Getting There....Slowly!

First of all, Happy Birthday Dad - really sorry I couldn't be there with you this evening :(

I have been slowly recovering over the past few days but I'm still nowhere near where I should be.  This one has really hit hard and I'm struggling to recover but, having said that, I'm doing much better today.  It's the first time I've really been able to coordinate thoughts and emotions!  One week ago today I was just coming out of Gamma Knife treatment and feeling desperately sick.

But we are thankful to God that is all behind me now and, after some recovery time, I can start facing the next phase of my treatment.  I am so thankful that this was brought forward as I really couldn't have faced it today!!  Next treatment is on the 19th March.

Thank you SO much to everyone who has been texting, emailing, praying and sending cards - we have so much to be thankful for.  I just watched a film for comic relief and we are incredibly blessed by the hospital facilities here - in Africa they really are substandard and we have no idea how fortunate we are.

Home At Last

Quick update today to let you know that Sharon was discharged from hospital yesterday afternoon.  She is still on medication to reduce swelling in the brain caused by the treatment as this is still causing a few issues.  However, given a few days and the continued effect of the steroids, we expectantly look forward to her feeling her normal self very soon.  Also glad to report that no more sickness and much reduced level of headaches.

Blog will be back in the owner's rightful hands for next update :-)

Treatment Day

Here are a few photos from yesterday prior to the gamma knife treatment. (Purposely not close up photos).

The treatment was longer than we had expected and she was in the gamma knife machine (last picture) for nearly 4 hours!

Unfortunately, Sharon has been unwell since getting back to the ward with headache and sickness. She also has been having a few issues due to a bit of swelling caused by yesterday's treatment. As a consequence, she is going to spend another night at the hospital as she starts a short course of steroids to get on top of this and make her feel more herself.

Thank You to everyone who has been praying or thinking of us these past couple of days.

Gamma Knife

Friday night was Moroccan Tagine and Couscous - one of our favourites since we went to Morocco the year before last :)  Friday is traditionally the only day they serve couscous in Morocco & Dave was very excited about the dish....but even he didn't manage to eat it all in one go!! 

Healthwise I've been improving since the weekend but we have been taking things very easy in the run up to Gamma Knife treatment tomorrow.  Contrary to what the name suggests, there is no actual knife involved!! It's a series of shots of very accurate radiotherapy aimed at precise spots in my brain.  As there are quite a number of tumours, we don't know how long the procedure will take but I will need to lie still for a long period of time.  It's not painful but it is a long time to stay in one place....not that I will have any choice seeing as my head will be fixed in place! It will be an anxious wait for Dave as there's nothing he can do but wait.      

We're travelling to London this evening as we need to be there for 6:30am, the frame fitting is at 8:30 and the MRI scan is around 9am.  They will then plan the radiotherapy, go ahead with the treatment and plan to keep me in over night.  We are anxious about what tomorrow holds but have been praying much in the run up to this, along with many other people.