-uFdTwTmhzErep-Jn-mCp3GgUL2p8z4msg4GDBAhLds16QIl1dRZiYEnMjxVqcC35cuS3kUypNAg7Scoa1EpJhDZo7j4gJWs/s320/Kindness+1+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-30256894631380663122019-06-09T23:19:00.000-07:002019-06-10T03:47:01.148-07:00"I'm Special" - that's what they keep telling me.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I wonder why staff from different
DHBs don’t talk to each other when they have a patient in common? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I also wonder why, when you suggest
to someone that they do, the person your're talking to can immediately find any number of reasons why
they can’t, or </span>why it’s not a good idea.</div>
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<br /></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">For a whole host of very good reasons, of late I’ve
been involved with three DHBs: Auckland, Hawkes Bay and Mid-Central. At various
times during appointments at each of these DHBs, I’ve been asked questions – or
I’ve asked questions - about procedures, tests and scans that occurred at other
DHBs. In pretty much every case, the question’s gone unanswered. A lot of times,
I’ve been very tempted to explain to the person I’m talking to, how phones,
texts and emails work. But, to my credit, I’ve held my tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Now, even though I’ve been involved
with the medical profession in New Zealand for a long time, my actual knowledge
of medical processes, terms and nomenclature is less than zero. I know this
‘cause just about every time I try to use a medical term, the person I’m
talking to corrects me. So, not only don’t I know the correct terminology, I
use incorrect terminology. I wonder if this is causing me to ask less
questions then I should. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Turns out; getting rid of the
cancerous tumor in my face was the easy bit. Even though the surgery was a big
deal (I was worked on by two surgical teams for eleven hours) all the stuff
that’s come after is proving to be much more of a challenge. Both to me and to Denise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Last Tuesday we had to go to Palmy to
have the Radiation Mask made and for a couple of scans – one of which was a CT
Scan of my head - and then last Friday, I had to have another CT Scan of the
same area in Hastings. Now there are probably any number of good reasons why the
same CT Scan can’t be used by both doctors, but I’m buggered if I know what
they might be. It’s not that I’m worried about the number of CT Scans I’ve had.
According to Dr. Google the compound effect of multiple CT Scans is negligible.
It’s more that it seems to point to inefficiency and waste in our medical
system. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Listen to me! I wonder if getting my
brain fried is leading to me growing a social conscience. Let’s all hope not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Anyway, I had two appointments last
week. The first one was with the Hand Therapist to have a special glove fitted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Now just to backtrack a bit – it
seems you only get to see the Hand Therapist if you are referred by someone. Interestingly,
no one’s ever said anything about this, so I can only assume that the referral
was done by the Physio from Auckland that fitted me with a wrist support soon
after the operation. But if you want a referral apparently you can just ask
your GP for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">It’s basically a compression sleeve
that’s used to reduce the scaring and the swelling from the donor site. It does
this by forcing the blood and other fluids away from the site. It seems to work
quite well. After wearing it for a couple of days the swelling just below my
elbow reduced quite a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The Therapist used a special paper “thingy”
to measure the circumference of my arm every four centimeters from my elbow to my
wrist. This was sent to “Stralia” and a week later the glove turned up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">You can see how the inside of the
sleeve has little “bobbley” bits. These apparently do most of the work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC_xw9ZuupWJ9sYtm1GOGQuDhczCng1Nv5g7hFE2WnFFlU_0mzyVt3yF1IsoGb1KHR0_WGcgcOL01oxXCFSk9hoH1h2vlIEsPOojSGbQgVs3eivEDfe49s7IHtXwLDT1hMRk5Cb3eJBQ/s1600/Late+cartoon+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC_xw9ZuupWJ9sYtm1GOGQuDhczCng1Nv5g7hFE2WnFFlU_0mzyVt3yF1IsoGb1KHR0_WGcgcOL01oxXCFSk9hoH1h2vlIEsPOojSGbQgVs3eivEDfe49s7IHtXwLDT1hMRk5Cb3eJBQ/s1600/Late+cartoon+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="185" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC_xw9ZuupWJ9sYtm1GOGQuDhczCng1Nv5g7hFE2WnFFlU_0mzyVt3yF1IsoGb1KHR0_WGcgcOL01oxXCFSk9hoH1h2vlIEsPOojSGbQgVs3eivEDfe49s7IHtXwLDT1hMRk5Cb3eJBQ/s320/Late+cartoon+1+cropped.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, then it’s on to the next appointment.
This one with the Eye Specialist – and, guess what? We found another Gremlin in
the system. Turned out that everyone – the booking clerk, the receptionist, the
nurse at the clinic – all knew about the appointment. The only person “they”
forgot to tell was the Specialist. Gotta say, she looked a little surprised when
she called into the clinic about three-quarters of an hour after our
appointment time and saw us sitting there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Anyway, after a while rearranging
some things we got to talk about my eye. Now, to be fair, we actually already
knew how the discussion was going to go, ‘cause we’d received the CT Scan
results before the appointment. Thanks again to “Manage My Health”. (This
really is a great tool for doctors and patients.) It seems one of the major
issues with my eye – but not the only one - is that the lower eye muscle is “catching”
on the mesh that makes up the lower orbit of my eye – or, there’s scar tissue
catching the muscle as it tries to move. Either way, it’s a problem that doesn’t
have an easy fix. So, the next step – an appointment with the Maxillofacial
Surgeon. Hopefully between the two of them they can work out a way forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">As if things aren’t complicated
enough… I’m supposed to start Radiation Therapy next week, but that might not
be a happening thing now. We got a call from the Radiation Centre in Palmy the
other day and they want to see me again before they lock in the program. Apparently,
the Oncologist is having trouble with the planning – whatever that means. I guess
I’ll find out soon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Hopefully the Radiation Therapy won’t
be postponed. Seems it will cause damage to my eye anyway, so, it would be good
to get past this so we know how bad things will actually be, rather than just guessing
what’s going to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjvb7Si-acWihhwvXmd_ZYN32fCl6fFjbcP8kHwea2T8u3dsqBqXnlBAoHBiQB41gDLNKnsclVYjcOandycM0PesAbJWPra1YoD6TOfR0TpUsUHWDUhs0cMXSd4CnpdibXvpDS2qG734/s1600/King+of+Asgard+Eye+Patch+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjvb7Si-acWihhwvXmd_ZYN32fCl6fFjbcP8kHwea2T8u3dsqBqXnlBAoHBiQB41gDLNKnsclVYjcOandycM0PesAbJWPra1YoD6TOfR0TpUsUHWDUhs0cMXSd4CnpdibXvpDS2qG734/s1600/King+of+Asgard+Eye+Patch+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjvb7Si-acWihhwvXmd_ZYN32fCl6fFjbcP8kHwea2T8u3dsqBqXnlBAoHBiQB41gDLNKnsclVYjcOandycM0PesAbJWPra1YoD6TOfR0TpUsUHWDUhs0cMXSd4CnpdibXvpDS2qG734/s1600/King+of+Asgard+Eye+Patch+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="187" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjvb7Si-acWihhwvXmd_ZYN32fCl6fFjbcP8kHwea2T8u3dsqBqXnlBAoHBiQB41gDLNKnsclVYjcOandycM0PesAbJWPra1YoD6TOfR0TpUsUHWDUhs0cMXSd4CnpdibXvpDS2qG734/s320/King+of+Asgard+Eye+Patch+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Do you know how confusing it is to buy an eye patch? There’s any number
of patches you can buy for kids, from Jack Sparrow types to Frozen types. Not
so much available for big kids. I picked up a couple of cheap cardboard ones from
the chemists. But seems there’s not much call for them, unless you’re into
Cosplay - I wonder if I could get one from the King of Asgard. He probably won’t
need it anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Anyway, I think I’ve found one on
Fishpond, so we’ll see what turns up. When I’m inside I can use my glasses with
the right side covered but when I’m outside, any sort of breeze gives me grief,
and it’s looking more and more like it might become a permanent, or semi-permanent,
thing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, now looking forward to another
big week of appointments. Maybe by the weekend I’ll have a better idea of what’s
going to happen. Time to stand tall and just shrug it off. I’ve decided
if I don’t have control over things going forward, what’s the point worrying
about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I know you are already, but remember
to keep being kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-2036379213556207142019-06-09T18:23:00.000-07:002019-06-09T18:23:04.431-07:00A Guest Post by a Head and Neck Cancer Survivor<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Post below was written by an inspirational lady from Auckland who has traveled the cancer road for a long time. The subject she is writing about is important to everyone, not just those of us who have fought cancer.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Please take five minutes to read her wise words, and please follow her advice and share this with your family and friends. Awareness from reading this could save your life as well as your loved one's lives. </div>
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If you would like to read more about "Maureen's Journey", please click on the link in the panel to the right.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsOFB7-UbR0xzinMvzPNLCSzc3g-iuOi2b2ToEvkS5aoDORGxRa4elqsXa8hLm4EB1wOR9D7UKOUb4cchIM6cZ7zUNZb11X6ymlR1bcndO0Y_kZxzn328TEjI_5JN4M8pel5u48dGq1g/s1600/banner+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="372" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsOFB7-UbR0xzinMvzPNLCSzc3g-iuOi2b2ToEvkS5aoDORGxRa4elqsXa8hLm4EB1wOR9D7UKOUb4cchIM6cZ7zUNZb11X6ymlR1bcndO0Y_kZxzn328TEjI_5JN4M8pel5u48dGq1g/s400/banner+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.75pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I’m older than you, please
listen<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Campbell’s Bay Primary School was closed for a
while in the early 50s because of the polio epidemic and when the vaccine
became available we were first injected with the Salk vaccine and some years
later (1962?) lined up at school and made to drink the famous Sabin vaccine
from little paper cups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">There wasn’t much objection from the
anti-vaccination brigade. Children were being paralyzed and placed in iron
lungs. There was a worldwide panic.<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"> Beaches</span></i> were
closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">People of my vintage might remember reading classic
novels where there was always a character whose life was changed forever by
smallpox scars. I read that smallpox was so bad in London that the vaccination
became compulsory for a while in 1863.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">What about TB? Katherine Mansfield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Measles was milder but also
dangerous. I think I was about 9 when I got it. I was in bed for two weeks with
the windows covered in dark gray army blankets. Children’s writer Roald Dahl
lost <i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">his</span></i> nine year old daughter to measles. Anti-vaxers
seem hellbent on letting this scourge return.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Now I’m in the cancer support volunteering business
after several brushes with head and neck cancer which has disfigured and
disabled me a little bit. My cancer was not HPV related but similar in its
treatment to those that are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">HPV related head and neck cancer responds better to
treatment than non HPV but a lot of patients still suffer a world of grief.
Four of my head and neck cancer friends are currently facing awful long term
effects of treatment and one has metastases to the lungs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Guys, this type of head and neck cancer is almost
totally preventable!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">When it was realised that the HPV vaccination could
prevent throat cancer it started to be offered to boys as well as girls. It has
been very effective in preventing cervical cancer in women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">In our little circle of similar countries it was
first offered in Australia where the inventor of the vaccine is from and then
NZ and the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Sadly the uptake has not been stellar in NZ since
it became freely available in 2017. Vaccinations are optional and parents might
vaccinate their kids against measles, mumps and chicken pox (some don’t) but
fail to have their 12 year olds vaccinated against HPV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Why? The sex stigma probably, as well as the loud
voices of the anti-vaccination brigade, now amplified by social media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">It’s hard for some parents to admit to themselves
that their babies are going to have sex and indeed probably oral sex which is
the main way the type of HNC caused by the HPV virus is transmitted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">It’s hard to admit that for herd immunity you have
to vaccinate everyone at 11 or 12 before they are sexually active. Maybe this
fact will help: they need to be vaccinated then for best results because that
is when the body takes up the vaccine best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I haven’t been squeaky clean when it comes to vaccinations.
I’d heard vaguely of the shingles jab being funded for people over 70. Did I
take up the offer? No. I was invincible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">How wrong I was as my friends on Facebook told me
last night. Shingles in AWFUL. I have an appointment at 11.45 today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Vaccinations have changed the face of health care
since the late 1600s. The world waits for vaccinations against the Zika virus
and Ebola. We can only dream of a vaccine against cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">But wait, there IS one! HPV cancers like cervical
cancer, anal cancer and throat cancer CAN be prevented. There’s a VACCINE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Get your kids vaccinated now to
prevent them from getting this horrible cancer in their young middle age!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-82718271580432933382019-06-02T21:51:00.000-07:002019-06-02T21:51:15.326-07:00Almost Ready - Two Days of Radiation Therapy Planning<br />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeSvhPyWNLZZQZ4YR0pcQuwGmMSkIQqfLsngsUzfQJP71KkO6WIwBgZsPBOcGJHrSo-tM9PUso2LvKgX8e8lL8lIMJOFYWJeCAeF0xxt4IpwnHC3QVTtxFWMpBL9aRDXZyjLPkpZ_hNY/s1600/Flexible+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="159" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeSvhPyWNLZZQZ4YR0pcQuwGmMSkIQqfLsngsUzfQJP71KkO6WIwBgZsPBOcGJHrSo-tM9PUso2LvKgX8e8lL8lIMJOFYWJeCAeF0xxt4IpwnHC3QVTtxFWMpBL9aRDXZyjLPkpZ_hNY/s320/Flexible+1+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a>Well,
we thought we knew what the plan was. But, I’m quietly, but definitely, coming
to the conclusion, that one key character requirement for dealing with the
Public Health Service is Flexibility. It seems that no matter what you’re told
about the plan going forward, you’d better allow for changes on the fly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, Monday morning and we’re off to Southern Community Laboratories in
Hastings for a blood test before we hit the highway to Palmerston North (PN).
When I rock up to the counter with the form from the Radiation Oncologist in PN,
the lady behind the counter looks at the form, looks back at me and asks; “Who
gave you this?” It seems that, regardless of the “indecipherable scrawls” on
the piece of paper, none of the necessary boxes were filled out or ticked, nor
had the doctor put his name on it. Anyway, she asked me a few questions and
after listening to the answers, did her own bit of scrawling and ticking on the
form, gave it back to me, told me to take a number and a seat and someone would
sort me out soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Isn’t it strange how every Phlebotomist has their own way of going
about getting blood out of you? This one decided that the best place was the inside
of the elbow – remember the time I got an infection that put me in hospital for
two weeks? Well, after using my right arm as a pin cushion a few times and
then, after actually listening to what I was trying to tell her, she used a
vein on the back of my hand – and, guess what? Job done.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back in the car and heading to PN for about ten minutes and my phone
rings. It’s the ORL Nurse from Hawkes Bay Hospital, ringing to tell me I need a
blood test urgently. After a couple of minutes of confusion and miscommunication
it seems that the test I just had didn’t tick all the boxes and - could I
please go straight to the PN Radiation Centre, pick up another blood form, and they’ll
tell me where to go!</div>
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For the blood test.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Something to look forward to for the next two and half hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17z65tzFhAATa0rrPy4EK3_Yveq8aw_qStGSsYNJK_rp0khvJEo8ExD6_7c8tMZiteza3C5EsYMcBjPJ2ZTmlybxVyB8nCIyYPYLlixhenMTqqwTPnXpIrLBW4JykliDPF22BpAKtQcE/s1600/Ozanam+House+1+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17z65tzFhAATa0rrPy4EK3_Yveq8aw_qStGSsYNJK_rp0khvJEo8ExD6_7c8tMZiteza3C5EsYMcBjPJ2ZTmlybxVyB8nCIyYPYLlixhenMTqqwTPnXpIrLBW4JykliDPF22BpAKtQcE/s1600/Ozanam+House+1+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17z65tzFhAATa0rrPy4EK3_Yveq8aw_qStGSsYNJK_rp0khvJEo8ExD6_7c8tMZiteza3C5EsYMcBjPJ2ZTmlybxVyB8nCIyYPYLlixhenMTqqwTPnXpIrLBW4JykliDPF22BpAKtQcE/s320/Ozanam+House+1+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anyway, that all happens, and then we head to Ozanam
House. After a slight detour – caused by the passenger giving wrong directions
– we arrive at Reception and it all looks very nice. One of the lovely ladies
that manages the place takes us over to Ryan House and shows us through the
kitchen, lounge and Resident’s Laundry, explaining how things work as we go. Then
she shows us to our room and leaves us to sort ourselves out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, just so you all understand what Ozanam House
is, here’s a bit if a paraphrased extract from their website…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Later that evening we decided to go for a
wander and a little bit of exploring. Turns out Ryan House has two lounges and
two huge kitchens. As we wander into the “big” lounge we’re greeted by all those
sitting around chatting and watching TV. Then we wander into the kitchen and
there’s another group of people that greet us as they’re preparing their meals.
It’s all very friendly and informal and the atmosphere is very relaxed.</div>
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Throughout the next day, when we’re not at the hospital, we get to introduce
ourselves to some of the residents and find out a little bit about their
stories. We soon find out that everyone has very different issues with cancer
and – a light bulb moment for me – I find out that most people want to talk
about it. Interestingly, the people who did tell us their stories were quite
positive about their situation and had nothing but praise for the levels of
treatment and support they were receiving, both from the Hospital Staff and
from the Ozanam House Staff. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemzVnIc_2PXniBZtUUp7pF28xlVPuth98P0mtNq0AejK1mT3tYWrMCoq0h06sOZacP9pj43o5qCS6HVafzkbTCE_W2uVvIGgvSYa2m10Je1OhgXXjzZhl0calHVmzbHfg7oYZOFx1Wkg/s1600/Blood+Test+cartoon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>So, after a good night’s sleep it’s off to the Hospital to have my
mask made. Now, if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that the plan was –
get my mask made today and have a CT scan and MRI tomorrow. But, apparently the
Nurses in the Radiation Unit had their own plan. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQuTlkHqf27ACLVvMxueyNXgtfGIl7rqqDw-eDIE_Dxoajv-XEck8bZyjvmnasZAQ-z3kv9smytdqh9Dnhavt1fEKGqw1UyEVlnjgb5uarKl6NGycjp_zfho-nPMYq-eoc6eC85EPvDc/s1600/Blood+Test+cartoon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQuTlkHqf27ACLVvMxueyNXgtfGIl7rqqDw-eDIE_Dxoajv-XEck8bZyjvmnasZAQ-z3kv9smytdqh9Dnhavt1fEKGqw1UyEVlnjgb5uarKl6NGycjp_zfho-nPMYq-eoc6eC85EPvDc/s1600/Blood+Test+cartoon+1.jpg" /></a>This started off with me
getting a Canula fitted for the CT Scan. My first reaction: Mild panic –
thinking the Canula would be left in overnight for the MRI. I immediately
thought back to the last time a Canula was left in and I ended up spending two
weeks in hospital with an infection. Anyway, after being assured that the CT
Scan was happening that afternoon and that the Canula was coming out immediately
after, I relaxed and sat on the bed while the Nurse made half a dozen attempts
to get the needle in. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Boy, this is fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eventually, she gave up and went to get the Resident, who’s apparently
the recognized PN champion blood sucker. Well, he had a couple of failed attempts,
told me a joke about how he wasn’t feeling anything, and eventually found a spot
that worked. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then we were off - round the corner - to sort out the mask. But before
that, we all had to make sure that I was me, and that I knew all about how to
make a mask. The lovely young nurse explained the whole process to me, most of
which went straight over my head, but I did come to understand that my part in
the process was to lie on this very hard board and keep still. So, I did that
while they worked their magic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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First thing they did was to put a lump of “stuff” (think white bread
dough) under the back of my head, wet it a little bit and then shaped it around
my neck. After they apply a bit of magic liquid (I think, it’s water), this “stuff”
sets firmly and becomes my “pillow” for each radiation session. <o:p></o:p></div>
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No, I’m not having a snooze.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then it’s onto the mask. Pretty simple really. They take a flat sheet
of perforated plastic, heat it up – then a nurse stands at the top of the bed
with the plastic sheet in both hands and quickly, but gently, pulls it down
over my face. To me, it wasn’t much different to having a warm towel placed on
your face. Very little pressure. Then they cool it down with wet flannels. Once
the plastic cools and becomes hard, you can’t move. I think this might be when
some of us tend to freak out a bit, but I wasn’t too bothered.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gotta say, after all the information, hype and warnings about
radiation masks that I’ve listened to since starting on this journey, the
actual experience was a bit of an anti-climax. I really feel quite relaxed
about it now, and hopefully this feeling won’t change too much as the
treatments progress. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Seems there’s no lying about allowed. They take off the mask, get me
off the bed and send me across the hall for the CT Scan. Once again, we go
through the ID process to make sure I’m the same guy that just got a mask fitted,
and into the machine I go. Now, this is a CT with contrast. I’ve had a few of
these before and, once again, I get all the warnings about side effects – hot flushes
and a strong desire to wet yourself. Luckily, I only get the flushes.
