Friday, October 12, 2012

And now

My dear readers
The trip home from Atlanta via San Francisco was great.   Nikki and I spent a day together in downtown San Fran and visited the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It was marvellous. My sister, Leigh, joined us in our hotel room in the afternoon and it was lovely the three of us being together for a few hours

Nikki saw Leigh and me off through the security system at the international terminal before she went off to catch the red-eye flight back to Atlanta. Leigh and I settled into our business class seats and had an excellent trip to Sydney. Still on a fluids-only diet, I consumed a considerable amount of ice cream during the flight :-)

Once home again it was straight into tests and consultations with doctors. It is now time to tell you that my prognosis is, yet again, not good.

As my readers you have been the inspiration that has kept me going over the past 6 years.

I hope you know how important you are to me.

I have been able to get up in the mornings knowing there is more to the day than doctors'appointmentsbloodtestsscansherbaltabletsacupuncturerestricteddietchemotherapyradiotherapyvomitingheadachesnoalcoholcheesenoredmeatoncologistsradiotherapistsgeneralpractionersnursesradiographersbloodthinnerstedssurgeryhospitals
I thank you every day for your love and support.

You know that I have recently been in the USA, in Atlanta, with Nikki and her family.  While there I was hospitalised twice in a month with a blocked bowel. The CT scans taken on both occasions, a month apart, and the PET scan I had in Sydney last week show rapid growth in the tumours that are attacking my small bowel. The doctors say these blockages will keep occurring more frequently and that eventually, sooner rather than later, my system will shut down. There is no further treatment that I can have that will be effective.

Needless to say, I am not just giving up. I will continue to live each day as full of energy as I can, implementing preventative treatment while I can, and getting on with normal life while I can. So, please keep in touch and let's keep doing what we always do.

I won't always be able to respond and I'm sure you'll understand that.

I have moved into my sister-in-law's home in Mt. Ousley at her
very generous insistence as she will not be there. There is room there
for me and for my sister, Leigh, to stay and care for me. And plenty of
room for visitors to park and stay!


Terrie. Thursday 17 October

9 comments:

Bronwyn Ritchie said...

Thanks for writing that!! You write as you live - beautifully, inspirationally. Not sure what to say except to send an online hug and a wish for lots of happy times and a reminder that the beauty has not gone out of the world - but then you've always known that, and the bleep bleep tumors can't take it away - nor the taste of a good glass of wine!! Here's the hug!! :) (What's the emoticon for a hug??!!)

Mollie said...

So wonderful to see you on line once again.I was beginning to get anxious, but I should have known that you would "keep on keeping on". Having Leigh to stay with you must be a great support. Sending you my dear love and thanks for all your mentoring. xx

JJ. said...

Thanks for posting Terrie - sending lots and lots of love to you from across the ditch. You are a gift to us all.

Gay Stapleton said...

I have been reading your blog off and on hoping to see you well and fighting, you are going to be missed terribly by your close family and friends you are a fighter to the end, inspirational to all who know you.Where ever you go you will need to mind plenty of seats for the rest of us, first class seats we all want!!!Much love dear girl.

Melissa said...

I want to say what a treat it was to meet you in South Africa all those months ago with Nikki. You are such an amazing role model for Zeke and Willow. Two lucky kids to have you as their granny. I am rhanksful you had such a full and busy visit with them now again in Atlanta.

Thank you or writing what must be an incredibly difficult blog. I appreciate your honestly and sense of reality. I admire you, Terrie.

Anonymous said...

Dearv Terrie, you are an inspiration! The way you handle this horrid disease is what in NLP is called a Model of Excellence. Your attitude should be bottled up and given to people in similar situations. Thanks for this!! I saw from Nikkis blog that she had cancelled her trip. May it be cancelled for the longest time. Lots of warm and healing thoughts, Trine

Wayne Cooney said...

Great to hear the fight continues, messages like this keeps things in perspective for all of us.
As complex as life seems, it's the simple things that matter.

An ice cream diet sounds like a positive.

Anonymous said...

Dearest terrie thank you so much again for you courage in keeping us up to date. We are you here for you as you have been for us. Love from Ella sue and trav

Anonymous said...

Terrie
I have always admired you for the way you lived your life full of compassion for others, laughter and love, your courage and resilience in facing the cancer, your
commitment and love for family and friends.
You have honoured yourself and your family by living life to the full and living it well.
My thoughts, prayers and love are with you.
Geraldine Miller