Di's Bucket List

In the words of Dame Edna, 'Morning Possums"
I thought I had better put finger to keyboard and get typing before you all harass me with questions!!! I arrived back home at 10.30pm on Tuesday night. Lady Di was asleep and I did not wake her. It appears that she had a good, and busy time whilst I was away. A good friend came round on Monday and Tuesday and put her to work making Christmas cookies and the likes. She enjoyed that and the female interaction. On Saturday morning another friend popped round for coffee and then came and took her to Church on Sunday.

I have noticed being away for 4 days that she has lost more hair and now has lots of 'tufts' of missing hair. It is quite different to the pic on the site. She is due to go to the hairdresser on Saturday as we wanted him to shape it, but instead Di wants it all shaved off so at least it will be uniform. I did offer to cut mine as well in support, but she flatly forbid me!!! I have noticed that she is more forgetful than before, and still walks round the kitchen sometimes trying to find the garbage can. I think it upsets me more than her. I HATE seeing her in this way. She is so determined to beat this and yesterday I was not a good support. I burst into tears and just hugged her. It was so hard to be positive at times. I missed her greatly. Otherwise radiation and chemo continues. Tomorrow we go to a neighbouring town, Saginaw, as she has to have some pneumonia inhalation drug. Midland does not do it. Her white blood cells have dropped and they are concerned about infection and the flu etc. They don't seem to want her to get the flu shot, rather the inhalation drug.


I had a good time away and was on the beach each day, all day. The water was cooler than normal but I still spent many hours wallowing in it. In my next life I think I will live on a deserted island with palm trees etc-bliss!!!!! In the evenings I was too tired and lay round the pool and looked at the stars. Anyhow the days sped by fast and I was back in the cold north. I discovered that the local hospital, where I obtained the last chemo pills had charged $1000 more than Ann Arbor or another major pharmacy. I queried and was told that was the price, and in future I should shop around. SO I said when one is sick you must come home and then sit on the phone calling all the pharmacies looking for the Best deal. I guess if that is the system one has to do it, but we are just not used to that. When you are sick you want to get the medication in you ASAP. My eyes have been opened to how the medical system runs here and I now see why the country desperately needs medical reform. What the reform is I don't know, but we need it. I read about medical tourism and many Americans are going overseas for medical treatment. It is cheaper and just as good and nice surrounds etc. Whilst Di could be in rehab in luxury I could be laying on some beach being fed by some handsome local!!!!! South Africa features on the med travel list - mm interesting!!!! All of this added to my misery. I want the best for my 'turtle dove' and Oh yesterday was just not a good day for me!!!


Today is better, the laundry is on, Di is knitting and I am writing to you all. We both love you all and are thankful for the wonderful friends and family that we have all over the planet. There was the movie, "The Bucket List", so I asked Di yesterday what would she like to do - she thought and after [a while came up with] a trip back to South Africa a cruise down the Rhine and a walk in an English country lane!!!!! Other than the walk she has expensive tastes, but we will have to wait till after the radiation etc and see what the docs say!! Their prognosis last week was not that encouraging.


I have written too much - sorry. Will check in with you all tomorrow. Love you all. Ian & Di