Apparently, the contrast can affect people differently.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, the scan finishes, the Canula’s removed and I’m shunted out
the door. From overheard conversations during all these processes, I hear there
were more than 50 patients having some form of treatment in this particular
unit that day. For such a busy place, the staff were amazingly relaxed and
friendly and made the whole experience much less traumatic than it might have
been.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s now not long after lunchtime, so we decide to call into a Café,
directly across the road from the main hospital entrance. It’s called Café Zest.
Unfortunately, they don’t have a website, but we’ve decided it’s going to be our
go to place in PN for good food. We really enjoyed the meals and will most
definitely be back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another relaxed night at Ozanam House watching TV and chatting with
the other residents, and then next morning, we’re back at the hospital, for an
MRI. Well… it’s actually not the hospital. It’s kind of an Annex and it’s run
by a commercial radiation firm, and guess what? They want to know who I am and
what my medical history is. So, after two pages of filling out forms, we start playing
the Canula game again, but this time it only takes three goes before the blood
starts pumping, and then… turns out this is no ordinary MRI. This is a “Planning”
MRI. The difference is – instead of being in the machine for about twenty
minutes, I’m in there for about fifty minutes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #c00000;">Now </span><span style="color: #c00000;">this might not seem like a big
deal, and it’s not really, but… I’m going to use this experience to point out a
couple of simple things that can really make a difference to someone travelling
down the cancer road. I know there are some Medical people who read this so,
when you’re talking to future patients, please keep in mind that it’s little
things like this that can make all the difference to a patient’s experience and
their wellbeing.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>During the original meeting with the Radiation Oncologist, I was asked
if I’d had an MRI previously. When I said yes, he asked me about reactions to
Contrast and then he moved on to the next question. The previous day, before
the mask was made, (during the “prep” talk), I was asked the same question by
the Nurse. When I was having the Canula fitted before the MRI, the Technician
asked me the same thing, but, again, didn’t explain the time difference. If, on
any of these occasions, the person talking to me had gone on to tell me it was
a ‘Planning” MRI and would take a lot longer than the previous MRI’s, then…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I would have been better prepared to remain in the machine for a longer
time without wondering what was happening, and…</b></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>
</b></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My wife wouldn’t have been sitting out in the waiting room wondering
what was taking so long.</b></span></span></div>
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As I said, this is not a “Big Thing” but, it is one of the “Little Things”
that can be added to other “Little Things” that do have a big impact on a
person’s anxiety levels and comfort levels during these procedures. As a lot of people are fond of saying... Effective communication can make all the difference.<br />
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Enough of that. When the MRI was over, we wandered off back to Osanam
House, retrieved the car and headed back to Hastings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Man, it’s great to sleep in your own bed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s going to be a big week again next week. I’m getting a special
sleeve to reduce the scaring on my arm and, hopefully, by the end of the week
we’ll have a plan to sort my eye out. I’ll let you know how it all goes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Remember…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-17265738718758935932019-05-24T22:27:00.000-07:002019-05-24T22:27:38.126-07:00An Impatient Patient<br />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dqsOip1hgfDYO5pcN4bRTBps_HjQLqR93DrfdzPfo4AuvkXhJ3C7zcbngY37hsBtlrtG14Qp9Y52FIbXSBjv93tNDKvRK0H4sspdSoOizp-AHHxeYpNwZDM3fLu4kT3m6OW3hEeh2eU/s1600/Frustration+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dqsOip1hgfDYO5pcN4bRTBps_HjQLqR93DrfdzPfo4AuvkXhJ3C7zcbngY37hsBtlrtG14Qp9Y52FIbXSBjv93tNDKvRK0H4sspdSoOizp-AHHxeYpNwZDM3fLu4kT3m6OW3hEeh2eU/s1600/Frustration+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dqsOip1hgfDYO5pcN4bRTBps_HjQLqR93DrfdzPfo4AuvkXhJ3C7zcbngY37hsBtlrtG14Qp9Y52FIbXSBjv93tNDKvRK0H4sspdSoOizp-AHHxeYpNwZDM3fLu4kT3m6OW3hEeh2eU/s1600/Frustration+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dqsOip1hgfDYO5pcN4bRTBps_HjQLqR93DrfdzPfo4AuvkXhJ3C7zcbngY37hsBtlrtG14Qp9Y52FIbXSBjv93tNDKvRK0H4sspdSoOizp-AHHxeYpNwZDM3fLu4kT3m6OW3hEeh2eU/s1600/Frustration+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dqsOip1hgfDYO5pcN4bRTBps_HjQLqR93DrfdzPfo4AuvkXhJ3C7zcbngY37hsBtlrtG14Qp9Y52FIbXSBjv93tNDKvRK0H4sspdSoOizp-AHHxeYpNwZDM3fLu4kT3m6OW3hEeh2eU/s1600/Frustration+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Well, this is about the fifteenth time I’ve started this. It may well
end up in the bin, like all the others. The main reason I’ve trashed them is
that now, for some reason, I always seem to write about the negatives. Maybe
that’s because there haven’t been too many positives. It’s been over a month
since my last post and it’s been one of the most difficult times since I
started on this journey. I’m absolutely sure it’s been a really difficult time
for my wife as well – even though she’s become the very definition of stoic. Me,
not being able to drive (double vision) means that she’s doing it all with a grumpy
old passenger for company. It also means her social life’s gone way downhill
‘cause she’s taking me to all my appointments. This included a two and a half
hour drive each way to Palmerston North for a forty-five minute appointment
with a Radiation Oncologist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, about that appointment. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Denise
and I sat in a room with this very polite and respectful gentleman while he
proceeded to scare us both for what seemed to be an exceedingly excessive
period of time. We now know all the things that “could” go wrong with the
Radiation Therapy. Best outcome seems to be further damage to my eye – no one
knows how much. On top of that I could end up with short-term memory loss.
That’ll be fun – I can never find my keys now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I guess my real problem’s been that
physically, everything’s fine - apart from my eye – but everything seems to be
taking forever and I’ve got far too much free time. Over the past month I’ve
been to numerous appointments with Specialists and Therapists but at the end of
each appointment the forward progress seems to be either minimal or nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirN1aftNulr2jo-c2nzVwpI2lql5NTRP0HIAOPHS_4TmoLqh1pD0T3VGHp4GE2w2TfKtcRGRdIplIYFX410HYZzEoChgt6LS5B5_QNJXe2xYZ6y_d6xoNjnHV7F2_jn5RVULlMxzBe-eA/s1600/Harden-up-pills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirN1aftNulr2jo-c2nzVwpI2lql5NTRP0HIAOPHS_4TmoLqh1pD0T3VGHp4GE2w2TfKtcRGRdIplIYFX410HYZzEoChgt6LS5B5_QNJXe2xYZ6y_d6xoNjnHV7F2_jn5RVULlMxzBe-eA/s1600/Harden-up-pills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirN1aftNulr2jo-c2nzVwpI2lql5NTRP0HIAOPHS_4TmoLqh1pD0T3VGHp4GE2w2TfKtcRGRdIplIYFX410HYZzEoChgt6LS5B5_QNJXe2xYZ6y_d6xoNjnHV7F2_jn5RVULlMxzBe-eA/s1600/Harden-up-pills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="718" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirN1aftNulr2jo-c2nzVwpI2lql5NTRP0HIAOPHS_4TmoLqh1pD0T3VGHp4GE2w2TfKtcRGRdIplIYFX410HYZzEoChgt6LS5B5_QNJXe2xYZ6y_d6xoNjnHV7F2_jn5RVULlMxzBe-eA/s200/Harden-up-pills.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Reading back over this, I sound petty
and ungrateful, don’t I? Hang on a tick. I’ll be back in a minute - I’m just
going to wander down to the Supplement shop and get something to sort out my
attitude.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
So, here’s where I’m at with all the
wonderful people trying their best to help me…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrm_a8y_5g5g6lE7-wxG_tQLURwBcd2KzyQYHIJwRbngswGZX6c7ymnjA_I3b0-H_f4Lc0zQY5L7xVt0BdWU6o_LIFi6hFWzC4UBIX7ykK1H5APfGeHCzJexvzNGO9Bl38lKlhuFdWpsQ/s1600/Arm+comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="598" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrm_a8y_5g5g6lE7-wxG_tQLURwBcd2KzyQYHIJwRbngswGZX6c7ymnjA_I3b0-H_f4Lc0zQY5L7xVt0BdWU6o_LIFi6hFWzC4UBIX7ykK1H5APfGeHCzJexvzNGO9Bl38lKlhuFdWpsQ/s320/Arm+comparison.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The Hand Therapist has been terrific and is
happy with my progress. and now she’s arranging for a special sleeve for me to
wear. She’s pretty serious about it and she and Denise have come to an “arrangement”
to make sure I wear it. Does this qualify as Elder Abuse? It’s to try to reduce
the scaring on my arm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Looking at my arm now, compared to
what it looked like two months ago, I realize I should be much happier with my progress </span>than I sound. So, just ignore the moaning, 'cause I think my head’s in a reasonably good
place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Here’s a thing! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">When I was in Auckland the Eye
Clinic sent a referral to the Ophthalmology Department at Hawkes Bay Hospital. Turns
out, this was one of the pieces of paper that I never got to see - not that I
think it would have made any difference if I had – although it might have
lessened the frustration a little. According to the Booking Office at HBH the
appointment was to be at least six weeks after the referral date. It also
appears that I was to see a different Specialist to have my eyes “measured”
before the ophthalmology appointment. So, after what turned out to be two
months, I received confirmation of both appointments, one on a Monday and the
other on the following Wednesday. All good – things are starting to move again.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bK3wYKEqIYUskgp_LKED2qTczQE3JiKg5SVBBL4w_21OpY-Z7guvm4hCpGYrjJViIHq3AAaPTKpkgRq57wGOCpjmTQ2pNUV-gFCMrIf1O9h9ZPTiRJpj7_ecRBRejAOd1CNl6T2EuSs/s1600/Swollen+Eye+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="404" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bK3wYKEqIYUskgp_LKED2qTczQE3JiKg5SVBBL4w_21OpY-Z7guvm4hCpGYrjJViIHq3AAaPTKpkgRq57wGOCpjmTQ2pNUV-gFCMrIf1O9h9ZPTiRJpj7_ecRBRejAOd1CNl6T2EuSs/s320/Swollen+Eye+1+cropped.jpg" width="282" /></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">On the Monday morning, I get a phone
call to say the first appointment has been cancelled and it’ll be rescheduled,
but the Wednesday appointment still stands. So off we go on Wednesday to see
the Ophthalmologist and one of the first things she says is…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“We need to get you to see another
Specialist to get your eyes measured so we can see what’s going on.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><b>What the…???</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Anyway, after a prod and a poke and another
look at my discharge summary we all agreed that another CT scan is called for. Hopefully
this’ll show if an eye muscle or nerve is being pinched by the tin under my
eye. So that’s now on the “to do” list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">YES!!! On the following Wednesday we
went to get my eyes measured. Gotta say, over the years I’ve had a lot of eye
tests but nothing like this one. The Specialist started off with a black wand
to cover one eye, a “ruler” that had different glass sections in it and a
normal ruler. After testing each eye about five times each she told us she couldn’t
work out what was happening, ‘cause each time I moved my eyes the reading
changed – this kinda indicated that my right eye was doing whatever it wanted,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>regardless of what I was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trying to tell it to do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSv5G6Y3xwOcCKyrW5dx3HduvWz8aQLj8mDi3HzRytXEzL9A6IFGwQL8gOTM0fAuy6JmBrZD1FYIPE-0UhEUrnOTVZVbxKkmWW7d1yxPbcssswDnbvvpVI4alDDBByDagWCKJI26M75uo/s1600/Eye+chart+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="248" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSv5G6Y3xwOcCKyrW5dx3HduvWz8aQLj8mDi3HzRytXEzL9A6IFGwQL8gOTM0fAuy6JmBrZD1FYIPE-0UhEUrnOTVZVbxKkmWW7d1yxPbcssswDnbvvpVI4alDDBByDagWCKJI26M75uo/s200/Eye+chart+cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, then she sat me
in front of a chart on the wall that had a hatched pattern. I was given a green
laser light and told to place the green light on top of the red light that she
was shining right in the middle of the chart. Then she started moving the light
all over the place while telling me to follow along placing the green light on
top of the red light. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Well, I gotta say – I thought I aced
it. But as we walked out Denise challenged me to a Target Shooting competition before she told me I wasn’t getting anywhere close to
the red light. That was a bit of an eye opener. (Sorry.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Anyway, now I’ve got a bit more of a
clue about what’s going on. It seems when I look up or down, or to either side,
my right eye doesn’t travel as far, or at the same speed, as my left so I end
up seeing two images. When I look straight ahead both eyes are pretty much
looking in the same direction except, my right eye is rotated clockwise about
five degrees which means one image is straight up and down and the other is
tilted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">And for the icing on the cake… all the
Specialists are telling me that my eyesight will get worse with radiation.
Something to look forward to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Yay!!! Finally got the call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFaj86Jt40zU3IWxQ_lcCxsbfBEbLOA_HwfgV1FqQ3lXplkck4vvvxHRRCGoQBncxa17aDM18yrdpZpeMCFPkQQx_Hx3sGn6RKi2E93zqq6W1yHpMXBEAJq-FXCAin4lJ-2L7dME7U6k/s1600/Radiation+Mask+2+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1283" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFaj86Jt40zU3IWxQ_lcCxsbfBEbLOA_HwfgV1FqQ3lXplkck4vvvxHRRCGoQBncxa17aDM18yrdpZpeMCFPkQQx_Hx3sGn6RKi2E93zqq6W1yHpMXBEAJq-FXCAin4lJ-2L7dME7U6k/s200/Radiation+Mask+2+cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">On Monday we’re off to Palmerston North again. This time for a couple of
days. The first day is for make-up and wardrobe. Apparently, I’ll be wearing a
mask every day to stop me fidgeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The second day is for more CT scans
and MRIs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">At this rate I’ll be glowing before
the therapy even starts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, we’ll be spending Monday and Tuesday nights at Ozanam House in Palmerston North.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQplHmR5Al3BHMo9bjhtNXiw2Bv2Wx-GyMMV4vV5BJCi0MCG7Lq0wiK3lhbD-mBV7uKHcd6dKElGCUCnodBdvAWFIcheDdSjAesPf2B-DspDtSTBHxK3LWQNSWvqXohgGPxZoQBVQ8xtE/s1600/Ozanam+House+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQplHmR5Al3BHMo9bjhtNXiw2Bv2Wx-GyMMV4vV5BJCi0MCG7Lq0wiK3lhbD-mBV7uKHcd6dKElGCUCnodBdvAWFIcheDdSjAesPf2B-DspDtSTBHxK3LWQNSWvqXohgGPxZoQBVQ8xtE/s320/Ozanam+House+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Palmerston North facility is run
by a Charitable Trust that was established by the St Vincent de Paul Society and
the Cancer Society to provide accommodation for patients receiving cancer treatment
at Palmerston North Hospital. It’s where we’ll be staying when the treatment
actually starts, and you’ll be hearing more about this facility and the work
they do in my future posts.</div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">But for now you can see more about this
facility at… </span><a href="http://www.ozanamhouse.org.nz/">www.ozanamhouse.org.nz</a> or click on the same link in the website menu on the right.</div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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So, that's us. All up to date. Hopefully
the next post won’t be so long in coming.</div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Till then, take care of each other
and remember to be kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-4358399353158098932019-04-13T21:21:00.000-07:002019-04-13T21:44:26.361-07:00I know - Let's go to A&E!<br />
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It’s been a month now, since the surgery. Gotta say,
it’s been a bit up and down. As those of you who’ve travelled this type of path
will know, you tend to get good days and not so good days. When I look back at
my “lows” over the past month, and I compare my journey with others I know of,
I consider myself to be relatively fortunate. There were only two really
standout events. One was an a Staph infection in my arm – which was relegated to
the soon to be forgotten past with the use of some antibiotics. The other was a
visit to the A&E Department of the hospital to get someone to check out my
eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It kinda started in the early hours of a Friday
morning, so we decided a trip to the A&E before the weekend was a good idea.
