Bottom of a Bucket

Kidney Disease is so insidious. There are so many different symptoms which combine to make life difficult. The incessant itching and insomnia are bad enough. Now as my kidney approaches the end of its function (remember I only have one kidney!) not only has my appetite dropped through the floor but I am having trouble …

One Year

A year ago I was living in Mwanza. In fact, though I did not know it at the time, this day (April 1st) would be my last full day in Tanzania. A year ago tomorrow we would be heading off for a holiday in Kenya. However, Easter is a moveable feast and as such has …

Leaving a Bitter Taste in the Mouth

It was in February of this year I first noticed this. At the time I had no idea why. In the months since it has been a constant presence. Sometimes subtle, sometimes overwhelming. At its worst it has induced nausea. In Nairobi, just before the diagnosis of Myeloma it was acute. A bitter, salty, metallic …

Ill when you’re ill

I am writing this from bed where I have spent much of the past two days. On Sunday night I felt the telltale signs of an oncoming cold. I think normally I would probably carry on, but this time it has been different. The cold has 'knocked me for six'. The persistent cough and runny …

Jubilee

It is now time to share one of the longest running sagas of my Myeloma. A long running dispute which has only been partially resolved at the very end of our time in Tanzania.

Be Aware!

Today is the start of Myeloma Awareness Week and I make non bones (pardon the pun) about sharing some of the promotional material released today.  The focus of the campaign this year is Early Diagnosis and since I have crossed one hurdle it is worth emphasise that 1 in 5 people who are diagnosed are …

Better by Far

As I am in the middle of my second bout of Chemotherapy it's time to reflect on where things are. I expected that the chemotherapy would be making me ill. You here scare stories of hair loss and sickness. Maybe that will come, though I am assured hair loss is unlikely with Valcade.  In truth …

Wrenched Away

The whirlwind which has blown through my life in the past month has taken its toll both physically as well as emotionally. The speed of the process has been the most devastating. Little did I think when I boarded  the overnight bus to Nairobi on the 2nd April I did not imagine that would be …

Shrinking World

Just over two weeks ago we were enjoying life on the equator and soaking up the sun on Diani Beach, South of Mombasa in Kenya and visiting Nairobi.   I had just accepted the role of Head of ICT at International School Seychelles in the middle of the Indian Ocean - we were moving there …

Journeys

A day in Nairobi and I needed to get out and do something. For one I had no 'winter clothes' with me. One long sleeved top, no long trousers, two pairs of socks. I had packed for a short holiday on the equator, plenty of shorts, t-shirts, swimming trunks, a pair of sandals and fortuitously …

Departures

The bills were racking up. I had been in Aga Khan for  two days and had had a number of tests but the Insurance were adamant that this was a chronic condition and that as such there was a limit on the amount thy would cover. As this is a matter of (possibly legal) conjecture …

Two Weeks

Discovering the Myeloma