Things move on at a pace

Rosalind went for a check up at Derriford and is fine. They do not want to see her again for 5 weeks, however she will go to Kings in three weeks to see how the top-up is working and possibly have more.

My situation is clarifying fast.

Kings have decided to  start me on azacitidine very soon - probably towards the end of the month. This may be partly done in Kings and / or at Derriford. Its all outpatient stuff - basically a week of daily treatment, then no treatment for three weeks. Repeated for months or even years if it works.

They are also going to start a search for a donor for a potential transplant. This is doubly good news as it means that they think I am fit enough and have the right attitude (critical) to get through a transplant, and if the azacitidine does not work it is my next option.

Meanwhile Derriford are keen to do the outpatient work, and possibly a subsequent transplant, as they are a long way through becoming certified to do so.
Derriford have already taken a blood sample and have just got back from the labs all my tissue type details with which they can check for a match. This will be sent to Kings in the next few days. Its great to see the two Hospitals working closely together. I might finish up being one of the first patients at Derriford to have azacitidine and later even a non-related donor transplant if that all works out. They are also a very good team and I would trust them to do a great job (as well as the team at Kings - which is excellent)

Today I had a blood test and my neutrophils have gone back up to .7, which is great. So Barbara and I can go to Iceland for a ten day holiday starting next week. With our son Simon and Sari who live there, we hope to see the sights, go whale watching and not get caught in a volcanic plume.

Derriford also took another venesection (blood letting) to get my iron content down. It had not come down as much as I expected - but then I did indulge in a nice piece of our beef recently and a leg of out delicious rare breed lamb, with red wine. The consultant said I could indulge a bit, but I guess its back to the safe pork, fish, chicken and vegetarian style regimes.

Meanwhile we are downsizing our flock of sheep from ~ 400 to say 40. So if you know anyone that could give a few a good home let me know. We are also downsizing the herd of pedigree Angus and removing a few other distractions that we do not need while we get through all this.

Ros is now well enough to be helping me, much as we helped her prior to her treatment. This is great for me, and actually is helping her recovery by giving her a real focus. Robert and Simon and the rest of the family are also being very supportive and helpful on planning how we deal with this. Not to mention loads of friends both her and in the States who keep my enthusiasm going.