We had to hang around at home in the morning ‘cause the District Nurse was
coming to change my dressings, but after she’d been and gone, off we went. My
last trip to A&E was about five years ago when I had an unexpected bleed
after my first cancer removal surgery. Well, let me tell you – things have
certainly changed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->After
the obligatory three times round the carpark to find a slot, and then wandering
the corridors of the hospital for awhile we arrived at A&E. (Actually, I
think they just call it the Emergency Department these days – not really sure,
and don’t really care.) Anyway, we fronted up to a counter that any bank in New
Zealand would be envious of, found the 100mm. wide slot in the plexiglass and
started to tell Ms. Grump – first name Surly – why we were interrupting her
day. After identifying myself and coming up with, what we thought, was a
plausible reason for being there, we were instructed to “Sit on the Red Chairs”
which we did with a fair degree of alacrity. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After waiting for a few minutes, Ms. Grump came out
from behind the barricades armed with a number of clipboards, called out a name
and a man next to us perked up, said yes and was handed one of the clipboards
with instructions to make sure he was who the piece of paper on the clipboard
said he was. We went through the same process, which left Ms. Grump with one
more clipboard. When she called out a name, a guy behind us answered. Well,
protocol went straight out the window as Ms. Grump immediately told him off
for not sitting on the red chairs. The cheek of the guy – making her take an
extra two steps to hand him the clipboard. But I think really, it probably made
her day – giving her an opportunity to growl at someone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, we were soon called up by the Triage Nurse –
who lives behind her own little plexiglass barricade, did a review on who we
were and why we were there, and were then told to go and wait on the grey seats
until we were called. So, off we went, found some seats and “people watched” until we were
summoned.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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After some time – more than five minutes but less
than an hour – we were identified and escorted into a treatment area where we
watched on as the nurse who took us in had a fight with a bedsheet and pillow. After ensuring that the sheet was sufficiently subdued I was instructed to sit on the edge of the bed, which I did immediately - I didn't want any of the hurt she'd inflicted on the sheet. She then went through the
ID process and started gazing into my eyes, while making noises like “tut” and “mmmmm”
and then poking me in various places while asking if it hurt. Anyway, after
awhile she went away and started writing what I think was her shopping list, on
a computer. </div>
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Sometime after that another lady turned up who identified herself
as a Nurse Practitioner. After more gazing and tutting she announced that I
needed an eyesight test and took us into a different room that had an Eyechart
stuck on a very distant wall. Then she got out a very bright light and got up
close and personal. After an “ah hah” moment she announced that I had eyelashes
facing into my eye instead of out and, also what she thinks might be suture
material in my eye. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I thought, let’s get it out so I can go home. Well, that wasn’t a happening
thing. “I’m not touching it,” she says. “I’m going to ring the Ophthalmologist and
see if they can have a look at you.” So, to cut a long story short, once more
we find ourselves sitting on the grey chairs waiting to find out what the plan
is. After not too long, we’re told to set out to find Villa 3 where there’s
currently an eye clinic in progress. Soon, we find ourselves in a little room
in Villa 3 where a nice young man is busy shining more bright lights at me.
After awhile he puts some numbing eyedrops in and proceeds to pluck my
eyelashes. Then he asks me if my eye feels better? I say yes, not really knowing
if he’s fixed the problem or if the numbing drops are busy at work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Next thing – a familiar face pops her head in the door.
It’s the Eye Surgeon who, after removing a BCC from my lower eyelid, referred
me to the Maxillofacial Surgeon who found the cancer. I’ll be forever grateful
to her for that referral, because she took the time to listen and take note of
my whinging. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has a look at my eye
and straight away she’s making a plan. So, I’ll be seeing her again soon,
hopefully to sort out my double vision. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It turns out it was just on four hours to get myself
sorted out. I’m quite happy with that. Once again, the Public Hospital system
has worked a treat for me – identifying and fixing the problem while dealing
with all their protocols and systems.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, just to recap, since I got back from Auckland, I’ve
been…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<ul>
<li>Visited by a District Nurse for dressing changes three
times a week.</li>
<li>Referred to a Hand Therapist to make sure my left
arm and wrist are recovering properly from the surgery – which they are.</li>
<li>Referred to a Physio to make sure I don’t have any
neck or shoulder issues from the Neck Resection – which I don’t.</li>
<li>Referred to the Eye Clinic to sort out the material
scratching my eye. Which they did</li>
<li>Back to Auckland Hospital for a checkup, where the
Surgeon was pretty chuffed with his own handiwork – as was I - and where I
found out there were clear margins all around the cancer that was removed.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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And now I’m going to be…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<ul>
<li>Referred to Ophthalmology to sort out my double
vision.</li>
<li>Referred to the Radiotherapy Oncologist to schedule the
radiotherapy which will be done in Palmerston North. </li>
</ul>
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Busy, busy!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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No, not really. I gotta say, I miss working. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Weird, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, I’m still on the lookout for something to
fill my days, even though I know I won’t be able to settle down to anything
until after the Radiotherapy. In the meantime, I guess I’ll just keep pumping
out drivel like this. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks to all of you who’ve been in touch. I really
do appreciate your kind wishes and your concern. I hope you are all keeping
yourselves healthy and enjoying life. Remember…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-1845452554223037242019-03-27T18:10:00.000-07:002019-03-27T18:21:18.991-07:00The Overly Enthusiastic Gardener <br />
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Now, just so we’re perfectly clear about this – I don’t like
gardening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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About six years ago, while making a few other earth-shattering
decisions, we decided to sort out our yard/lawn/gardens. We’ve never been
particularly keen on gardening (well, me anyway) – Denise likes growing vegies
– but when you’ve got your own home there seems to be an expectation that you’ll
establish and maintain gardens of some sort. Or is that just me and one of my
twisted views of life? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsblsRDSqwwRj8yBCs2YYl3aqjltNkORzQcu9ckMReBMnK8vCGfYwPoYxn2_RsdPfZZqkePUQnukW4K85DSN0TAyRXVAmPKgUqRBMA1Pm0qBTUwcFLS8G8VVmuIihX7hM7DxQUmaYvdk/s1600/Dig+Here+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="161" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsblsRDSqwwRj8yBCs2YYl3aqjltNkORzQcu9ckMReBMnK8vCGfYwPoYxn2_RsdPfZZqkePUQnukW4K85DSN0TAyRXVAmPKgUqRBMA1Pm0qBTUwcFLS8G8VVmuIihX7hM7DxQUmaYvdk/s320/Dig+Here+cropped.jpg" title="" width="287" /></a>Every place we’ve lived there’s always been a problem area somewhere
in the garden, and over the years we’ve become pretty adept at ignoring them.
But now, our problem area is right at the bottom of our back steps, so we
needed to sort it out. </div>
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The house we live in was built in 1911 and had a little
shed in the garden, outside the “mud room”. This was the original laundry and
was still standing (just) when we bought the place. Behind this is the “trap
shed” – now Man Cave – and the area between was just an overgrown mess. We had
a couple of half-hearted attempts to clean this up, but when we found a
treasure trove of buried ceramics, crockery, glass and general rubbish we
decided it was too hard, so we lived with it for a few years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then the shed collapsed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jUW-_eZwkS8QbzZaZHNiViZY6LetOjvleHdnhMZlupXX3JM6r8ABzdpXuoxARZy_UWl00xSXkPfQqfImdSj7pg4yFLtKaJxSdgj5Ur108OZ0dx2TTOxMYvX-umuHT3NfPjuwAvoDLts/s1600/Collapsed+shed+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="132" data-original-width="180" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jUW-_eZwkS8QbzZaZHNiViZY6LetOjvleHdnhMZlupXX3JM6r8ABzdpXuoxARZy_UWl00xSXkPfQqfImdSj7pg4yFLtKaJxSdgj5Ur108OZ0dx2TTOxMYvX-umuHT3NfPjuwAvoDLts/s320/Collapsed+shed+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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What now??</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Better get rid of the remains. All this did was expose more treasure, and
opened up the whole mess so it was easier to see from the house. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Great!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Time to get serious. It’s now 2013 and we’ve decided to sort all the
gardens and lawns out once and for all.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Sodf5kw4A8KXG48Y_h0zeDHM6MIcZM4IGx6gutS8w_yZI7AoCfV0HNzgTxpdKNNQjkT_fVZ7gDhHqm7F3bsxJdeWbGklUxkZYV1RBYEIKuGz4I4UEAcdmLpZbzesLRPK5FeZxp4bdss/s1600/IMG_0442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Sodf5kw4A8KXG48Y_h0zeDHM6MIcZM4IGx6gutS8w_yZI7AoCfV0HNzgTxpdKNNQjkT_fVZ7gDhHqm7F3bsxJdeWbGklUxkZYV1RBYEIKuGz4I4UEAcdmLpZbzesLRPK5FeZxp4bdss/s320/IMG_0442.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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How? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p> </div>
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Hire someone to do it for us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p>It's amazing how quickly you can make a mess with a little digger.</o:p></div>
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<span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#C45911;mso-themecolor:accent2;mso-themeshade:
191;font-style:normal;mso-bidi-font-style:italic'>It’s amazing how quickly
you can make a mess with a baby digger.<span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
So, after a lot of “discussion”, mind-changing, wine, chocolate, and about
five years, we ended up with…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_14"
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<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/chris/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg"
o:title="A close up of a flower garden Description automatically generated"/>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbwz-683nJgwKJuBz3qBa8MNJSbcpks41lrhGhq1V5r1NlVSliT8GcGCIVCb_tN-pijar0697pX2D7Io2c1xVWA0RViRcbvlkuAgLOujqzUZyYPVTdoCjyyPr14fGWihC3X1PhH7CdNI/s1600/Garden+Collage+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbwz-683nJgwKJuBz3qBa8MNJSbcpks41lrhGhq1V5r1NlVSliT8GcGCIVCb_tN-pijar0697pX2D7Io2c1xVWA0RViRcbvlkuAgLOujqzUZyYPVTdoCjyyPr14fGWihC3X1PhH7CdNI/s400/Garden+Collage+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Then cancer paid us a visit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Right… Need to make plans, ‘cause we’re gonna be in Auckland for a few
weeks and we won’t be wanting to worry about the gardens for awhile after that.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Let’s hire a gardener.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
So, he turned up a couple of weeks before we had to go to Auckland and
got stuck straight in. We were keeping an eye on what he was up to and
everything was great. So, off we went to Auckland…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
And came back to this…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYWVKAOE7-xsGpmdvXGTnnRiCimvIF2dzDsd8iG4qVcmcx8TJnMKOd9EVBdB1WxC4pVWUlIM8_EoRWUD7gH41rBx3HYZ_KhJvPZ9kqSCTHAd7Lxg7NZWFJ4WVacL-XHGMhnlO2BQuTHg/s1600/Bare+Garden+collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYWVKAOE7-xsGpmdvXGTnnRiCimvIF2dzDsd8iG4qVcmcx8TJnMKOd9EVBdB1WxC4pVWUlIM8_EoRWUD7gH41rBx3HYZ_KhJvPZ9kqSCTHAd7Lxg7NZWFJ4WVacL-XHGMhnlO2BQuTHg/s400/Bare+Garden+collage.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: small;">Can you see the Orangeberries, and the Daffodils, <br />and the Thyme, and the Raspberries?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Weellll…. We laughed, and laughed, and laughed… so much!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
And now the weeds are back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Here’s a question for you? Should we start again? Or should we cement
the whole area and make it into a little Italian style grotto?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Remember, I don’t like gardening.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
No. We didn’t, and no we won’t, fire the gardener.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv73w1jBSx-uNKu9TQfdzOVdpDYAJoHorItsiHX16u2eZupBmk_bcb4Kt0lRtgwaWL5xfjhnnIcsPMwE_GIRuLwgVJzZ5dm5m1OoqI9yGg-9O0gbBzMvz1SS9ClUkaDVr_1ulAz1YRm9c/s1600/Kindness+in+the+garden+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="397" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv73w1jBSx-uNKu9TQfdzOVdpDYAJoHorItsiHX16u2eZupBmk_bcb4Kt0lRtgwaWL5xfjhnnIcsPMwE_GIRuLwgVJzZ5dm5m1OoqI9yGg-9O0gbBzMvz1SS9ClUkaDVr_1ulAz1YRm9c/s320/Kindness+in+the+garden+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-39414313898899041092019-03-25T23:14:00.001-07:002019-03-25T23:14:34.061-07:00Ward 74 - Multiculturalism at it's finest.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_gRFNYf42nSjx3cIjMAc7f-YUvadutu36PQlTuPb1H8HFnoMn1jRElXgbUekcS3ccwD-8ZQ7p5gyFvRjew1mbA_eddNw1_Sq1w1ad1myY-7bERFotsdhU6Q4Ty9aDw13AAN16gfMIX8/s1600/IMG_0247+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_gRFNYf42nSjx3cIjMAc7f-YUvadutu36PQlTuPb1H8HFnoMn1jRElXgbUekcS3ccwD-8ZQ7p5gyFvRjew1mbA_eddNw1_Sq1w1ad1myY-7bERFotsdhU6Q4Ty9aDw13AAN16gfMIX8/s320/IMG_0247+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a>As you wander along the corridors of ward 74 in Auckland hospital you
notice lots of noticeboards hanging on the walls. A few of the noticeboards are
used for in-house notices, KPIs and survey results, but others are used to
display thank-you cards and letters. When I first saw these cards, I read a few,
and they were all filled with the same sentiment: heartfelt thanks and
appreciation for the care and consideration given to patients who had spent
time in the ward. At the time, I thought: “that’s nice” and wandered off. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->As issues unfolded, I came to spend something
over three weeks in this ward, and as the days flowed, I was drawn back to
these cards They hang on the walls, largely unnoticed as members of the staff
go about their daily duties. Occasionally a visitor might pause and read one or
two, in all likelihood, simply out of curiosity. But, over time, and because of
my own experience, I came to realize that each of these cards represent a life-altering
event for someone. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzZtjlwG_vDQPiyssS0_lJzWAT46IrgMp4pe2NatAPfjD5QJtwa9IpghaYmA6uygcISOg4Ak90HEKZDhFTW8JpszOzTgB_QQsCZ5kDQWOkfOL9EVx59OqEErZ0v4WbunLldEIsEEDMS0/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzZtjlwG_vDQPiyssS0_lJzWAT46IrgMp4pe2NatAPfjD5QJtwa9IpghaYmA6uygcISOg4Ak90HEKZDhFTW8JpszOzTgB_QQsCZ5kDQWOkfOL9EVx59OqEErZ0v4WbunLldEIsEEDMS0/s320/IMG_0251.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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When each person came to the ward it would have been with a high
degree of trepidation, a noticeable level of fear and some degree of confusion.
During the process of diagnosis, surgery and recovery these feelings would
diminish and be replaced with hope, understanding and an increasing level of well-being.
And, upon discharge, like me, each person would be overcome with a sense of
gratitude and thankfulness and be unable to adequately express these feelings
to the staff when leaving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Week after week I was cared for by a group of people comprised of
medical and support staff while I walked a path to remove cancer from my body.
Now that I’m home I can look back along this path and recognize that my journey
would be impossible without the dedication and expertise of each and every
individual member of the staff working in Ward 74. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Every morning I was greeted with one of the smiling faces of the
ladies that brought me breakfast. I’m sure they didn’t realize the positive
impact they had on me, but their grace and demeanour would always chase away
the night’s shadows and, though I might not have been able to smile back on the
outside I was definitely smiling on the inside.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFllhQqXr6JXTVP4-lI8TiVfEPgQtYgA2uCPg6FYRLXs5toIavzv4YETgOkXo-GawqJyKp6HFYMedPfCiWT-gYJNvJ8jvyNs3EEOJfrBw6bnIkqEUr4pF8DBydIgIOOlBMZAWFGvdcBQ/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFllhQqXr6JXTVP4-lI8TiVfEPgQtYgA2uCPg6FYRLXs5toIavzv4YETgOkXo-GawqJyKp6HFYMedPfCiWT-gYJNvJ8jvyNs3EEOJfrBw6bnIkqEUr4pF8DBydIgIOOlBMZAWFGvdcBQ/s320/IMG_0260.JPG" width="240" /></a>I am in awe of the kind and considerate ladies that use this cart.
Working quietly and unobtrusively in the background, going about their duties
with a quiet dignity, offering a smile and a kind word as they pass. I was
fortunate enough to get to know one of these ladies a little. Each morning she arrives
at the hospital in darkness and prepares herself for a day of cleaning up the
mess left behind by visitors, doctors and nurses, but most particularly, by
patients. Her preference is to work nights, but she forgoes this and works
through the day so she can get home to spend some time with her children. Without
exception she approaches and competes each task with good humour and a brisk
efficiency.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Because I was able to move about during the first two weeks of my stay,
and because I was in a four-bed ward, I witnessed a lot of the interactions
between patients and nurses. Without exception, every interaction was handled
with consideration, respect and efficiency. Looking back, I now realise that
each, and every, nurse has a fundamental, and largely unrecognised, need to
care for other people embedded in their personalities. This basic need to care
for others is now the cornerstone of the culture prevalent throughout this
ward.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIUZXKohUyO8ERa3hj42dJXZWIK48QH86papo0BWcpO64ENsG6rUJkaEkFRnIexo36L_E2jM9hJ1eg-3pwmM3qD97YGrXVc0ym2Qi07kTO6MdkhVdwAZdFVKrxDTaAWHyHbcLc5LR0EI/s1600/Listening+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1467" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIUZXKohUyO8ERa3hj42dJXZWIK48QH86papo0BWcpO64ENsG6rUJkaEkFRnIexo36L_E2jM9hJ1eg-3pwmM3qD97YGrXVc0ym2Qi07kTO6MdkhVdwAZdFVKrxDTaAWHyHbcLc5LR0EI/s320/Listening+cropped.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">True Healing - Simply Listening</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It’s one thing to foster a culture of care and attention for patients,
but the diverse group of individuals – comprised of more than ten different
ethnicities - that make up the nursing staff take this practice one step
further. They apply the same levels of care, consideration, respect and
cooperation to each other. Time after time I witnessed staff members helping
other staff members, not only when attending patients, but also with the
mundane. Whether changing a patient’s dressing or changing a bed; fetching an
extra blanket for a patient or refilling a linen cupboard; restocking the
dressing drawers or simply getting a paper bag to hang off a meal table – if
there is a need, the person on the spot will simply do it. Moreover, there is
always a smile and a kind word to go with it. These people are simply, amazing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
How do you thank people such as these? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
But, one thing I do know: I will never take these people for granted –
ever again. I simply feel humbled that I’ve been allowed a glimpse into their
world and I will be eternally grateful for the professionalism, knowledge,
friendship and care given to me during my time in Ward 74.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-88986297297536023212019-03-18T16:59:00.000-07:002019-03-18T16:59:33.750-07:00Cancer - You're outta here!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVhbh1MBep8EwTSbO-4LGSNAmOX4Fs-4m2IY8p4ctkl3g_2JaxX256X3GnRgqDScPgIWQb24bKdWtSRmxpZz3PKR5imfg0CyL7STKy9AfFJSfGY2Ii6tsQcCma-HWWXih8D8T6L4azGU/s1600/Mask+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVhbh1MBep8EwTSbO-4LGSNAmOX4Fs-4m2IY8p4ctkl3g_2JaxX256X3GnRgqDScPgIWQb24bKdWtSRmxpZz3PKR5imfg0CyL7STKy9AfFJSfGY2Ii6tsQcCma-HWWXih8D8T6L4azGU/s1600/Mask+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVhbh1MBep8EwTSbO-4LGSNAmOX4Fs-4m2IY8p4ctkl3g_2JaxX256X3GnRgqDScPgIWQb24bKdWtSRmxpZz3PKR5imfg0CyL7STKy9AfFJSfGY2Ii6tsQcCma-HWWXih8D8T6L4azGU/s1600/Mask+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVhbh1MBep8EwTSbO-4LGSNAmOX4Fs-4m2IY8p4ctkl3g_2JaxX256X3GnRgqDScPgIWQb24bKdWtSRmxpZz3PKR5imfg0CyL7STKy9AfFJSfGY2Ii6tsQcCma-HWWXih8D8T6L4azGU/s320/Mask+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So… Tuesday 12<sup>th</sup> March. That date’s gonna stick. I thought I
wouldn’t remember much about it, and I guess I don’t. I can remember the
morning prep for the operation, I can remember the ride to the pre-op ward and
I can remember moving over to the operating table. And now it’s Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">At stupid o’clock in the morning I
wake up to pins and needles in my fingers and an intense pain at the back of my
left heel. What the…?? Seems I’ve got a pressure sore. No biggie, but it’s
getting all my attention. So a couple of young bucks in the ICU sort me out and
I drift off for awhile. Not for long though. It seems I want to stop breathing
and they don’t want me to, so we carry on a running battle with the oxygen tube
for the rest of the night. I guess they won.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Now, I’m lying in bed with my head
elevated and, even though the Surgeons have been playing with my right eye
(which is now covered) I can still see from my left. What I’m looking at is the
corner where the wall meets the ceiling, a small window that looks out to the
building next door and that’s it. For whatever reason they have me facing into
the room rather than out. From my perspective, they’ve got it wrong. I can hear
and sense lots of activity behind me but can’t see anything. I’d much rather be
looking the other way. I mean, it’s a nonsense really. I’ve just woken up from
major surgery and the thing that’s bothering me more and more as the morning
wears on is that I can’t see what’s happening behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Get out of bed and stop lying about. It’s late
morning and the ICU nurse starts making noises about getting me into a chair.
