Day 42: Chris' Owls

Back to the Kinghorn Centre at St Vincent's today for pre-infusion check-ups. To deal with the start of this next round, I chose a new pair of earrings, my second pair of owls, given to me by my gorgeous brother-in-law Chris Kelleher. These sweet, delicate silver birds, with blue eyes, are much more demure than the gregarious pink owls Gracie gave me (Day 27); before long, I'll have my own parliament, filled with all sorts of owl personalities! I was so touched when Chris visited from Newcastle recently to give them to me, thoughtfully finding a way to combine two of my obsessions.

Chris is a true gentle man, in every sense. He is a very generous and kind brother-in-law. He is also an amazingly committed Dad and husband:  God knows how many football and cricket matches he's patiently attended to support his three sporty boys - Hughie the champion AFL player, Charlie the Rugby legend, and Ollie a true Chappell cricketer (the ones we're not related to!). And god knows Chris has great patience surrounded by so many sisters, sisters-in-law, and all the women coming and going from his house as Lindy goes from strength to strength building her women-orientated Intimo business! Chris and his family have had to face their own cancer tragedy, with the death of his beautiful Mum Marg from a brain tumour when she was far too young; he's been a quiet tower of strength and wisdom to us as we dealt with Mum's illness, and now mine.

The Kelleher 5, Sptember 2016

Celebrating Chrispy Retro sports style

On a happier note, Chris loves a party, has a fabulous cellar and makes and keeps friends for life - perhaps those things are linked somehow! We celebrated his 50th last year with a retro sports party -  with the Kelleher's parading as members of a very tall Aussie cricket team. I'm so grateful having Chris as a member of our family.

Day 42 was a return to the bald face of Cancerworld. Blood tests this morning followed by a visit to the exercise physiologist (I should increase my hand weights from 1 - 2kgs - whoop! - and keep up the walking, especially fast-paced on Chemo day, and expect to put on rather than lose weight during breast cancer treatment - are you kidding me!! On top of everything else!!!). Next was an appointment with Dr Rachel and her registrar Sarah. My bloods are back to normal, so it's full steam ahead with infusion #3 tomorrow, the last of the 'Red Devil' FEC. They were interested/impressed by the coconut oil success. Round 4 will be an entirely different drug, with entirely different side effects, less nausea apparently, but lots of everything else - and more steroids...but as Rachel says, one step at a time...don't think ahead...get through this one first...

In between these appointments, I suggested to Rob we make a 'dash' - famous last words- to the so-called My Gov 'one stop'  shop in Darlinghurst that combines Centrelink and Medicare and every other government social service, to deal with a medicare issue. One hour later, we were called to see a 'consultant'. With my ethnography hat on, my wish is to send the Minister for Social Services undercover into one of these Centres, al la one of those TV shows where businesses owners disguise themselves and experience the workplace from the perspective of their staff and customers. I'd love to see how he'd like to spend up to two hours waiting  - the average for the social security 'clients' - before being treated in a rude and hostile manner by staff who are bored and depressed (no doubt with good reason!). Being poor or without a job = no dignity in our society. After that visit, I'm feeling especially grateful for my lot in life, having the resources to deal with the challenges that come our way- and so frustrated it can't be like that for everyone.
Speaking of frustration, it's back to the jigsaw puzzle which Molly had another attempt at sorting out on the weekend!