Greetings all Blog Buddies to 'Wedding Central'.
James arrived as finally scheduled on Wednesday morning. Great to see him, great to see Amy finally get her man here! Our MP (Alastair Burt) managed to convince the Scottish Registrar into marrying the couple formally on next Wednesday in Edinburgh. This means that everything can go ahead on the actual wedding day of October 18th - I love it when a plan comes together. If you've been hanging fire on the wedding present you can go ahead now but the original code won't work; just enter REDFERN or FOKKENS and you'll find their list - be obscenely generous!
On Tuesday (the day before James arrived) Amy and I visited IKEA in Milton Keynes to buy the basics for their new house - a sofa and a bed! On Wednesday they rushed off to John Lewis to choose their wedding presents and visit IKEA again. Phil & Jen (James' Dad & Step-Mum) arrived into Birmingham on Thursday, Amy & James and I picked them up. They all came round for dinner on Friday night. It was great to be re-acquainted after seeing them last in Sydney.
This morning James, Amy & I picked up Larissa, Nathan & Ben (+ his wife Jody) - all James' family in one go! What great people, love em all - new family - how exciting! You know me and talking and people - I'm in heaven. The plane was 4 hours late which meant I missed my flu-jab which I have to have because of reduced immunity (chemo related).
This evening Michelle (James' Mum) arrived into Luton from Amsterdam where she had been visiting family. She's stopping in a holiday cottage in the next village to ours (Harrold), Ben & Jody will be joining her after a few days in Devon. Nathan & Larissa are stopping with James at the new house.
Tomorrow everyone's off to London for the day then coming to us for dinner in the evening. We love entertaining: Teresa's turn to cook tomorrow.
I've been asked to give testimony at a healing service in a Methodist Church in Grantham tomorrow morning. Sounds exciting; I'll let you know how it goes; my James (son, not son-in-law) is coming with me. Teresa, Chloe and Carys will be at Wottoon New Life for the Harvest Festival Service. James Redfern has a football match in the afternoon.
Next week is looking a bit mad. Tuesday XLR8 (Youth Group) and Amy and all the Aussies are going to Paris for the day. Wednesday is Scotland (for the legal wedding), Thursday is Stag & Hen 'do's'. Friday is the day before the big day an Saturday is the big day. Ekk....... Still haven't bought a suit. Must. Really must. No, really must. Tell me to buy a suit, 'Dave, buy a suit' - 'OK, Monday'. Goodness, don't you guys moan a lot at me.
Any how watching scary Zombie film with James R called 'I am legend' so better sign off.
Once more thanks you mad, diverse and slightly barmy blog community for all your never ending support, prayers and care. You are heros.
See ya, (at the wedding if nor before or afterwards).
Luv
Dave
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Great News
Just heard from the hospital.
No malignancy in my oesophagus. It's clear; no sign of cancer. Just scarring from the radiotherapy.
Praise God.
See Ya
Dave xxxxxx
No malignancy in my oesophagus. It's clear; no sign of cancer. Just scarring from the radiotherapy.
Praise God.
See Ya
Dave xxxxxx
SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNOOZE........
Slept on Sunday from 6.00 pm until 7.00 am on Monday morning and had the most bizarre dreams. Goodness knows if they mean anything! Hope not.
We had a good weekend, Teresa and Amy were in Ireland on Kip McGrath business until late on Saturday, we went to Church as a family on Sunday morning. I was preaching on the 'Parable of The Vineyard'. After a late dinner I slept until this morning!
As of 4pm today I've had no biopsy results - though they are due today. Last time a 5 day wait became 15 and I went mad worrying; hope this won't happen this time. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything. By the way, not feeling too well at present and swallowing is not good, keep being sick after meal s- really hope this is just the chemo side-effects. Keep praying!
See ya
Dave
We had a good weekend, Teresa and Amy were in Ireland on Kip McGrath business until late on Saturday, we went to Church as a family on Sunday morning. I was preaching on the 'Parable of The Vineyard'. After a late dinner I slept until this morning!
As of 4pm today I've had no biopsy results - though they are due today. Last time a 5 day wait became 15 and I went mad worrying; hope this won't happen this time. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything. By the way, not feeling too well at present and swallowing is not good, keep being sick after meal s- really hope this is just the chemo side-effects. Keep praying!
See ya
Dave
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Recovery Day 1
Hiya (yawn)...
Knackered as always the day after. You feel 'subdued', quite mellow really - a bit spaced out. Teresa and Amy are off to Belfast with Kip McGrath early tomorrow running meetings and interviews, I'm very proud of them both. Amy has turned into a great PA.
Still looking like James Fokkens should be with us by Monday!
Not really got a lot of energy to say alot else.
See ya
Dave
Knackered as always the day after. You feel 'subdued', quite mellow really - a bit spaced out. Teresa and Amy are off to Belfast with Kip McGrath early tomorrow running meetings and interviews, I'm very proud of them both. Amy has turned into a great PA.
Still looking like James Fokkens should be with us by Monday!
Not really got a lot of energy to say alot else.
See ya
Dave
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Chemo Round #5
Hi Guys,
Round five happened and was much the same as before. Feeling sick, sensitivity to the cold, headache, tired. BUT very much ALIVE and intending to stay that way! Got a few days now to sleep this off. The arm pain without a PICC line is pretty bad but bearable.
Spoke again today with my Macmillan nurse about yesterday's endoscopy, really do have to wait for the biopsy results. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they were negative? If not, we'll keep fighting, praying and chemoing!
Well bed beckons.
Thanks for checking in on me.
Luv Dave
Round five happened and was much the same as before. Feeling sick, sensitivity to the cold, headache, tired. BUT very much ALIVE and intending to stay that way! Got a few days now to sleep this off. The arm pain without a PICC line is pretty bad but bearable.