As soon as I hear this I’m trying to get up and the ICU Nurse is trying to slow
me down. Anyway, eventually we’re organised and here I am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOkhyphenhyphenRZiIBs-YhGvJbAh1BvJpq73hv_eGWzaRYH3KALSrTG1rQ9JAcfDswVGsxLm9hiUHnfjuuDHfKRzJAGraj-EJWk4wBTg_JsJdxp64b2KAHoO18vsDyQ_rclo-T4w8l_6ZhEh4lEM/s1600/20190312_221521603_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOkhyphenhyphenRZiIBs-YhGvJbAh1BvJpq73hv_eGWzaRYH3KALSrTG1rQ9JAcfDswVGsxLm9hiUHnfjuuDHfKRzJAGraj-EJWk4wBTg_JsJdxp64b2KAHoO18vsDyQ_rclo-T4w8l_6ZhEh4lEM/s320/20190312_221521603_iOS.jpg" width="240" /></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">But wait!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Bugger – I’m still facing the wrong
way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">On the wall in the corner is a Phone/PA
system that the nurses use for all sorts of reasons. I hear the receptionist broadcast
that there are two visitors for Room 9 – Is it OK if they come in? Apparently,
I start yelling at the phone telling her it’s OK and to send them in!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">It must have worked ‘cause next
thing Denise and Chelle pop in, and everything becomes right with the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Did you know there’s an upside to
getting an infection in hospital? After a night in a High Dependency Ward with
three other snorers, they gave me a single room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">YES!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">PAIN!! – What?? There’s no pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Seriously! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no pain. There’s a certain amount of
discomfort, and the excretion of some very interesting bodily fluids from some
unusual places, but honestly – very little to no pain. I guess they’ve got me
on the good drugs. I know this won’t be everyone’s experience, but I’ve
realised it was the expectation and anticipation of pain that had me worried.
Throughout the next three days the worst “pain” I experienced was a Tramadol headache.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTbn5hXFURwEqzI6UKudbh18FPL5citsvMkcDuVytVLlU_yYqvG0HeffXvruAus3oe99-de_bRsAkWTT5T9-dHE0TU480KjVcSx11RMQerjf7ZErWRcMBb6mQg6P8eqBrG__2ow0X6Sk/s1600/Coffee+post+surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTbn5hXFURwEqzI6UKudbh18FPL5citsvMkcDuVytVLlU_yYqvG0HeffXvruAus3oe99-de_bRsAkWTT5T9-dHE0TU480KjVcSx11RMQerjf7ZErWRcMBb6mQg6P8eqBrG__2ow0X6Sk/s320/Coffee+post+surgery.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Who’s this dude??</div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">This was taken on Saturday after
Tuesday’s surgery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, here’s a question…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">How impressed are you with the surgeons,
doctors, nurses and all the support staff in Ward 74 at Auckland Hospital?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Want to know how impressed I am?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Watch this space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl6VcRR3TJZUZ0RekWiXJAN-_BPhLvaHUz_4PD9FSnr2m8ozoXTIAjnq2Abiru0Tl04VXmtClweS2iPJlpkR3Y4fpVOYVNBvO7cswpggDPrHXf409ioS7uvW8Lw826vSrZ2Kh19YQN3w/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl6VcRR3TJZUZ0RekWiXJAN-_BPhLvaHUz_4PD9FSnr2m8ozoXTIAjnq2Abiru0Tl04VXmtClweS2iPJlpkR3Y4fpVOYVNBvO7cswpggDPrHXf409ioS7uvW8Lw826vSrZ2Kh19YQN3w/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I’m gonna publish this now – but there’s
a lot more I want to tell you. Today’s Tuesday – seven days after the surgery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I’m going home tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Do you know, one of the things I’m
really looking forward to…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Walking round the garden and feeling the grass under my feet.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgac00_iK4dUrzbC71liapY3xSCN1qUn5GFHmEeT3vIhv1eFi6ApB0HFgbTyd3giu1sReNZtMUxHGs5AZ0CTgq9tO59ohnnOp7mFeLfLsHLhbxBfLNGHCJ4JWM_XuuZoCEPFrEndSIkl_k/s1600/hand+in+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgac00_iK4dUrzbC71liapY3xSCN1qUn5GFHmEeT3vIhv1eFi6ApB0HFgbTyd3giu1sReNZtMUxHGs5AZ0CTgq9tO59ohnnOp7mFeLfLsHLhbxBfLNGHCJ4JWM_XuuZoCEPFrEndSIkl_k/s1600/hand+in+hand.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Multiculturalism and Kindness walk hand-in-hand</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-38938074255502693012019-03-12T02:52:00.001-07:002019-03-12T02:52:31.022-07:00And it's all uphill from here... Hello lovely people,<br />
<br />
Update coming in from Dads (self proclaimed) favourite child while Dad rests his weary head.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo8pgADGZd0kXb0O4CdasTZgTE9V_id7IGm6IkAsDE-cFVe8Efr0fhOJklGpEwiCGWOh7UA3QcuXYLw2viBhAQmSYpWOCoKC_4roY8KQsVZlMnSSN95ci1ulAApSvAxKQAL-FASL1Gto/s1600/favourite+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo8pgADGZd0kXb0O4CdasTZgTE9V_id7IGm6IkAsDE-cFVe8Efr0fhOJklGpEwiCGWOh7UA3QcuXYLw2viBhAQmSYpWOCoKC_4roY8KQsVZlMnSSN95ci1ulAApSvAxKQAL-FASL1Gto/s1600/favourite+child.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
Dad spent the day laying about on his back and almost 12 hours to the minute we had a call from the hospital to let us know that he was out of theatre and awake.<br />
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We have yet to see the docs but by all accounts everything seems to have gone well. Dad is currently in ITU (as expected) hooked up to a few different drains and monitors. But, he has some pretty perfect looking numbers (I suggested he stop laying about and get ready for a run with his perfect obs but he didn't seem keen?) and most importantly his pain is under control.<br />
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His face is looking good and his arm and leg don't seem to be bothering him too much. We have left him to sleep and will be heading back up to speak to someone who knows whats happening at around 11am tomorrow.<br />
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I will leave the rest for Dad to update when he is feeling a bit more up to it (or for when he has provided instructions).<br />
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Thank you to everyone for your kind and loving messages, we have read them all to Dad and he knows that he is in your thoughts.<br />
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<br />
And until the next time, enjoy this little moment of love and kindness between Mum and Dad prior to surgery this morning 💓💓💓<br />
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Much love to you all,<br />
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Rochelle xxChris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-35242695992197449212019-03-11T01:25:00.001-07:002019-03-11T01:38:01.115-07:00The Night Before<br />
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It’s the night before surgery and lots pf people are asking: “How do
you feel?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Truth be told, I feel reasonably relaxed. I’m finding that every few
minutes my thoughts change.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGGyTv8SP0ifVjAdCjFmA7Mt29JfSphBBVNmKXzTN3Auy1mJWTSgsygn71JArkhXJnFzNwAwEJ1n3apS3oq75Bks-FVGouh3DakU-tItuxOb3Qg4RmNk8EjZ6ytiscHSiG6YXHcDeds8/s1600/Support+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGGyTv8SP0ifVjAdCjFmA7Mt29JfSphBBVNmKXzTN3Auy1mJWTSgsygn71JArkhXJnFzNwAwEJ1n3apS3oq75Bks-FVGouh3DakU-tItuxOb3Qg4RmNk8EjZ6ytiscHSiG6YXHcDeds8/s1600/Support+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGGyTv8SP0ifVjAdCjFmA7Mt29JfSphBBVNmKXzTN3Auy1mJWTSgsygn71JArkhXJnFzNwAwEJ1n3apS3oq75Bks-FVGouh3DakU-tItuxOb3Qg4RmNk8EjZ6ytiscHSiG6YXHcDeds8/s1600/Support+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGGyTv8SP0ifVjAdCjFmA7Mt29JfSphBBVNmKXzTN3Auy1mJWTSgsygn71JArkhXJnFzNwAwEJ1n3apS3oq75Bks-FVGouh3DakU-tItuxOb3Qg4RmNk8EjZ6ytiscHSiG6YXHcDeds8/s1600/Support+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGGyTv8SP0ifVjAdCjFmA7Mt29JfSphBBVNmKXzTN3Auy1mJWTSgsygn71JArkhXJnFzNwAwEJ1n3apS3oq75Bks-FVGouh3DakU-tItuxOb3Qg4RmNk8EjZ6ytiscHSiG6YXHcDeds8/s1600/Support+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGGyTv8SP0ifVjAdCjFmA7Mt29JfSphBBVNmKXzTN3Auy1mJWTSgsygn71JArkhXJnFzNwAwEJ1n3apS3oq75Bks-FVGouh3DakU-tItuxOb3Qg4RmNk8EjZ6ytiscHSiG6YXHcDeds8/s1600/Support+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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At the moment, I’m thinking about my family and wondering how I can
express my love and gratitude for their support. I’ve never been particularly
good at words and I’ve never openly thanked them verbally for all they continue
to do for me. Maybe it’s just the way I’m put together. For some reason the
words just won’t come. I remember at my daughter’s wedding – I walked her down
the aisle and presented her to her future husband. All the way along that walk
I was practicing what I wanted to say, not only to Adam, but, to my daughter as well.
In the moment, I froze and stood there trying to get the words out, but I knew
that if I opened my mouth, my emotions would just take over and I’d end up a blubbering
mess, so I didn’t say anything. I’ve always regretted that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GNPmkmeBQOUJlatWHjB-lCXyqljf7kA4gFMFhm3EkS32NRrmxuGTwGaefLLMTq16PvlIVPg0wt8_G90TCHQAk1nc0uQQENNtP8dLgWQohNed1ldOA8n8fJXkx5LKUe5rsRGsdty9P-s/s1600/Support+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GNPmkmeBQOUJlatWHjB-lCXyqljf7kA4gFMFhm3EkS32NRrmxuGTwGaefLLMTq16PvlIVPg0wt8_G90TCHQAk1nc0uQQENNtP8dLgWQohNed1ldOA8n8fJXkx5LKUe5rsRGsdty9P-s/s320/Support+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Now again, I’m in a situation where I should be trying to express my thanks
and gratitude to my family, because I think their pathway through this
situation has been, as difficult, if not more so, than mine, and I think again,
I haven’t helped to ease their concerns as much as I should. Maybe (hopefully) being
able to read this will help them to understand how important and essential they
are to me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Without them, I would be nothing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfjR-cTHAXh-g88F3gBpVGZiR0bvhOqKcdxGyXoxrvuoJunl3OldRFo9V50c8KaeYnBwv0Yo3YCZoJXlbmD4krSVhR_HDEClVjdnTmygL88W_otk1cLR0OE7L-yC12Q9DtctxWVxgVeE/s1600/writersblock+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1329" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfjR-cTHAXh-g88F3gBpVGZiR0bvhOqKcdxGyXoxrvuoJunl3OldRFo9V50c8KaeYnBwv0Yo3YCZoJXlbmD4krSVhR_HDEClVjdnTmygL88W_otk1cLR0OE7L-yC12Q9DtctxWVxgVeE/s320/writersblock+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know!!! When I started this blog, I said I was going to be better at
replying to your comments. Well, that’s a fail. Thank you to all my friends,
for your kind wishes, your love and support, your stories and your jokes. I’ve
actually read them all, but I seem to continually be able to find excuses not
to reply. I know it’s not good enough and I apologise. But be assured, they do
mean a lot to me and I really, really hope you keep them coming. Maybe I’ll be
able to make up for it during recovery, but this time, no promises.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfjR-cTHAXh-g88F3gBpVGZiR0bvhOqKcdxGyXoxrvuoJunl3OldRFo9V50c8KaeYnBwv0Yo3YCZoJXlbmD4krSVhR_HDEClVjdnTmygL88W_otk1cLR0OE7L-yC12Q9DtctxWVxgVeE/s1600/writersblock+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfjR-cTHAXh-g88F3gBpVGZiR0bvhOqKcdxGyXoxrvuoJunl3OldRFo9V50c8KaeYnBwv0Yo3YCZoJXlbmD4krSVhR_HDEClVjdnTmygL88W_otk1cLR0OE7L-yC12Q9DtctxWVxgVeE/s1600/writersblock+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div>
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Now this is what I mean about changing thoughts!!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The nurse has just been in and asked me how I’m feeling. I said I’m
fine – apart from a slight headache – which is the truth. She then asked me how
I was feeling about tomorrow? I told her: “I’m quite relaxed. After all, I’m
going to be asleep. I won’t care what happens.” Which is also the truth.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HQjAXt-0cMaZUzKFR6uXqbIJQ5E1qjWNOED7L1YKwpMrxALdA1o9WHHCnr0jb_R-_Cw8YhyphenhyphenwctgFcnIbGI8RWpJkIK3e6Vi_dzY7shaujCNONqDE56whM-xzcbBlNyzVPeLJTsSqgtI/s1600/Surgery+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HQjAXt-0cMaZUzKFR6uXqbIJQ5E1qjWNOED7L1YKwpMrxALdA1o9WHHCnr0jb_R-_Cw8YhyphenhyphenwctgFcnIbGI8RWpJkIK3e6Vi_dzY7shaujCNONqDE56whM-xzcbBlNyzVPeLJTsSqgtI/s1600/Surgery+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="226" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HQjAXt-0cMaZUzKFR6uXqbIJQ5E1qjWNOED7L1YKwpMrxALdA1o9WHHCnr0jb_R-_Cw8YhyphenhyphenwctgFcnIbGI8RWpJkIK3e6Vi_dzY7shaujCNONqDE56whM-xzcbBlNyzVPeLJTsSqgtI/s320/Surgery+1+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I guess when I wake up in a couple of days I probably won’t be as blasé
about how I feel but, my thinking at the moment is: “Whatever will be will be”.
