Thu 15 Nov 2005 Reach for a Dream

How time flies - Today is a month since my operation! I have been really tired today and had a great afternoon nap. A few visitors did whistle stops and a friend took me out for lunch which was wonderful as I don’t get out much at all (except for medical reasons). This afternoon a wonderful lady from the medical aid phoned me. She is going to research my current plan options and recommend the options I need for next year to limit my personal exposure of medical expenses not covered by the plan. There are a number of surprises in this (for example, all visits to the oncologist are paid from the savings plan and not the oncology programme) and I am still learning about them. She has however committed to get back to me next week with all the facts.
I have a very close friend who put up her first born for adoption about 19 years ago. About 5 weeks ago she met her daughter for the very first time. Since then the daughter has met her husband, son, grandfather, etc. Tonight my friend has invited her closest friends to pop around to meet her daughter – I am sure there are going to be quite a few tears!

We managed to collect ZAR14,000 for terminally ill children (charity fund Reach for a Dream). THANK YOU for your generous contributions. I transferred the money this morning. See the email below: As I get updates from the organisation, I will publish them.

From: Judith Muirhead [mailto:judith@reachforadream.org.za] Sent: 15 November 2007 10:09To: 'Alida'Subject: RE: Donation

Hi Alida,

Wow – I just saw the notification come through to let us know about the donation, and I’m sitting here with a very big smile on my face! Thank you for your very generous donation – we will certainly use these funds for some very special treats – I’ll keep you updated at all times with the dreams that we are able to fulfill with these funds…. It might take a few weeks until I get back to you with feedback, but I will certainly send it through as soon as the dreams have been fulfilled – we’ve got some very special ones coming in at the moment.

Thanks again for helping us make a real difference in a child’s life – these dreams really do last a lifetime and truly help these very special and brave children fight and beat their illnesses.

Best wishes,
Judith

Wed 14 Nov 2007 Hair loss evidence

Just in case you all wanted to see how rapidly my mane loss is progressing. This is what the bed looked like this morning. I need to make a call tonight whether I continue to let the hair fall out (will only be another day or two) or shave it all off. It is really strange as all the fine hairs on the arms, etc are all gone. I feel like a moulting dog with an itchy head.

Today was quiet with only my aunt (Hennie) and chauffeur (Anet) popping in to see how things are going. No afternoon nap so I can sleep tonight. Mom is not doing too well. She is stressing about the situation at home with the hubby. He had two stokes earlier this year and has some brain damage and loss of movement, and struggling to cope – only 11 days for her to go and said to her that once you past the halfway mark, time seems to go quicker. Despite all this, Mom is keeping to her promise to cook meals for the freezer.

Tue 13 Nov 2007 Hairless Me nearly there

Monday was very quiet and nothing exciting occurred. I had my afternoon nap and ended up lying awake between 2 and 4am. Then I dreamt that I when I wake up all my hair has fallen out. Well, guess what, this morning I brushed by hands over my head and the hairs are falling out! Amazing, every event that has occurred from the operation to the diagnosis, I have dreamt before it actually occurred. The emotion of dealing with the hair falling out is a completely different matter. I hover between being in a state of denial as I cannot believe that I am full of disease vs the factual evidence that I am undergoing chemo and my hair is falling out at a rapid rate. It started this morning with a couple of hair to big tuffs by this evening. And… the hair is falling out ALL OVER!!!

Today I had an air conditioner installed in our bedroom. This is preparing for the very hot Cape Town summer days and nights where I will be confined to the bedroom. Quite a number of friends dropped by for tea/coffee today and are very excited that they can spend time in the air conditioned bedroom with me in the coming months. They are even willing to bring their camping mattresses so we can all have a cool night of rest together! I think the support circle are getting far too familar wanting to share the bedroom with Ian and I :)

The Squad

GI Alida

Sat Sun 10 11 Nov 2007

Saturday was a stunning day with the core of my supporting team present, some 40 plus people. Colin (UK), Julian (Holland) and Alan (Centurion) did their own little shavathons. Eileen and John (Pretoria) and Francois (Johannesburg) did theirs last week-end. Hennie (my aunt) arrived from Singapore to surprise my mom and she will spend 2 weeks in Cape Town. The weather played along though it was quite cold. I am just waiting for the last contributions on the money front. Dylan, Sean and all the ladies were too attached to their hair! I am having technical problems getting some photo’s uploaded. I need to chat to the South Africa Blogging Queen tomorrow.

And THANK YOU to all who participated in this fund raiser for terminally ill children.

love you all

Fri 09 Nov 2007 Hair....

Another small bit of detail I noticed this morning. Last Saturday I had a lovely bath and performed my usual leg and underarm shaves. This morning I noticed that the hairs have not grown back. My mane of hair is dull and lifeless and no amount of conditioner is changing the texture. Just as well that I am cutting it tomorrow. I will not do a post tomorrow but will do an update on Sunday to cover the charity fundraiser. We have 10 families attending in Cape Town tomorrow and friends / family doing the same in Pretoria and UK.