Spoke again today with my Macmillan nurse about yesterday's endoscopy, really do have to wait for the biopsy results. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they were negative? If not, we'll keep fighting, praying and chemoing!
Well bed beckons.
Thanks for checking in on me.
Luv Dave
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Blast - Bad News!
Hiya All,
So over the past few week food’s been sticking a bit, my throat has felt ‘odd’ and I decided to call the gastro intestinal nurse (Eleanor Church) at Bedford South Wing. She thought that my symptoms warranted further investigation and today I had an emergency (short notice) endoscopy (camera down the throat) under sedation. Unfortunately it appears as though the main tumour in my oesophagus may well be growing again. I was hoping that the health problems were just due to radiotherapy scaring but the consultant who conducted the test said ‘I see no evidence of scaring’ and ‘it seems as though it is growing again.
They showed me the pictures, the tumour on the first scan was clearly visible as a pale lump. On the scan I saw today it was smaller but still there. It would seem that it shrunk and then grew again. They took a biopsy today so we still have to wait for the formal results. The chance that it is not malignant is very unlikely as it is in the same spot. As it happens chemo starts again tomorrow – just in time it would appear. Oh well let battle two of the war commence – I’m up for it.
To everyone reading this be under NO DOUBT. My health up till this point has been 100% a miracle of God. Remember I was given between 9 & 12 months (the average with this cancer) and here I am in month 10 still functioning and feeling fine. Even if God decides that it is downhill from this point onwards I would still be grateful for this past wonderful summer, making it to Amy’s wedding and graduating back in June. I am going to keep on fighting, I remain happy and positive!!
The wedding is getting closer. Our wonderful Christian MP (Alistair Burt) is trying to help by contacting the British Consulate in Canberra and trying to move things along on the visa for James. He will forever have my vote (which as a ‘Champagne Socialist’ is quite an admittance). As things stands all should happen on the 18th October – we might even not have to go to Vegas!
Well guys sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Please pray for tomorrow; if I’m honest I’m dreading chemo round #5. Without a PICC line it will hurt and I’m a wuss!
See ya guys
Blessings!
Dave
So over the past few week food’s been sticking a bit, my throat has felt ‘odd’ and I decided to call the gastro intestinal nurse (Eleanor Church) at Bedford South Wing. She thought that my symptoms warranted further investigation and today I had an emergency (short notice) endoscopy (camera down the throat) under sedation. Unfortunately it appears as though the main tumour in my oesophagus may well be growing again. I was hoping that the health problems were just due to radiotherapy scaring but the consultant who conducted the test said ‘I see no evidence of scaring’ and ‘it seems as though it is growing again.
They showed me the pictures, the tumour on the first scan was clearly visible as a pale lump. On the scan I saw today it was smaller but still there. It would seem that it shrunk and then grew again. They took a biopsy today so we still have to wait for the formal results. The chance that it is not malignant is very unlikely as it is in the same spot. As it happens chemo starts again tomorrow – just in time it would appear. Oh well let battle two of the war commence – I’m up for it.
To everyone reading this be under NO DOUBT. My health up till this point has been 100% a miracle of God. Remember I was given between 9 & 12 months (the average with this cancer) and here I am in month 10 still functioning and feeling fine. Even if God decides that it is downhill from this point onwards I would still be grateful for this past wonderful summer, making it to Amy’s wedding and graduating back in June. I am going to keep on fighting, I remain happy and positive!!
The wedding is getting closer. Our wonderful Christian MP (Alistair Burt) is trying to help by contacting the British Consulate in Canberra and trying to move things along on the visa for James. He will forever have my vote (which as a ‘Champagne Socialist’ is quite an admittance). As things stands all should happen on the 18th October – we might even not have to go to Vegas!
Well guys sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Please pray for tomorrow; if I’m honest I’m dreading chemo round #5. Without a PICC line it will hurt and I’m a wuss!
See ya guys
Blessings!
Dave
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Weekend Wonders!
Eh Up Me Ducks,
Hope you all had a great weekend!
Just coming to end of a great weekend with Adrian, Ann, Sam, Ben & Rachel (my little brother and his family) who came for pre-wedding plans, measurements and alterations. Just three weeks to go! AD & Ann helped us print and fold thousands of Alpha leaflets ready for the church course which starts next week.
This morning I preached at Southend Methodist Church (in Bedford) and my brother and Ben (who is a chorister at Derby Cathedral) came with me. This afternoon we had a great few hours on the boat and James played for the Clapham Colts and won 4-3. All in all a successful weekend
Still no groom here (minor point), he’ll make it (I’m sure!), getting a bit late for Scotland now, might have to go to Vegas after all.
Health is OK(ish), food is sticking a little but the oncologist said this might happen and could just be scaring from the radiotherapy (hope so). Chemo starts again Wednesday – urgh...
See ya
David
Hope you all had a great weekend!
Just coming to end of a great weekend with Adrian, Ann, Sam, Ben & Rachel (my little brother and his family) who came for pre-wedding plans, measurements and alterations. Just three weeks to go! AD & Ann helped us print and fold thousands of Alpha leaflets ready for the church course which starts next week.
This morning I preached at Southend Methodist Church (in Bedford) and my brother and Ben (who is a chorister at Derby Cathedral) came with me. This afternoon we had a great few hours on the boat and James played for the Clapham Colts and won 4-3. All in all a successful weekend
Still no groom here (minor point), he’ll make it (I’m sure!), getting a bit late for Scotland now, might have to go to Vegas after all.
Health is OK(ish), food is sticking a little but the oncologist said this might happen and could just be scaring from the radiotherapy (hope so). Chemo starts again Wednesday – urgh...
See ya
David
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