(Was that Doris Day?) It’s funny how some words stick in your mind. When I was
talking to one of the ORL Nurses some time ago, she asked me how I felt. After
I told her, she said to me that my attitude was the correct one to be taking
into surgery. She went on to say that patients who have the best recovery are
those that accept that the professionals they are dealing with know best. There
will be bad days and good days during the recovery period and the thing that
makes the bad days a little easier is believing that the medical staff know what
they’re doing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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….. Looking forward to it!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKp7z348FDQNlSJ0-Xg7_SzytsWnTqF2F4PpFdmpIGF1zUiQ8bH1-ufIlV812rhTkqbQA4UaKM_J4CqBBruf3Grf6fd8KsnmSBixoRnW3KDkfDNH_4BhfbsTuARwDmBtbKoQbvuMDWYRw/s1600/Carrie+Philby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="299" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKp7z348FDQNlSJ0-Xg7_SzytsWnTqF2F4PpFdmpIGF1zUiQ8bH1-ufIlV812rhTkqbQA4UaKM_J4CqBBruf3Grf6fd8KsnmSBixoRnW3KDkfDNH_4BhfbsTuARwDmBtbKoQbvuMDWYRw/s320/Carrie+Philby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I’m gonna stop this now. I think I’ll watch Carrie Pilby. It’s a
movie I quite like and hopefully it’ll be a good distraction. Heading off to
make a cuppa first.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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….. Bye for now.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-36764116693937413022019-03-08T22:52:00.000-08:002019-03-08T22:52:35.716-08:00A Glove's Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQN6jmvwKJ3dzvwcleBXp60kbu75Pi4nWT0seHBNYTX8KvYnxrAxyGtA-7qi-EvCB356LN6hupGbJfMMpLwPlwwkzasDVMq5USc5LAwTbXF91ghVK2zguYlGSLTQEBt_bcL1ubKEdosc/s1600/Gloves+4+cropped.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQN6jmvwKJ3dzvwcleBXp60kbu75Pi4nWT0seHBNYTX8KvYnxrAxyGtA-7qi-EvCB356LN6hupGbJfMMpLwPlwwkzasDVMq5USc5LAwTbXF91ghVK2zguYlGSLTQEBt_bcL1ubKEdosc/s1600/Gloves+4+cropped.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQN6jmvwKJ3dzvwcleBXp60kbu75Pi4nWT0seHBNYTX8KvYnxrAxyGtA-7qi-EvCB356LN6hupGbJfMMpLwPlwwkzasDVMq5USc5LAwTbXF91ghVK2zguYlGSLTQEBt_bcL1ubKEdosc/s1600/Gloves+4+cropped.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQN6jmvwKJ3dzvwcleBXp60kbu75Pi4nWT0seHBNYTX8KvYnxrAxyGtA-7qi-EvCB356LN6hupGbJfMMpLwPlwwkzasDVMq5USc5LAwTbXF91ghVK2zguYlGSLTQEBt_bcL1ubKEdosc/s1600/Gloves+4+cropped.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQN6jmvwKJ3dzvwcleBXp60kbu75Pi4nWT0seHBNYTX8KvYnxrAxyGtA-7qi-EvCB356LN6hupGbJfMMpLwPlwwkzasDVMq5USc5LAwTbXF91ghVK2zguYlGSLTQEBt_bcL1ubKEdosc/s1600/Gloves+4+cropped.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="479" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQN6jmvwKJ3dzvwcleBXp60kbu75Pi4nWT0seHBNYTX8KvYnxrAxyGtA-7qi-EvCB356LN6hupGbJfMMpLwPlwwkzasDVMq5USc5LAwTbXF91ghVK2zguYlGSLTQEBt_bcL1ubKEdosc/s320/Gloves+4+cropped.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Wow, what a rush!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here I am lying flat on a moving table. I can’t really tell, but if I
go by the gloves on either side of me, I must be purple.<o:p></o:p></div>
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WHhhaaatttsss happening – I just got flipped, and now I can feel
something soft underneath me.</div>
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OOOFfffff!! – something purple just landed on top of me. Now it’s all
dark.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh! I get it. I’m a glove and I’m in a box.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wonder what’s next?</div>
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Huh… whaaatt! The light’s changing. It’s been pitch black for so long. Now I can see light around the edges of a hole above me. Why am I leaning over? Oh, I get it. The box has been opened and they’re starting to use us. I must be in a hospital, judging by the voices and activity going on around here. I wonder what I’ll be used for when it’s my turn?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvlWFlAe5AyfrplUSMSJPNycgExl2v-505gFV9BmlVSiQFASpMYaP_PO-a2pXq175ZgMuxMtrUrpJqtEwM-NNnS3q2kukbELROElcF4BDE2Kgp0yPKOUS3We4IIP38QuVqt2igfCV8Ho/s1600/Gloves+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvlWFlAe5AyfrplUSMSJPNycgExl2v-505gFV9BmlVSiQFASpMYaP_PO-a2pXq175ZgMuxMtrUrpJqtEwM-NNnS3q2kukbELROElcF4BDE2Kgp0yPKOUS3We4IIP38QuVqt2igfCV8Ho/s320/Gloves+7.jpg" width="266" /></a>Maybe there’ll be an emergency and one of the nurses might use me to
protect one of their hands.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maybe I might just be used to keep a barrier between the nurse and
patient while they change a dressing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Maybe I might be used when a nurse is hooking up an IV line.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I hope one of the staff don’t use me when they’re changing a bed, or
cleaning up a mess.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I really wouldn’t like it if I wasn’t used for something important.
After all, that’s what I’ve been hanging around for. Hang on, the light’s
getting brighter. I must be getting close to the top.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAf5N7GD1kOWfEWX8ZWl-TLwAOGJYD0yebgJ8Ez-h4EUDpFu7Bqik6qB9Uz-rM_1nncfGDPmbW5n-QtvPQ2H7THWASgQrVdK0gDAWlQQYcr42qG56mOjR22kxCFX1AENpwaiA6onQnVj0/s1600/Gloves+2+cropped.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="496" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAf5N7GD1kOWfEWX8ZWl-TLwAOGJYD0yebgJ8Ez-h4EUDpFu7Bqik6qB9Uz-rM_1nncfGDPmbW5n-QtvPQ2H7THWASgQrVdK0gDAWlQQYcr42qG56mOjR22kxCFX1AENpwaiA6onQnVj0/s320/Gloves+2+cropped.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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o:title="A picture containing floor, indoor, wall, building Description automatically generated"/>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Woooyessss… my turn! Here comes the
stretch!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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OOHhhhhh…. Ugh!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ahhh! Bugger. She dropped me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now I’m just lying on the floor. What the…?? All that time,
preparation and lying about and she drops me. What a waste. I guess someone
will pick me up later and throw me in the right bin for disposal. Pity I didn’t
get to do anything. No contribution whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, it seems the nurse who dropped me has finished whatever she wanted
me to help with and just buggered off, ‘cause she’s gone. I wonder when someone’s going to pick me
up? Based on the conversations around me it must be Wednesday today. I’m pretty
sure these wards are cleaned every day, so I guess I’ll be gone by tomorrow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So, I’m still here. It’s Thursday afternoon now. No one’s picked me up
yet, so I’m Just hanging out. I thought I was a gone burger earlier. I saw a
broom heading towards me, but it veered off before it reached me so, I guess
maybe tomorrow I’ll be gone. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6opg6fT9jJx9p2gvE8HXpUljg-Kkzl9xNzaDV7W8XtQPF5pKzogarKAK8SfmZ_1IWcK8jhU6n-CriAsH0V0DtCdxLI_kMXevdrRyReIBSmM0fz40KIHzp3G1cPNnrbVkY45JLfbVQCt0/s1600/Gloves+1+cropped.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="520" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6opg6fT9jJx9p2gvE8HXpUljg-Kkzl9xNzaDV7W8XtQPF5pKzogarKAK8SfmZ_1IWcK8jhU6n-CriAsH0V0DtCdxLI_kMXevdrRyReIBSmM0fz40KIHzp3G1cPNnrbVkY45JLfbVQCt0/s320/Gloves+1+cropped.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Man… Really!!! </div>
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Here I am just lying around waiting to be cleaned up
and what happens? Another glove comes tumbling down from above and almost lands
on me. Luckily for me, whoever dropped it tried to catch it with their shoe.
That didn’t work, but at least it stopped it landing on top of me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf0vAeXSJKOfDn45wM0SbsPIHsJdxrIUHirONMXY9kbp42sZKp9G9_A5PbJH2Os7WCtVJQlhR77hw_GaJnP8xrvaxreUeo_1zsvVa8KqbjOevxuvKvli_81bBGNpVcm5Ka90m_mfbREI/s1600/Gloves+5+cropped.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="495" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf0vAeXSJKOfDn45wM0SbsPIHsJdxrIUHirONMXY9kbp42sZKp9G9_A5PbJH2Os7WCtVJQlhR77hw_GaJnP8xrvaxreUeo_1zsvVa8KqbjOevxuvKvli_81bBGNpVcm5Ka90m_mfbREI/s320/Gloves+5+cropped.jpeg" width="320" /></a><o:p> </o:p> </div>
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Gotta say – this is getting old. It’s Saturday morning now, and it’s getting
a bit crowded. Yeah, that’s right. There’s more of us now. This other dude
arrived this morning. So now we’re a threesome. I wonder if today will be the
day? Surely someone’s gonna notice and clean us up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7eCGUBZHQCguLhTZYqXUtomxMjuYLIrzuJK7kOIvusmyyvS6mAhBJVB271JOfczi7D6CoDNWCTPo8YFCo0cZH-Hm2aQ1yEs5hJUvAKbEFjwaqGKY_s0UJGwVAIfcJvEqIBqrvwQfxzw/s1600/Gloves+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="638" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7eCGUBZHQCguLhTZYqXUtomxMjuYLIrzuJK7kOIvusmyyvS6mAhBJVB271JOfczi7D6CoDNWCTPo8YFCo0cZH-Hm2aQ1yEs5hJUvAKbEFjwaqGKY_s0UJGwVAIfcJvEqIBqrvwQfxzw/s320/Gloves+9.jpg" width="320" /></a><o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Yay!! Here she comes. I’m sure I’ll be able to catch this broom. Yep,
we’re outta here!! Wonder where we’re going? I guess if we’d have actually been
used for a higher purpose, we would have been disposed of properly and ended up
in a hospital waste pile. Maybe even have made it to the incinerator. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEU8yQ46nAbefUoelZkzSYBD6bOn1d25M8GC9DWfzYgZgKfM_Cte_S9d16ucZhVM-7KzUunsuB1Xv8_rJCB726XvfcOHHgnyhvd_gVEaUQwPdIMGuRJHIAQ5zq34e2mdU6WCJQ8zmiQpw/s1600/Gloves+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEU8yQ46nAbefUoelZkzSYBD6bOn1d25M8GC9DWfzYgZgKfM_Cte_S9d16ucZhVM-7KzUunsuB1Xv8_rJCB726XvfcOHHgnyhvd_gVEaUQwPdIMGuRJHIAQ5zq34e2mdU6WCJQ8zmiQpw/s320/Gloves+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I’m
pretty sure that’s not happening though. Because we’ve been swept up with a
broom, we’re more than likely headed for a rubbish bin and eventually to
landfill. What a waste. I didn’t get to help anybody, and now I’ll spend the
next couple of hundred years wasting away somewhere. Hopefully I’ll be buried
properly and not end up contaminating a waterway or being washed out to sea.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I guess time will tell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-9381550182408208922019-03-07T00:26:00.000-08:002019-03-07T00:26:20.602-08:00Bloody Whinger!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDanxxaUWkNop12ooGqThb-xrxIRXKYugjkxtj-JTJ2ZFpAcB-PhQlfd4ZQhFfxdnkhOmvXxYzIPRbW9spFkjrXUGlzhhD1cbV8bP0yhttS4WjGOXLi9H9gwz9U6POO7ar0XVhlvGqOc/s1600/Pissed+off+1+cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="370" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDanxxaUWkNop12ooGqThb-xrxIRXKYugjkxtj-JTJ2ZFpAcB-PhQlfd4ZQhFfxdnkhOmvXxYzIPRbW9spFkjrXUGlzhhD1cbV8bP0yhttS4WjGOXLi9H9gwz9U6POO7ar0XVhlvGqOc/s320/Pissed+off+1+cropped.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I’m not happy.</b></span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I’m fed up.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I’m over it.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I’m pissed off.</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve had way more than enough and last night just topped it off.
Somehow the relationship between Doctor, Nurse and Patient has morphed in such
a way that I’m now continually winding myself up, thinking about the situation
I’m in. When the infection started, almost two weeks ago, I was the victim and
because the hospital had stuffed up, everyone I came into contact with was very
considerate and supportive and I was convinced that all the speed bumps would
be flattened out and we would just get on with it. Now, I get the distinct
impression that the constant stream of ever-changing nurses looking after me are all treating me as if I’m the problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXt0-ts7PtxjH7NnAV_Ghl7Dq2SZ7lYAlDtAQ9v0XqRk-DDPusC3rIHDoo1gAd-HknL_CsS0yLQ_V06cBTiU_Ij3AtaQmzFC6DtLnlzB1EINiD_DXnPN-axDpjQpDopc9WPquBgmq4OY4/s1600/Confused+1+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="655" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXt0-ts7PtxjH7NnAV_Ghl7Dq2SZ7lYAlDtAQ9v0XqRk-DDPusC3rIHDoo1gAd-HknL_CsS0yLQ_V06cBTiU_Ij3AtaQmzFC6DtLnlzB1EINiD_DXnPN-axDpjQpDopc9WPquBgmq4OY4/s320/Confused+1+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a>What am I doing here?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why am I still on this ward?<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I was self-medicating, before coming to this hospital, everything
was under control. A simple cocktail of Panadol and Ibuprofen and I was
managing everything ok. Now, I’m getting, Panadol (restricted), Ibuprofen
(restricted), Tramadol in two different forms, Severadol, something to thin my
blood which I can never remember the name of and buckets and buckets of
Antibiotics. I wonder why I feel lousy all the time? But, I think my real
problem is, because they’re restricting the Panadol and Ibuprofen the pain gets
worse more quickly and I’ll take anything they offer to make it go away.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUIblq7SyitS387fyHZ6q0I-2ugbbqzcza7L7_j6kGzeSqJH1lZOlepPWTdkQXVQ6-R0PGV-55fmqQvTT0qGMfd_zfSnnMUuuFS2VmI_qmYd3xbGxJ3raEno5WNFnsDRYpko1jVphGQY/s1600/Angry+2+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUIblq7SyitS387fyHZ6q0I-2ugbbqzcza7L7_j6kGzeSqJH1lZOlepPWTdkQXVQ6-R0PGV-55fmqQvTT0qGMfd_zfSnnMUuuFS2VmI_qmYd3xbGxJ3raEno5WNFnsDRYpko1jVphGQY/s1600/Angry+2+cropped.jpg" /></a></div>
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Anyway, yesterday I was sitting in my bedside chair, being a good
little patient, and into the room charged this person, who I’d never seen
before, and announced that she was one of the Infectious Disease Control
Doctors. In a very loud and demanding voice, she asked to see the infection
site, and the PICC line site, then announced that I had damaged skin and that
this might be the reason for me getting the infection. I think as soon as the
words were out of her mouth, she realized what she'd said and before I could
say anything, she quickly assured me that wasn’t why I had become infected. Then
she did an about face and charged off out of the room. You might imagine, this
interaction left me feeling pretty special, and the more I dwelt on it through
the day the more pissed off I became. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvzGR6p4nFuSpjXWfA0Y6lkPHMs-y-_4UoDVQPQbcbcjV9LhNumYzrxYALx2e2bpvq7kuL1SKYyLzJXMEOhTR1Tluh8DJWvxJoJfGf_QyG6JXltlXewll7y7jfCV0e1OwJQrXPUQTtKI/s1600/Room+7+Ward+74.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvzGR6p4nFuSpjXWfA0Y6lkPHMs-y-_4UoDVQPQbcbcjV9LhNumYzrxYALx2e2bpvq7kuL1SKYyLzJXMEOhTR1Tluh8DJWvxJoJfGf_QyG6JXltlXewll7y7jfCV0e1OwJQrXPUQTtKI/s320/Room+7+Ward+74.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My Little Corner of the World</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So, I want to tell you about last night. I’m in a four bed ward that
seems to act as some sort of day surgery clearing house. Every afternoon/night
they bring patients in, that as a rule, seem to stay overnight and get
discharged the following day. I’m not sure why I’m in that particular ward.
I’ve asked a couple of people and received vague replies that tell me the person
I’m asking doesn’t really know. Or care. Sometimes these patients are brought
in around six o’clock and other times around ten o’clock. Because my bed is
furthest from the door, around seven o'clock I tend to pull the curtains around the bed closed to create some semblance of privacy, but leave the curtain that covers the window to the atrium open and set myself
up at the little meal table they provide for the bed. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jdR0RqqEGVahODZglkChxmsx5EGqSVZDgYZL_kg3gg38CHcqiFHsalajrAQ61pKTOPkWRqM_l2hKYD_LfGIGNjEsMl5Zim7LzZNxAxuQ8ckccbZFZRNChsJqtInwLrhP944_H-8xWNk/s1600/View+into+the+Atrium.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jdR0RqqEGVahODZglkChxmsx5EGqSVZDgYZL_kg3gg38CHcqiFHsalajrAQ61pKTOPkWRqM_l2hKYD_LfGIGNjEsMl5Zim7LzZNxAxuQ8ckccbZFZRNChsJqtInwLrhP944_H-8xWNk/s320/View+into+the+Atrium.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>View From My Bed</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I’m sure this isn’t
helping. I sit and stew and think of ways to reinforce the injustice of it all.
I didn’t stuff up. Why am I the one paying the price? There’s nowhere else to
go. There are no lounges or even places where you can actually view the outside
world, ‘cause the ward goes into lockdown at eight o’clock. They have a Whanau
room that has a row of really uncomfortable chairs and TV mounted too high on
the opposite wall, but this is most times inhabited by some other patient’s
family members, who probably couldn’t find, or afford, accommodation close by. I try to distract myself with movies, music, books and computer games, but this is becoming less and less effective. So tonight I'm trying to distract myself by having a whinge.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back to last night. I’m hiding in my little cubbyhole and they wheel
in a couple of patients. No problem. The staff spend a bit of time sorting things
out getting organised and then off they go. I think things are going to settle
down when one of the guys starts to cough and spit. Next thing, the light come
on and he takes himself off to the bathroom where we listen to him clear out
his throat and nose. Then he comes back and gets into bed and settles down
again and the light goes out. This little episode is repeated at fairly regular
intervals throughout the night (why does he have to turn the light on each
time?) until just before three when a team of doctors and nurses turn up. They
start examining this guy and talking to him as if the problem is in his ears. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkLaNsF54q7VkCrfge0CRDq9ulo1qz2q2ju22q6ctR0bk9a55WgKUmCtijNciPiwp8V_eIMb_Yqrg2wEKPL-3U0B3WpKu2oEOgR6IxvA-On95jmDpj9ALHOIEzX67z1BNwezuJiJV7FM/s1600/Yelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkLaNsF54q7VkCrfge0CRDq9ulo1qz2q2ju22q6ctR0bk9a55WgKUmCtijNciPiwp8V_eIMb_Yqrg2wEKPL-3U0B3WpKu2oEOgR6IxvA-On95jmDpj9ALHOIEzX67z1BNwezuJiJV7FM/s1600/Yelling.jpg" /></a></div>
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Why do Health Professionals speak so loudly to patients? Hasn’t anyone
ever explained to them that speaking loudly doesn’t lead to a clearer understanding. </div>
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After
about half an hour of this they decided to wheel him off into the night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Great”, I think as I try once again to settle down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Five minutes later and they wheel in some other dude. This one decides
he’s going to lie in bed, with the light on, Facetime someone and have a chat
in Chinese.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Enough”. I ring the bell for the nurse and ask her to ask him to get
off the phone. What does he do? He decides to talk in whispers. So, I do the
unthinkable. I march over to his little area, push the curtain back, point at
my watch and tell him to be quiet. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You can probably tell, by this time (4:30 am.), I’m not really in the
right frame of mind to sleep, but after awhile things quieten down and… his
light comes on. He’s decided he’s going to read his tablet – with the light on.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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This goes on until the Nurse comes in at 6:00am to start my IV again.
So, I have breakfast, have a shower, and when I come out, my little mate across
the way is sound asleep and snoring his head off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s when I started writing this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s now eight o’clock at night and, tonight I have three people sharing
the ward. One is my little mate from last night who decided it was a good idea
to Facetime at three in the morning and then read through the rest of the night
on his tablet with the light on, and one of the others is an older gentleman who’s in
for a procedure tomorrow morning. He also has sleep apnoea and uses a very
noisy breathing machine. Did you know people who use these machines also snore?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Guess what I’m going to be listening to all night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, at this point I have a choice. I can wind myself up again and
start growling at the night staff and making a dick of myself. Or, as my youngest daughter would say, I can suck
it up, try to get my head down and act like a civilized adult. Because I don’t
like myself when I’m angry I’m gonna try for the second option. Wish me luck.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the end of all these posts, I’ve included trite sayings about
kindness. I do believe it’s something that’s missing in the world today, and I‘d
like to think I’m able to “practice what I preach”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I guess we’ll know in the morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-36879636112068099242019-03-01T20:50:00.000-08:002019-03-01T20:55:12.120-08:00The Rehearsal<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJCwwjBT7epxT-AecHN6Dz3MlEoginw8tnXbPePVPUr3MAnfDAi7iPvLlRAcJpof_FZIDTESbE_Zv6nMajkrtr4zFzq_bmA4XkatEqqkpVa7uwU149xA3qPw263XpXaVgoliHEswqcok/s1600/Surgery+rehearsal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJCwwjBT7epxT-AecHN6Dz3MlEoginw8tnXbPePVPUr3MAnfDAi7iPvLlRAcJpof_FZIDTESbE_Zv6nMajkrtr4zFzq_bmA4XkatEqqkpVa7uwU149xA3qPw263XpXaVgoliHEswqcok/s400/Surgery+rehearsal.jpg" width="296" /></a><o:p> </o:p>You know how when you want to become really good at something and
there’s an end goal in sight, like if you’re a character in a play and you’re
looking forward to opening night, you need to make sure you get things right.
If you have a huge cast in the play it can sometimes be difficult to schedule
rehearsals to suit everyone. But the important thing is to make sure you can
get the main characters together. When one of them “drops the ball” and calls
in sick it can upset the entire event. A well as upsetting everyone this kind
of thing usually costs a lot of money.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->You might have latched on to the fact that
I was pretty pumped at the end of the last post. It was all happening. Surgery
was going to happen the next day, Tuesday. Well… Nah! I did get to see the
inside of the surgery prep room, but when the team had a look at my arm all the
smiles turned upside down. I have to say, I’m really pleased they decided not
to go ahead ‘cause over the next forty-eight hours things really turned pear
shaped. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ever had a doctor or nurse ask: “Where is the pain on a scale of 1 to
10?” I’ve never really been able to answer that question with confidence,
‘cause I can’t imagine what 10 might be. (Maybe it’s childbirth.) But I think I
know what a 7 is now. It’s when the pain brings you to tears, and that happened
a couple of times over the next forty-eight hours. It’s now Friday and we’re
just starting to get on top of things. They’ve been trying to keep me on IV
antibiotics since the failed surgery attempt and they want me to stay on them
up to, and after, the 12<sup>th</sup>. which is my new/old surgery date.<br />
<br />
Anyway, we’re now on the fourth attempt to get them into me. We’ve gone from a normal cannula in the arm – that caused all the trouble - to one in the foot that worked ok for a while - to one in the outer Jugular that no one was happy with - to a PICC line that’s now in my left shoulder. Apparently, that’s it. If I bugger this up, I win a year’s membership in the “Pain In The Arse Patient’s Club.”<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">So
now, this is me for the next twelve days. Fingers crossed I get there without
causing anyone any more drama. I’m now considered a “high risk” patient and today
they’ve started some new protocols. I’m sure you’ll be pleased to hear that
this includes – no washing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCYIZD-YNUYhe9ycsmR0Z-MYMRcHGmXBDgmIgEKVZeVxFCel83BP0y_f7-kHXPqIIwxaac20uion19XeItziiSGr5M1Y-hF4iSdKBMkRrSK0OgFR7B9aeb_Si7ZnlYIq5RV_h_8mj38g/s1600/Body+Odour+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCYIZD-YNUYhe9ycsmR0Z-MYMRcHGmXBDgmIgEKVZeVxFCel83BP0y_f7-kHXPqIIwxaac20uion19XeItziiSGr5M1Y-hF4iSdKBMkRrSK0OgFR7B9aeb_Si7ZnlYIq5RV_h_8mj38g/s1600/Body+Odour+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Aren’t you glad you’re so far away you can’t visit? <o:p></o:p><br />
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Poor Denise. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDSpkKtcEZoNNYMZJBc1SA1zIMCnQ-t73hfC6Bb7W86Yc5lXtjT-MWCU-Pei6nx5s0fXobX4sgH-bfQNKvT-1cojrOg5sJSSZtWRZoNw8ZtDvmWC1FMRMHbL7wwvd19boscS9rBlRL_s/s1600/Indoor+garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDSpkKtcEZoNNYMZJBc1SA1zIMCnQ-t73hfC6Bb7W86Yc5lXtjT-MWCU-Pei6nx5s0fXobX4sgH-bfQNKvT-1cojrOg5sJSSZtWRZoNw8ZtDvmWC1FMRMHbL7wwvd19boscS9rBlRL_s/s320/Indoor+garden.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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How it works is, every six hours I get tied up to a bag of fluid. It
takes between half an hour and forty-five minutes to get the juice in, then I
normally wander around the hospital for an hour or two looking for new and
exciting toilets to get rid of it. I’m pretty sure I’ve still got a few to
find. If I run out there’s quite a few indoor gardens that I could water. </div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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Anyway, it’s now Sunday morning and time for a walk. I might have to
start doing movie reviews after this, çause I'm pretty sure things are going to get a
bit boring for the next week and a bit. We’ll see how we get on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Remember…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbxnv_tFLkncwpuCc4WteV4kwrIlK-MSzh1HP5lmTkIymPQ61mU8Obad18k3vuLN81eWTZu6koypoiUo1lx9H6epr7mr8CIuGqrlPoV8s3cgyZZaxR_C921XH9nYAQoHSnqpodIgeQX4/s1600/Kindness+battle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="424" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbxnv_tFLkncwpuCc4WteV4kwrIlK-MSzh1HP5lmTkIymPQ61mU8Obad18k3vuLN81eWTZu6koypoiUo1lx9H6epr7mr8CIuGqrlPoV8s3cgyZZaxR_C921XH9nYAQoHSnqpodIgeQX4/s320/Kindness+battle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-15098484190518326582019-02-24T21:56:00.000-08:002019-02-24T21:56:04.711-08:00And so it goes...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFngc1kniMPoSnZyN8nUxxMmNN6o7HtkXme-yKItFhWNAxPsAmut3Mi5uDFmu3ZIb2L9lmuCKLaZo3Sc62_yyY_v2bKU0Ufzuy5gHHSCehCE2UVfmJ6-H9w3lK8PJG_3KU3E9kJ6wapM/s1600/Apology+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFngc1kniMPoSnZyN8nUxxMmNN6o7HtkXme-yKItFhWNAxPsAmut3Mi5uDFmu3ZIb2L9lmuCKLaZo3Sc62_yyY_v2bKU0Ufzuy5gHHSCehCE2UVfmJ6-H9w3lK8PJG_3KU3E9kJ6wapM/s320/Apology+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->My apologies to Billy Joel for the plagiarism. I’m not sure how this is going to go. It’s Monday morning now. I’m hoping to
finish this tonight, cause tomorrow’s surgery day. We’ve had a few days of
stops and starts with a little bit of miscommunication thrown in. I’ll tell you
about that in a bit, but first… once more I have to say that the staff in this
DHB are wonderful, thoughtful, caring, empathetic, and they smile a lot. But; it’s
got to stop. Every sad face, wince, sharp intake of breath or whine gets a
“Sorry”. I’m going to find a Swear Jar and change it to a “Sorry” Jar. Every
time one of the caregivers says sorry to me I’m going to put their name in the
jar. When this is all over, the nurse whose name is in there the most might
just get a strip-a-gram when I leave.</div>
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Adam??? Are you busy that day???<o:p></o:p></div>
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Auckland, the city of Sails. All I want to do after spending the
weekend here is – sail Away, sail away, sail away, as Enya used to say<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaIkrlck0ijaOmg3p9ViNHN9cHI8qhhWjTKeVo9mxD-0eCbtdPR2IXtF_bPx3i9d0NMTajK0xhHg4IX6AnYkGiGuep_ndYsFX9kNZEF-5bUHTG473GUeaxyLlAuUo6Cxq2HE9_r5jIdw/s1600/Carpark+1.jpg+enhanced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="355" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaIkrlck0ijaOmg3p9ViNHN9cHI8qhhWjTKeVo9mxD-0eCbtdPR2IXtF_bPx3i9d0NMTajK0xhHg4IX6AnYkGiGuep_ndYsFX9kNZEF-5bUHTG473GUeaxyLlAuUo6Cxq2HE9_r5jIdw/s320/Carpark+1.jpg+enhanced.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Auckland Carpark</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Remember that eight minute walk from the
hotel in Auckland to the hospital? (If you don’t, you haven’t been paying
attention.) Well, turns out it’s more like 25 minutes. Not that I’ve actually
walked it. Denise has. Every-time we’ve needed to visit the hospital over the
last few days I’ve found an excuse to catch a bus or a taxi.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAYVaV6Moy38HR27wYdpVx5Ch8sBSlnX-bdABXz0Jc1COUTBBnGIESKaN680uWyakqmTvyi6bRjtJRREQ0y9Db93qN62mh9GzTzOII47EguYnhLFF5y_pNG31KM8tM8Up2CsdduyLyHo/s1600/Carpark+2+enhanced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="309" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAYVaV6Moy38HR27wYdpVx5Ch8sBSlnX-bdABXz0Jc1COUTBBnGIESKaN680uWyakqmTvyi6bRjtJRREQ0y9Db93qN62mh9GzTzOII47EguYnhLFF5y_pNG31KM8tM8Up2CsdduyLyHo/s320/Carpark+2+enhanced.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Amsterdam Carpark</span></td></tr>
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<p class=MsoCaption>
<b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#4472C4;mso-themecolor:accent1'>Carpark in
Amsterdam <span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What about the car”, you might well ask.
Well, that’s probably a subject for a very different kind of blog that involves
lots of swearing. Let’s just say, at Twenty-One Dollars per day it turns out
that bringing a car to Auckland when you ‘re staying in the city is a really
bad move. Anyway, you live and (sometimes) you learn.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
So, Friday afternoon we rock up to the MDM (Multi-Disciplinary
Meeting) and after the obligatory ID process and a short wait we’re shown into
a consult room and the parade of doctors starts. The upshot of all this is
that, I’m not being admitted on Monday as we were previously told. I’m being
admitted right now. The reason: they want to do another CT scan over the
weekend to see if the cancer has progressed. Because it’s travelling along my
infraorbital nerve, if it’s reached my right eye then it’s gotta go as well as
the nerves and bones. It’s a good thing I’ve got a spare.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Now, we didn’t actually get to see the Ward on Friday. As soon as my
personal crew of doctors had finished with me at the MDM I was dismissed and
told to report back at 08:00am. Saturday morning. They didn’t have a time for
CT Scan yet, but I would need to be ready to go first thing in the morning and
no food or drink after 6:00am. And, ready I was. So, 11:00am. rolls round and
here comes the “Hop-On, Hop-Off” wheelchair. Off we go for a tour of the
hospital and I’m kicked out of the chair at Radiology. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
“Welcome. Welcome. Come in and lie down here while we get you sorted
out.” So, like a good little patient, I do. After getting me all set up, ready
to have my “head examined”, another Tech comes in and starts apologising…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
“Sorry, sorry, sorry” she says. “I’ve just spoken to one of the
doctors and they want the CT Scan done tomorrow so it’s closer to the day of
operation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
“Cool”, says I - as they got me off the table with what I thought was
undue haste – and sent me on my way. Back in the Ward I’m told: “Go home. You
can come back tomorrow morning. Just be here before 8:00am. and remember, no
food or drink after 6:00am.” So off we go to spend the afternoon with the kids.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTo5JY6eq5XmeCfnS7MvokKwVq1cnlrYTaZ2mIpa6oLJDdL9bh8XEPvmLLsrmQotf8LD8skVqutpZFqnkuL7pUs2dyJXBoewbQRyaApUrRsuuwcPZGZiTliDkj361a5_J7IYqnDzHx_Os/s1600/Tree+in+Auckland+Domain+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTo5JY6eq5XmeCfnS7MvokKwVq1cnlrYTaZ2mIpa6oLJDdL9bh8XEPvmLLsrmQotf8LD8skVqutpZFqnkuL7pUs2dyJXBoewbQRyaApUrRsuuwcPZGZiTliDkj361a5_J7IYqnDzHx_Os/s400/Tree+in+Auckland+Domain+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Groundhog Day. Next morning, we turn up around seven-thirty and settle
in. Mid-morning and once again we hear…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
“You can go home if you want. The CT Scan is booked for tomorrow
morning, but you’ll have to be here before 7:00am.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->“What the…” and I didn’t even get to ride in
the wheelchair today. Anyway, we decided the best thing to do was for me to
stay in the hospital. That way, there’s no pressure on tomorrow morning. Whoops
– there’s a slight flaw in this plan. I haven’t ordered any dinner or breakfast.
We have a chat to Nurse Verrr YBusy and she assures me she’ll make a plan. “What
would I like for dinner?” She asks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
“Sausages and mash,” is the reply. No mention of breakfast, because
once again I’m not allowed to eat after 6:00am. But that’s fine. Remember me –
the eternal optimist? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Anyway, off we go to spend some more time with the kids in the Domain –
and that was Sunday sorted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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So, dinnertime rolls around and there’s no sign of any food for Chris.
Now, I know there’s no point in whinging about this to the nurses, ‘cause they
ain’t the cooks. So, initiative kicks in, and Subway, here I come. Nothing like
a Teriyaki Salad to satisfy the worms.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
This morning, and here’s the plan. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3GSzaWkO7ossdluQg-WGkbuzeRWDsn_uX_Q6D9CsuYAgj9Gc__LLhnXOeS5a5kFTtIWj9dIrAoBwiMvwL_WyfJgFGVMf8kqcngackASqDkuC8NHx23-olqi12uvrraavNswVOS6az-A/s1600/Organisation+chart+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="500" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3GSzaWkO7ossdluQg-WGkbuzeRWDsn_uX_Q6D9CsuYAgj9Gc__LLhnXOeS5a5kFTtIWj9dIrAoBwiMvwL_WyfJgFGVMf8kqcngackASqDkuC8NHx23-olqi12uvrraavNswVOS6az-A/s320/Organisation+chart+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->7:00am. –<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Doctor’s rounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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10:00 am. –<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>CT Scan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
12:00 Noon -<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lunch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometime after that – Consult with the Specialists to discuss CT Scan
results.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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What actually happened…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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8:00am -<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A chauffer
arrives with a wheelchair and I’m off for a CT Scan. Now, did you know – ‘cause
I didn’t – there’s two Radiology centres in this hospital. One on the second
floor and one on the sixth floor. No prizes for guessing that the chauffer
dropped me off at the wrong one. No biggie. Once they discovered my real identity
they took me to the right one, so it all worked out in the end.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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8:45am. – I’m back in the Ward and YAY!!. There’s my breakfast.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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12:00 Noon – Lunch. Hang on!! I hadn’t ordered any lunch. What the…!!
Remember yesterday when I ordered Sausages and Mash for Dinner? No… you’re
wrong. The Sausages and Mash had been crossed out on my menu sheet and replaced
with – Cauliflower and Broccoli covered in a cheese sauce. Yum!! Luckily, I
found some Mushroom Soup on the tray as well. Also, my wonderful wife wandered
off and came back with all sorts of goodies from the Café downstairs. So, I’m a
happy camper.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s now 2:15pm. with no sign of the Specialists, but that’s cool. I’m
off to work on my jigsaw now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Well, time marches on...<br />
<br />
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Now, I haven’t told you the story of the Intravenous Line. I wasn’t
going to but now it’s developed into a central character. Last night about
midnight my right arm started to get my attention around the site of the IV
line. By 3:00am. I caved and wandered off to ask the Night Nurse what she
thought. Seems it “tissued”. Apparently that means the IV had moved, lost the
vein, and was playing havoc with the tissue around the site. (It’s good to have
a wife who’s an ex nurse.) So, that IV was removed and they put another one into
a different site. All good – problem solved. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Well…!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhzeLfg1GnLYIUO17hIydLGb8G2PgxaEMJ4p67DfmdzCBoxFOzOygXILLaUBZczmu3gmWUlhV_8Yz815VzohsBUGUPK3Z-fw5qFLKPXWkR6bBEytIRG_pwO3vtcKz9Z5UcUVSfnCl5YI/s1600/Arm+infection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhzeLfg1GnLYIUO17hIydLGb8G2PgxaEMJ4p67DfmdzCBoxFOzOygXILLaUBZczmu3gmWUlhV_8Yz815VzohsBUGUPK3Z-fw5qFLKPXWkR6bBEytIRG_pwO3vtcKz9Z5UcUVSfnCl5YI/s1600/Arm+infection.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bugger!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
This afternoon they noticed the redness – took a swab and it turns out
I have an infection in my right arm from the IV line. GGGggggreat!!! About ten
minutes ago the anesthetist came to check me out, spotted the infection and
raced off to tell the Surgeon. So, the weather forecast from here us looking
pretty bleak right now. Storm clouds are gathering over us and there’s lots of
thunder running round in my head. It’s 6:30pm – surgery’s supposed to start at
08:00 and the only person who can make the call is still working. I hope they haven’t
filled the original spot for the 12<sup>th</sup>. March. Anyway, time will
tell.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Time for me to stop writing now. Am I gonna have surgery tomorrow?
Dunno!! I’ll keep you posted. I'm now getting an IV for antibiotics to try to wash the badies away. So that's me for tonight. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Don’t forget… When you’re frustrated, recognize the mood and make sure
you remain kind to those around you.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-58038782008933576032019-02-19T22:52:00.000-08:002019-02-19T22:52:48.725-08:00Surprise!!!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
You know when you make a plan that’s going to unfold over a period of time
- at the start of the plan things normally progress at a pace that you set with
the end game in sight. So, what do you do when those in charge change the
rules?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwknFEjB1ba3YKiwF0HwOWwTzVZqf5jTpuGqdZ_WTZ-gU6OwK6TfKP57WxP70xfEki4oxq52X_9AdQ9JGQbcblz6a7iJkljHj34-gaGNsIY3bgYRJAnIPzQZEojPON20SoISydB_Py3w/s1600/shock+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="412" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwknFEjB1ba3YKiwF0HwOWwTzVZqf5jTpuGqdZ_WTZ-gU6OwK6TfKP57WxP70xfEki4oxq52X_9AdQ9JGQbcblz6a7iJkljHj34-gaGNsIY3bgYRJAnIPzQZEojPON20SoISydB_Py3w/s320/shock+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>I guess you have two choices. You can
panic or you can get excited. We panicked for about two and a half minutes then
got a bit excited. The event that caused this heart flutter was a phone call
from Toni yesterday morning (Tuesday), who is “somebody” to do with “something”
at Auckland DHB. (Still haven’t quite worked out who or what.) Anyway, she was
calling to tell me my surgery date has been changed. The panic started before she
said anymore, ‘cause I thought it was going to be delayed. The excitement set
in when she told me the date was being brought forward by two weeks. I’ve now
been scheduled to report for pre-admission stuff on Friday, admission on Monday
and surgery on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, after about ten minutes of getting our heads around the changes,
Denise and I started making new plans. To be honest, the planning we’d already put
in place pretty much covered everything, so apart from some business stuff –
which we worked through and finished today – the only things we really had to
organise was for someone to collect the mail, (thanks Donna), and to pick up some fuel vouchers
for the trip to Auckland tomorrow. Easy-peasy!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsNvHe0ZbY6sSKpbNoBN5BBUzDnCoS3ODnjxRTYHpdIboL0PWXW1Au_FlOT7w0G8AeKXmRE-gD8-caGvX_j7fYeQSih8aLkTS9V2INXDgF1XOv5MzTq9ryv9cHaIpMMQZVO5-eO22wsA/s1600/No+room+at+the+Inn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsNvHe0ZbY6sSKpbNoBN5BBUzDnCoS3ODnjxRTYHpdIboL0PWXW1Au_FlOT7w0G8AeKXmRE-gD8-caGvX_j7fYeQSih8aLkTS9V2INXDgF1XOv5MzTq9ryv9cHaIpMMQZVO5-eO22wsA/s400/No+room+at+the+Inn.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->When I phoned the Transport Lady at the hospital,
the idea was to arrange for some fuel vouchers for the trip up, and
accommodation for Denise for the two weeks I’ll be lounging ‘round the ward. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Sorry”, said she. “We haven’t got any accommodation available in
Auckland. All the places we deal with are fully booked. You’ll have to arrange
your own accommodation and claim for it later.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
(What the?? What’s happening in Auckland??)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Not a problem. We can sort this out easy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Yeah, right!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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After hours and hours and hours of searching through Booking.com,
Book-a-Bach, Air B&B, Trivago and Expedia – ok, maybe it was a bit less
than that - we found a double room in a hotel in the middle of Auckland City. So
now we have a place to stay, which according to the famous Geographer, Mr G
Maps, is an eight minute walk away from the hospital.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Another road trip. Tomorrow morning we’ll pack up the car and head off
to Auckland yet again. The problem we’re facing tonight is… which car do we
take?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Mine’s the most comfortable, but Denise’s
has more whistles and bells and we can patch our music into the car system. I
guess the question comes down to whether we want to listen to music or talkback
on the trip. This is a quandary. What to do? I’m not gonna be able to sleep
tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a real issue. If I get
it wrong, it might have major ramifications for our ears tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Man!!! This is too much pressure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But, I’m looking forward to the mushrooms!! I think I told you about
this before. There’s a little café in Cambridge (opposite the old church) that
does the best mushroom and bacon dish in the world. Denise can never finish her’s…
Bonus!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, I’ve been writing rubbish for the last couple of paragraphs but,
we need to sort this next little issue out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQonZHkDQaNhjTuC47Sk-s5bmwl5igzpMqBBRPwNsyKcACfFFxIRv7NuzaF57lTNy0mzWW9CJ2jEgG_OkVduLGBHRH2SZGU8wwqP5gy0Zz_MzNKAHZZFKOGrMgcW7BZ78elNbakTsSGU/s1600/No+tears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQonZHkDQaNhjTuC47Sk-s5bmwl5igzpMqBBRPwNsyKcACfFFxIRv7NuzaF57lTNy0mzWW9CJ2jEgG_OkVduLGBHRH2SZGU8wwqP5gy0Zz_MzNKAHZZFKOGrMgcW7BZ78elNbakTsSGU/s1600/No+tears.jpg" /></a>NO TEARS!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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We’ve talked about this before. We’re struggling with this so it might
be time to go “off-grid”. We understand and truly appreciate the love and
support we are constantly receiving from all of you. But, NO TEARS!! That’s the
deal. We would rather hear about your lives and the things that make you laugh,
‘cause these are the things that make us laugh. The positive, the funny and the
normal. These are the things that truly help. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not sure how the next few days are going to go, but I probably won’t
get back to this for a while. Until I do…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Remember…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr_Q3XDDFzKQaGaxliaYmd_TvUcyA3dbAiXTZPf0-RwoQu45wCDF4JC6UPIusnSgjrUuPnjB9ltBnYKHodBoOC9kN-vqMa9cOuhTxfLp8d2ZSNdAZvO2JcM5q5eAoDu4hfyrXRkGlAzM/s1600/Kindness+is+contagious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr_Q3XDDFzKQaGaxliaYmd_TvUcyA3dbAiXTZPf0-RwoQu45wCDF4JC6UPIusnSgjrUuPnjB9ltBnYKHodBoOC9kN-vqMa9cOuhTxfLp8d2ZSNdAZvO2JcM5q5eAoDu4hfyrXRkGlAzM/s1600/Kindness+is+contagious.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br />Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-76342218604990112242019-02-15T19:48:00.000-08:002019-05-19T20:22:06.957-07:00It's a Competition<div style="text-align: justify;">
To everyone who read and commented on my last post. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Some of you commented on the blog post, some of you on Facebook, and some of you sent text messages. They were all very gratefully received.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Did you realize when you commented that you were automatically entered into a competition? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
No?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, you were. The competition is ongoing and there may, or may not, be prizes given out with each new post. The prize categories for the last post were...</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">The one that caused the most laughter.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">The one that caused the most tears.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0RcCDyt3dJg_Oo5Y-ej-NCocIooxW7yGqs1RPNLHH1semHN_GHI26f0yUkM2Y-AOt4yrV85A9KJN-X6x1sXt3bJRmDdXjybRv_5Hz48-AFeyUwEoo8LyCEILDJZCwYVGD7yQGC9AT_4/s1600/Luxury+Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0RcCDyt3dJg_Oo5Y-ej-NCocIooxW7yGqs1RPNLHH1semHN_GHI26f0yUkM2Y-AOt4yrV85A9KJN-X6x1sXt3bJRmDdXjybRv_5Hz48-AFeyUwEoo8LyCEILDJZCwYVGD7yQGC9AT_4/s200/Luxury+Boat.jpg" width="200" /></a>The winner of the first category was my bro, Tane. He read the blog and then sent me a text asking if he could borrow the boat while I was in Auckland. His prize - he gets to shout next time we have a coffee together. <br />
<br />
By the way, I don't have a boat - but if I did...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The winner of the second prize is still being considered, so this category will carry over. The prize winner of this category will receive a strongly-worded telling off, followed by banishment from this blog. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To change the tone a bit, let me tell you about a "dining table conversation" we had. The we being - yours truly, my wife, Denise and her sister Robyn. I'm not sure how we got to this subject but, we talked about what happens in the unlikely event that cancer wins.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvytLiGTBleit0ZZUxv1NyUPF52H3Cp89xohYX9PmBmD4LWvZDAfv4pJ_MsG3akq4boR3olwWVNnzA2hfKhpvNOs4K9srCwmq3OnMJ8xE6l7D_fkSmsCQol8S6gNjgBebsug66V6GicY/s1600/How+to+Follow+by+Email+-+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="228" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvytLiGTBleit0ZZUxv1NyUPF52H3Cp89xohYX9PmBmD4LWvZDAfv4pJ_MsG3akq4boR3olwWVNnzA2hfKhpvNOs4K9srCwmq3OnMJ8xE6l7D_fkSmsCQol8S6gNjgBebsug66V6GicY/s320/How+to+Follow+by+Email+-+cropped.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
Feeling uncomfortable yet?<br />
<br />
Upon reflection, I've realized that this is a very necessary conversation to have with those closest to you. I've kinda had a version of this conversation with my children already, but that was before cancer reared it's ugly head again. Over the next little while, as opportunity arises, I'll check to make sure we're all on the same page when it comes to working out who's going to look after the shrine for my ashes when they're not on display.<br />
<br />
Another interesting, and necessary item we ticked off, was a meeting with our Solicitor. I think we asked all the right questions. These were all focused on making sure that my wife wasn't going to have to worry about things like property or money. We worked out that Denise is going to miss out on everything I own, but she'll be able to carry on with everything we own. She's pretty upset with the outcome 'cause she'll have to fight to get the title to my fifteen year old XR6.<br />
<br />
As someone said before, it's the little things. For the past forever, I've owned two pairs of PJs. One winter set and one summer set. They normally go through the washer and dryer with the sheets. Realizing that won't work during my "vacay" in Auckland we had to go on a shopping trip - so now I'm the proud owner of two more pairs of PJs.<br />
<br />
Spoiled, right?<br />
<br />
So, how am I doing? I'm pretty fine actually. I'm sleeping a bit too well which means the pain meds are wearing off through the night, but the Panadol/Ibuprofen cocktails are doing the job. Denise and I have been out walking a bit. That's something I need to do more of. For me, the day-to-day stuff's great. It keeps me from thinking the wrong kind of thoughts - which reminds me, I must empty the garden waste out of the trailer tomorrow - and I'm enjoying writing this. Strangely, I've lost my appetite for reading. Not sure what that's about. I gotta say, I am getting a little impatient though. I'm not actually looking forward to the line going into the back of my hand, but the sooner that happens, the sooner it'll come out again.<br />
<br />
Anyway, how're you doing? Let me know, eh? Tell me all about the good stuff in your life. Lee, I'm expecting a joke from you. No excuses.<br />
<br />
As someone, somewhere said: Keep trying to do the right thing.</div>
Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-33860982373038344362019-02-08T20:53:00.000-08:002019-02-08T20:53:48.650-08:00How did I get here??? – The Diagnosis.<br />
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I’ve been thinking about all the
gaps in my journey that I haven’t written about, and there’s one in particular that
keeps coming to mind…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">How did I come to be diagnosed with
cancer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I thought there might be some merit
in sharing this particular aspect of my situation with others, so I’m beginning
this tale at a point where I was somewhat embarrassed and hesitant, and
concerned that I was wasting everyone’s time, trying to explain away a numbness
and a very minor ache in my face. Just so we’re clear, this story covers a four
month timeline, from early October 2018 until early February 2019. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8nePuQvQ3AVG9cpQJlU83SoUtSoi6ZlKXeFtwhTMohVBj5H-hHUwMMKo9C4MT2gFM0_3Gaq6d7o5TPyvMPOBWd0ebzuTyfRHJ0IEuyVoPfpr10te_nl7LjnM4BM1QJGrYbv5zDCkPBw/s1600/Be+careful+when+shaving+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="193" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8nePuQvQ3AVG9cpQJlU83SoUtSoi6ZlKXeFtwhTMohVBj5H-hHUwMMKo9C4MT2gFM0_3Gaq6d7o5TPyvMPOBWd0ebzuTyfRHJ0IEuyVoPfpr10te_nl7LjnM4BM1QJGrYbv5zDCkPBw/s320/Be+careful+when+shaving+cropped.jpg" width="269" /></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Like most other males I know, I hate shaving. Don’t really know why. I
think over the years maybe I’ve just talked myself into not liking it, so I
only do it every three or four days. I’ve got a full beard – I’ve had it since
I worked in New Guinea in the ‘70s – but I still have to shave around the cheeks
and neck area. It’s kinda the only time I stare at myself in the mirror and lately
I’ve been noticing my right lower eyelid drooping more and more. It’s also
drying out and giving me a bit of grief. I’ve also noticed that the razor feels
strange against my right cheek. You know when you’ve been to the dentist and
had novocaine - it’s wearing off you feel a numbness in your lips and the surrounding
area. That’s what it feels like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The eyelid drooping started after I
had a BCC removed from the eyelid in 2014. I can still remember the surgeon at
the time commenting on it and telling me he wouldn’t do anything about it
‘cause he didn’t think it would be a problem. He was right – for a couple of
years. But I kept telling myself: it’s not going to get any better. Time to do
something about it. So, after about six months of telling myself to sort it
out, off I go to my GP.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">When he checks me over, he decides
it’s worth a referral. But, because it just needs a bit of tightening, he
doesn’t think the Medical Team at the DHB will give it a very high priority. He
tells me I might be waiting awhile. I’m not too bothered about that and I
wander off back into my everyday life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">About a week later I get a letter
from the hospital, telling me they’ve assessed my situation and have classified
my procedure as Class 4 (non-urgent) and I will be scheduled for corrective
surgery within the next three months. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7eWEqNG2jr6qS6C-IGo1MmMN5yo49pe2SJNo7vSVvNItlwy0enHFHw_Uz5r66488re1vkbiYWiIGQr1szXdgQ5NdGfJekxPZpLhzL55Qm3L9e9Osy1sWrHesLc5MysSKy2i4qE7LPBE/s1600/Relaxed_Panda+2+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="445" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7eWEqNG2jr6qS6C-IGo1MmMN5yo49pe2SJNo7vSVvNItlwy0enHFHw_Uz5r66488re1vkbiYWiIGQr1szXdgQ5NdGfJekxPZpLhzL55Qm3L9e9Osy1sWrHesLc5MysSKy2i4qE7LPBE/s320/Relaxed_Panda+2+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8faadc; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #8FAADC; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=60000 lumo=40000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themetint: 153;">Cool…<o:p></o:p></span></b></em></div>
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<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8faadc; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #8FAADC; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=60000 lumo=40000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themetint: 153;">Feeling
relaxed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></em></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">What the…??? About two weeks after
the letter the Booking Clerk at the hospital’s chasing me, telling me he has an
appointment date and time for me to see an Eye Specialist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">(No complaints about the Public Health Service from this little
chipmunk.)</span></i><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">A few days later and I’m sitting in
front of the Specialist waffling on about my eyelid issues, then I started
whingeing about pain under my eye. The Specialist wasn’t happy about all the
noise I was making so she suggested she take a couple of biopsies from around
my eye while she’s sorting out the eyelid. Yep, says I. Sounds like a plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Skipping right along… less than two
weeks after the appointment and I’m booked in for a Day Surgery procedure that
fixed me right up. Two weeks after that and I’m back in the Eye Surgeon’s Clinic
for a follow-up. The Specialist looks over her handiwork; she congratulates me
on my superhuman healing properties; I congratulate her on her needlepoint, and
then we start to talk about the biopsies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">All clear; No problems; Everything’s
fine, and she tells me in a few other distracted ways that the biopsies have
come out clean. But she’s frowning at me. She’s not happy. She tells me she
thinks something’s going on and wants to refer me back to the Maxiofacial
Surgeon that did some rust removal and panel beating on my nose back in 2013.
Wonderful, we thought. He’ll sort me out. A few weeks later and I’ve had an MRI
and a CT scan, all arranged by Dr G and his remarkably talented sidekick, “Ann
the Clinic Nurse”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivhOxITS-YruvWjTtZ-QM041w7PqDlplLUAHckcAfh1O0pV2EJJECpOzFrVIhr6bP-XVAkxXB4gjxVZup4zt5BSH6RIT7Mz5zQyuCbQLQEdtFX5Ph53OgBdKeaPuUF_Qt_pV7I6LoMwo/s1600/Confused+personality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="330" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivhOxITS-YruvWjTtZ-QM041w7PqDlplLUAHckcAfh1O0pV2EJJECpOzFrVIhr6bP-XVAkxXB4gjxVZup4zt5BSH6RIT7Mz5zQyuCbQLQEdtFX5Ph53OgBdKeaPuUF_Qt_pV7I6LoMwo/s320/Confused+personality.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Now, here’s where things get a bit
tricky. I want to tell you how things went a bit pear shaped but I don’t want
to appear to be a prat, or ungrateful, or an arse. At the end of the day, I
think we can just attribute the next little interlude to a clash of
personalities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had one and she didn’t.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Instead of being referred back to
Dr. G, I was referred to Dr. B (a locum). From the first meeting with her
Denise and I weren’t happy – to such a degree that the wonderful, amazing “Ann
the clinic nurse” picked up on it and tried to smooth the waters and got
smacked down (in front of us) for her trouble. Anyway, Dr B fumbled her way
through the consult during which time it became very clear that she had no knowledge
of the pathway I had followed to date, no clue as to which tests I’d had and
hadn’t really looked at any scans, nor read any recommendations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">She started off by giving us a very
condescending smile and then telling us my eye was fine and the biopsies didn’t
show any problems. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Talk about deja vu!!)
</i>She then went on to show us a CT scan and pointed out a growth under my right
eye. We were told of a plan where the removal would be done through my mouth –
a concept I still can’t comprehend. We asked a few questions and received vague
and confusing replies, but by then we’d pretty much lost interest in continuing
the conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Now, I’m not entirely sure how
things progressed from then on. All I know is that we came away with the
impression that the growth would be a “schwannomas” tumor – which are almost
always benign but, would still have to be removed – through my mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Anyway, a week or so later and again
I’m on the phone to my new best friend, the Booking Clerk at the Hospital. He
tells me I have another appointment, this time with Dr G. Well… that put a
spring in my step and when I told Denise she immediately got her Mojo back. So,
the next week finds us fronting up to Dr G. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">After the conventional meet and
greet he explains to us that he wants to do a biopsy. He goes on to say the
reason is that he doesn’t agree with the diagnosis. He thinks it’s Squamous
Cell Carcinoma - the same thing I had in 2013. A biopsy will give us a
definitive answer and we can then plan the way forward. I think we surprised
him a little then, with our quick agreement and nods and smiles all round.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR6VGQFgoZlvhP7WBf3YOLSFVVZthGAICGuyH2dB0HsiPngvVy8XAxfWelElKDOZhVq4tfZzBI8Gr75X0YagDUyMAEg_Jc15dME9Zhy59AZvjlf6y8tJ09RFZ0aIwob4sWpQXkIoeiKc/s1600/Day+Surgery+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR6VGQFgoZlvhP7WBf3YOLSFVVZthGAICGuyH2dB0HsiPngvVy8XAxfWelElKDOZhVq4tfZzBI8Gr75X0YagDUyMAEg_Jc15dME9Zhy59AZvjlf6y8tJ09RFZ0aIwob4sWpQXkIoeiKc/s1600/Day+Surgery+1.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"></span></div>
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Tuesday 8<sup>th</sup>. January -
I’m all gowned up and ready for Surgery. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Wednesday 9<sup>th</sup>. January –
I’m dressed and waiting in the ward after a relaxing overnight stay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Dr G wants to see me before I go, so
off we go to Villa 3. We have a chat so he can explain the way forward,
presuming it’s SCC. This includes a trip to Auckland to meet with the
Multi-Disciplinary Team, most likely followed by surgery and radiotherapy in
Auckland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Ann the Clinic Nurse” is already
five steps ahead and tells us her part of the plan. She’s going to arrange
another full CT scan for the MDT, accommodation for Denise and I in Auckland and
a fistful of fuel vouchers for the road trip. She then tells us she’s not going
to “pull the trigger” until they get the biopsy results, but she’ll ring us as
soon as she has them. Sounds good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Two days later – Thursday - and
Denise and I are at home when I receive an email from “Manage My Health”. This
is the Patient Portal that connects me with my GP. The email tells me I have
new records from Manage My Health, so I login to have a look. It’s the biopsy
results. It’s confirmed. The lump is Squamous Cell Carcinoma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, there it is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Since the diagnosis I’ve been asking myself: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“What are you going to take away from all
this?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">In the middle of lots of good things
happening, there was one sour note. I guess I could focus on that and think
about my path if we had progressed with Dr B. I imagine it would have resulted
in having the lump removed while everyone assumed it was benign. Most likely
finding out it’s malignant after the surgery and possible then needing another
surgery to dig out any bits left behind. Who knows? But whatever… that’s negative
thinking so it stops right here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Now, I’ve also thought thought about this
question a lot...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">What was the difference between the two
surgeons that made me feel uncomfortable with one and not the other? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I’m pretty sure it was the
difference between a “question and answer session” and a “conversation”. With
Dr B I thought the information offered, whether instigated by her or as a
result of questions, was superficial and generic. With Dr G, it was a
conversation – a real back-and-forth - where his credibility and knowledge was
on display for all to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So, I think I learned two things
from this…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">If you’re not satisfied with the
information you’re getting, don’t settle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">And…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">If you understand the message, no
matter how life-altering you think it might be, try to find the positive, and
when you do, hold on to it… tightly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Remember... no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.</span></div>
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Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-85791519430726010602019-02-03T03:16:00.001-08:002019-02-07T02:30:43.461-08:00A different kind of road trip<br />
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To much spare time. That's going to be something I need to come to grips with. Waiting an extra week for the MDM was frustrating. But I've realized that this is just the start. Throughout this journey there's going to be numerous periods of downtime. I think finding and doing things to keep busy is only part of the answer. I know I have to become more comfortable within myself so I can manage the quiet times without constantly dwelling on the "maybes" and "what ifs". </div>
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Wow!! This got pretty heavy really quickly. Onto the road trip.</div>
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So... the plan we had originally that we postponed when the MDM was put back a week is still in place and as I write this it's Sunday night and we're sitting in a motel in Auckland after spending the day with the kids.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4t4YtUqFFDYITEoicIALkCMqg5LJNTNJhdjRjSKlNQmmpGNfbmnqOHZwWYPTo6uTSd_5NDliQWLk-7WxiWjW13ECdz_-MCTwrpzbHPjmQ3pva3ofCT91l5QLVlBANlvwKWne2ey0Pn4/s1600/Tree+in+Devonport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4t4YtUqFFDYITEoicIALkCMqg5LJNTNJhdjRjSKlNQmmpGNfbmnqOHZwWYPTo6uTSd_5NDliQWLk-7WxiWjW13ECdz_-MCTwrpzbHPjmQ3pva3ofCT91l5QLVlBANlvwKWne2ey0Pn4/s400/Tree+in+Devonport.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The first night we arrived in Auckland - Thursday - we were booked in to the City Towers Motel in Epsom. This was arranged (and paid for) by the HB DHB. Another reason to congratulate our Public Health Service. The lady (Carol) at reception was very friendly and helpful and the motel was great.</div>
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The next morning we wandered up to the hospital - about a ten minute walk - and found our way to the sixth floor. As soon as we walked out of the elevator we thought - been here,
done this. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDGR-2y9b25WonVY-JRHPtodF99cUcEXTzbeX6Zo67OOdUTfG3dqP9jJpplHoYO3btWXTwBPU2-mRcpp-mtCC1E6dqHFHGXdNBzpQkuJymZrtQUpMCHm0jwIlyo-a1qSYp7OYkVcCPOQ/s1600/20190131_193510762_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDGR-2y9b25WonVY-JRHPtodF99cUcEXTzbeX6Zo67OOdUTfG3dqP9jJpplHoYO3btWXTwBPU2-mRcpp-mtCC1E6dqHFHGXdNBzpQkuJymZrtQUpMCHm0jwIlyo-a1qSYp7OYkVcCPOQ/s320/20190131_193510762_iOS.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Back in 2013 we attended an MDM in Auckland to formulate a plan to remove cancer
from my nose. I don’t think it had an acronym then. It was just called a
meeting with the multi-disciplinary team. I think the acronym they use now isn't right. It
should be called the MDT meeting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtxbF1mNaUtGt7_JbJusH2jHS7zBumkl4ZS4HH3HTTI27He928aE9wpS2s6grUD20h_8PZTbdJz5kRb1SqixtrWcXqIbAm_A-DvC_komPoUCoMHXBcJzEpvt2xteOVBPdfe4mSvQFIPg/s1600/20190131_193520999_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtxbF1mNaUtGt7_JbJusH2jHS7zBumkl4ZS4HH3HTTI27He928aE9wpS2s6grUD20h_8PZTbdJz5kRb1SqixtrWcXqIbAm_A-DvC_komPoUCoMHXBcJzEpvt2xteOVBPdfe4mSvQFIPg/s320/20190131_193520999_iOS.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Actually, a
more correct acronym would be… “AGFPPFPROM” – or, to give the meeting it’s full
title… “A Gathering of friendly, professional people, focused on planning the
right outcome for me”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The way in
which this team goes about dealing with us mere mortals is, in my mind, simply
magnificent. During yesterday’s meeting Denise and I were spoken to by ten
different ladies and, without exception, from the receptionist, to the lady who
offered us a cup of tea, to the dental specialist and the ever attentive
nurses, we were treated with respect, empathy and consideration during every
interaction. Over and above that, we were interviewed by three different
doctors who discussed the situation with us in a very attentive and considerate
manner, while giving us time to absorb and decipher the information we were
given.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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At the end
of the day we left with a comprehensive understanding of where we are now, but
perhaps more importantly, a clear understanding of the way forward. We couldn’t
have asked for more, so here's gist of it...<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>On Monday 11<sup>th</sup> March Denise and I will go to Auckland and
I’ll be admitted that day. The next day, Tuesday, I’ll be busy all day, lying
on my back. The surgery is going to take between 10 and 12 hours and will be
performed by two different teams.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>The first team cuts out all the cancer they can find by taking away my
right cheek and upper cheekbone, and the lower part of my right eye orbit. They
then cut the Infraorbital nerve back as close to my brain as they can get.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>When they’ve done that they get to go home, and the next team takes
over.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>They’re going to construct a new lower orbit and cheekbone from
titanium and superglue it into place. Then remove skin, fat and blood vessels
from the inside of my left arm, almost from the elbow to the wrist, and use
that to rebuild my cheek. They’ll also cut up into my neck to connect the
artery from my arm to an artery in my neck to create a blood supply for my new
cheek.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>The next step is to remove a long strip of skin and fat from my left
thigh and use this to rebuild the inside of my left arm.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Are we all clear so far?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Finally, when everyone’s finished the sewing bee, I get to spend a day
or so in the High Dependency Unit and if I’ve been a good little patient, they’ll
move me to a ward. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Now… the thing that’s really bothering me – given my wife’s
navigational skills – is how Denise is ever going to find me in a ward? So, if
anyone’s planning on visiting me, as you come into the hospital keep your eye out
for a pretty little blonde/pink haired lady with a confused look on her face, carrying a handbag the size of a small truck. Take her in tow and bring
her with you.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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Right, so now that we've got that out of the way, let me tell you about the worst Motel on the North Shore. When we left the MDM and collected our car from the motel in Epsom, we drove to the motel we'd booked for the three nights in Auckland. We're usually pretty good at picking motels, but this was a total failure. The fridge and kettle were both poked, only one towel in the bathroom. No shower curtain and the cutlery drawer was falling apart. But the biggest failure, in my mind, was the stained wash cloths and the dirt and grime throughout the kitchen and bathroom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidc7LFIOhrMtta9L13-tF3rCgKcCZ7EZxNh1TvUVIxjhpterlG5Ef13p0QFuTxfSQRQx9yWDO37uTj-s0ImieWUFlv_bNyDqckur4pT8XiqKUEC25uYV8il15zy0dBzElw4CmIZBilaIc/s1600/Dirt+in+Kitchen+of+motel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidc7LFIOhrMtta9L13-tF3rCgKcCZ7EZxNh1TvUVIxjhpterlG5Ef13p0QFuTxfSQRQx9yWDO37uTj-s0ImieWUFlv_bNyDqckur4pT8XiqKUEC25uYV8il15zy0dBzElw4CmIZBilaIc/s400/Dirt+in+Kitchen+of+motel.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
When I went down the next morning to tell them about the fridge not working, this was the response... "Oh! we know. It's going to be replaced soon. You can bring your food down here and put it in our fridge if you like."<br />
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We didn't, so after a few choice words they decided to move us to another room. We went and had a look at it - seemed OK so we moved our stuff over. It was a stinking hot day, so we turned the aircon on and went out to spend the day with the kids.<br />
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When we got back, the room was stinking hot and stuffy. The aircon had been busy all day blowing hot air into the room.<br />
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Back to reception and another discussion with the poor lady behind the counter. This discussion resulted in the Owner/Manager of the motel having an animated discussion with an aircon tech in a language you might often hear on the sub-continent, in our room as Denise and I watched on. After what seemed like a few days, they decided it was a lost cause and our options were...<br />
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<ol>
<li>They would bring up some fans for us to use overnight.</li>
<li>They would move us to another room.</li>
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"Why don't you come and have a look at the other room?" they asked.</div>
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So we did... </div>
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What the...</div>
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The upshot of all this was that we packed our bags, put them in the car and drove off to book into a real motel. </div>
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A rather interesting side note to this story is: when they tried to refund the accommodation costs on my credit card, they couldn't because they had reached their credit limit. Does this mean that while we were busy whinging and playing "Let's swap rooms again" that other guests were getting refunds?</div>
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Now, here's another sad tale of woe. Google have decided to stop Google+. That means that I'll have to change blogging platforms. It's probably going to be Wordpress, but time will tell. Once I've sorted myself out I'll let you know the plan going forward.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BdDr7NhQMSi5GpUIFMYhQkjyjyMU8rnij5Ke3ib42dEv5iKi3FjgH-QtLB3VBRtvCYUk0wBm627qx3SUL5ZO4v1QxKIR89uCfmfwDBEyRAmTe0UzGFwqSDCtnvLXJNvT1LA8vIC2WbM/s1600/Cancer-Ribbon-Tattoo_-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BdDr7NhQMSi5GpUIFMYhQkjyjyMU8rnij5Ke3ib42dEv5iKi3FjgH-QtLB3VBRtvCYUk0wBm627qx3SUL5ZO4v1QxKIR89uCfmfwDBEyRAmTe0UzGFwqSDCtnvLXJNvT1LA8vIC2WbM/s320/Cancer-Ribbon-Tattoo_-1.jpg" width="256" /></a><br />
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When this journey I'm on comes to an end, I think I'll get a tattoo - probably on my arm where they've taken stuff to rebuild my cheek. Here's what's caught my eye. What do you think?</div>
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In a world where you can be anything...<br />
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Be kind.<br />
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Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595804944206198855.post-9432993888015459152019-01-27T19:48:00.000-08:002019-01-27T19:48:51.482-08:00Jus cruisin...<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today's Monday. Friday's MDT meeting day. To be honest, I'm not really too bothered. I don't have much control over my situation and what's going to happen going forward. I know I can ask lots of questions and probably become confused, and maybe even frustrated, with the "doctorspeak" that's sure to come my way. But I know, at the end of the day, I'm going to accept the decisions made by the Specialists and Professionals with regard to the way forward. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLjVR_e_xm4qcy0MRgGCSbRfz0fs6wJwVZDx1HDuBSyCECzOKghgRW30SiZle7LQNtAIJhkoDEDti1n4xu4lvpAqbYgDdKno_V677Vkq91KwyZw6i6jvTdtIj1x8faThQ22kVjYsrIAw/s1600/Mowing+the+lawn+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="428" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLjVR_e_xm4qcy0MRgGCSbRfz0fs6wJwVZDx1HDuBSyCECzOKghgRW30SiZle7LQNtAIJhkoDEDti1n4xu4lvpAqbYgDdKno_V677Vkq91KwyZw6i6jvTdtIj1x8faThQ22kVjYsrIAw/s400/Mowing+the+lawn+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have to. Because I have to have faith in them and their experience. Of one thing I'm certain. I know that everyone involved with my care will be doing the best they can to make sure I come through this experience successfully, and with the best outcome.</div>
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I'm not being fatalistic...</div>
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I'm being optimistic.</div>
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And... here's why...<br />
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Last Wednesday I went for a CT Scan. This was a full body scan organised by Dr. G. Apparently this type of scan needs to be done before you front up to the MDT meeting. Anyway, we got the results on Friday. (This new Manage My Health App is brilliant.) Without too much bother Denise (ex-nurse) was able to work out that the only problems I had were all in my head. (Shut-up!) The rest of my body, including all the lymph nodes, were clear. Great news, so we decided to celebrate.</div>
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First was dinner out at a fancy new Restaurant called MALO in Havelock North. Our impressions...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbWdZ2HCS9Iaz26aZ_rCMSZ9KFrf_WbI1t_cHkDB8DMvvjsihfXd-MwoQ7UhTEmkYjb2VKGNc90GxaHSM6y3byI-pI2cmzY3OXsLDVjg4o88S9hYM_pC2-Kd5Z-Ett_MNvQhP2Bop948/s1600/Malo-bar-rest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbWdZ2HCS9Iaz26aZ_rCMSZ9KFrf_WbI1t_cHkDB8DMvvjsihfXd-MwoQ7UhTEmkYjb2VKGNc90GxaHSM6y3byI-pI2cmzY3OXsLDVjg4o88S9hYM_pC2-Kd5Z-Ett_MNvQhP2Bop948/s320/Malo-bar-rest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Friendly and attentive staff.</span><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Smallish portions - which we like.</span><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Absolutely delicious food. </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
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And we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Even though she polished off two starters, Denise reckons she's just having the desert next time we go.</div>
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Then we decided we needed a road trip, so, next morning we jumped in the car and drove to Wellington to see the Terracotta Warriors at Te Papa. Here's how that went...</div>
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We rock up at Te Papa at about 2:00 pm. park the car and head on inside. Bit of a crowd, but not too bad. The night before we'd bought two tickets off the website for the 3:00 pm show, so we wandered up to the Fourth Floor - using the stairs 'cause we still can - and kinda drifted into the front of the exhibition. One of the young ladies in a Te Papa Shirt notices us and walks over. She asks us all the right questions, shows us two roped off lines and explains that we can wait in the left-hand line if we want, but we won't be able to go in until after 3:00. Or... we can come back a little after 3:00 when all the lines have gone and just wander straight in. So, we go for option two.</div>
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While we're talking to her, Denise asks if we can get Audio Guides to the exhibition? Certainly, says she, but we'll have to take our place in the line of people waiting to buy tickets. Or... why don't you go down to Level 2 and buy vouchers for the Audio Guides from the Reception Desk? That'll save you waiting in line. Great idea! Let's do that.</div>
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Because we've still got quite a lot of time before we can go in we decide to have a look at the Immigration exhibition next door. They have an area in this exhibition where, by pushing a few buttons, you can work out if you would be allowed to come to New Zealand as an immigrant back in the day. I tried my luck in 1870 and "Yes!" I would be able to immigrate. I tried my luck again in 1996 and "NOOoooo!!!" Definitely not. </div>
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What??</div>
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Why??</div>
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It's a good thing I was able to sneak in under Denise's skirt in 1990. </div>
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While Denise is still looking through the Exhibition I decide to go down to Level 2 to get the Audio Guide vouchers - using the stairs of course. I rock up to the desk and face off with a smiling volunteer dude. The conversation goes like this...</div>
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It's now about a quarter to Three. We see a bit of a line starting to form, so off we go. When we get to the front, we're told that we can't get in before three because we've got tickets for 3:00 pm. We're then told, we can go in anytime between 3:00 and 4:00</div>
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So, with a confused look at each other, we wander out to the foyer again and find a seat - and sit and watch as they let others in who've just bought tickets.</div>
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IT'S 3:00 PM. We join the line. One of the lovely ladies assisting people asks if we have tickets. "Yes, we have tickets for 3:00 PM." </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3DMvrzLfwRWrg8yiUpjqGjSTLagLqRT1nerlWG4iV1VehwYgKv4j0trhz_YA1RBsRFo6GomfqqBGY2F_aZfWINA8y8cjE_kUPeCUkAq9DVQzI9KQY8rI9qdt8E_HB6QMCS19TfnQl2Y/s1600/chariot-horse-terracotta-tepapa-800x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="765" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3DMvrzLfwRWrg8yiUpjqGjSTLagLqRT1nerlWG4iV1VehwYgKv4j0trhz_YA1RBsRFo6GomfqqBGY2F_aZfWINA8y8cjE_kUPeCUkAq9DVQzI9KQY8rI9qdt8E_HB6QMCS19TfnQl2Y/s320/chariot-horse-terracotta-tepapa-800x600.jpg" width="320" /></a>"Great", she says.</div>
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"Can we get Audio Guides to the exhibition? asks Denise.</div>
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"Yes," says she. Just walk past the queue straight up to the desk and you can pay for them there. So we bought vouchers for the Audio Guides, were told to cut in front of the queue, and - WE'RE IN!!!</div>
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The exhibition was very well put together and well worth seeing. We're pleased we decided to go.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0fttOzyRQ1gd3Ong1zi-VaujvLZ6LwoBwgAXXbnFijGZBuLO93Kve84ut4xix1Z29PyVeT8tM2jOPhuMOsoPPr4LdzSOnsZThj4hClM_MQ-CyaewXGNKDVSsyvkZeZzFZHnrfbgY-jI/s1600/04-Chunuk-Bair-001-machine-gunners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0fttOzyRQ1gd3Ong1zi-VaujvLZ6LwoBwgAXXbnFijGZBuLO93Kve84ut4xix1Z29PyVeT8tM2jOPhuMOsoPPr4LdzSOnsZThj4hClM_MQ-CyaewXGNKDVSsyvkZeZzFZHnrfbgY-jI/s400/04-Chunuk-Bair-001-machine-gunners.jpg" width="400" /></a>While there we also took another tour through the Gallipoli exhibition. It's extremely well done, and if you find yourself in Wellington with an hour to spare, go and have a look.</div>
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Then we went up to the fifth floor to see the art exhibitions. There were three Goldies on display, so that made our day. </div>
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After all this culture we jumped back in the car and went on a bit of a Tiki Tour to find our Hotel. Nothing much to write about there - very standard - very ordinary. After we checked in we wandered off to find something to eat. That's a whole 'nother story waiting to be told. Two hours to get a hamburger for me and a plate of fish and chups for Denise.<br />
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You know that thing you did before... that made you smile?<br />
Well...<br />
Do it again.<br />
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Chris Flahertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265307074590775820noreply@blogger.com2Hastings, New Zealand-39.6395783 176.83923219999997-39.737404299999994 176.67787069999997 -39.5417523 177.00059369999997