Time seems to pass more quickly as you get older. However, since Steve was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 2009, we have become even more aware of the passage of time and the significance of dates.
Today is 18 February, which means it is 20 months and 2 days since diagnosis. Steve has been able to celebrate yet another Valentine's Day. This year, we marked the date with a meal out in Wimbledon, where I have been based for much of the time over the last two weeks. As far as we can tell, Steve's physical condition has not changed in the four weeks since the last blog review. People often remark how well he is looking, which is true. They almost seem to forget that he is living with a time bomb inside him. He still wakes up in the night from time to time, aware of how vulnerable he is and that his health could deteriorate at any time without warning. Every little twinge is like an alarm bell ringing.......
Today is 18 February, which means it is now one month minus one day before Steve's next scheduled hospital assessment. An X-ray will reveal any indication of disease progression, in which case he will have the full scan treatment to establish exactly what's happening inside. In either event, the X-ray/scan will be followed by the nerve wracking time waiting to talk to the oncologist and find out the news. Some meso warriors have to wait a whole month for the results of a scan. How do they do it? The next four weeks or so will become increasing stressful as the date of the assessment approaches. The thought of having to wait yet another month after that for the results is horrifying...
Today is 18 February, which means its less than two weeks to Steve's next birthday when he will be 1 million years old in binary numbers! I wish I could give him a cure for mesothelioma as a birthday present. In reality, I have no idea what to give him to mark this auspicious occasion - we still have gifts to each other stacked up from previous special occasions waiting to be taken - hot air balloon rides for both of us, a special driving experience for Steve, a special boat trip for me. I hope that soon we'll be able to make the time to enjoy them. The phrase "when I retire" is cropping up in our conversations with increasing regularity.....
Today is 18 February, which (until this morning) meant it would be exactly one month until I am due to retire. I'm now told that the date of my last day of service has been pushed back to 28 March to give me a bit more leeway to finish the report I'm due to start working on in ernest next week. Very welcome news in some respects as the extra week takes a bit of pressure off a deadline which which would be very difficult to meet given other commitments. However, it's also frustrating as it pushes back the end date I had firmly fixed in my mind. I saw the early release compensation offer for the first time this morning and it's not what I was expecting - whether I get a satisfactory answer to my queries before the decision deadline early next week remains to be seen. I do hope so.
Today is 18 February, which means it's less than three weeks until we're due to hang the exhibition. There's lots of printing, framing, mounting, stretching and varnishing to do before then, publicity to organize and private view invitations to be sent out at the start of next week.....
Today is 18 February, which means its ten weeks and two days to our 39th wedding anniversary.... Oh dear, I seem to be getting a bit ahead of myself. I don't want to wish away our precious time together. Need to get back to the here and now, take each day as it comes and make the most of it. After all, a date is just a date, is just a date. Life is for living not watching the clock or being enslaved by the calender. Let's enjoy every day, as much as we can....
Today is 18 February, which means it is 20 months and 2 days since diagnosis. Steve has been able to celebrate yet another Valentine's Day. This year, we marked the date with a meal out in Wimbledon, where I have been based for much of the time over the last two weeks. As far as we can tell, Steve's physical condition has not changed in the four weeks since the last blog review. People often remark how well he is looking, which is true. They almost seem to forget that he is living with a time bomb inside him. He still wakes up in the night from time to time, aware of how vulnerable he is and that his health could deteriorate at any time without warning. Every little twinge is like an alarm bell ringing.......
Today is 18 February, which means it is now one month minus one day before Steve's next scheduled hospital assessment. An X-ray will reveal any indication of disease progression, in which case he will have the full scan treatment to establish exactly what's happening inside. In either event, the X-ray/scan will be followed by the nerve wracking time waiting to talk to the oncologist and find out the news. Some meso warriors have to wait a whole month for the results of a scan. How do they do it? The next four weeks or so will become increasing stressful as the date of the assessment approaches. The thought of having to wait yet another month after that for the results is horrifying...
Today is 18 February, which means its less than two weeks to Steve's next birthday when he will be 1 million years old in binary numbers! I wish I could give him a cure for mesothelioma as a birthday present. In reality, I have no idea what to give him to mark this auspicious occasion - we still have gifts to each other stacked up from previous special occasions waiting to be taken - hot air balloon rides for both of us, a special driving experience for Steve, a special boat trip for me. I hope that soon we'll be able to make the time to enjoy them. The phrase "when I retire" is cropping up in our conversations with increasing regularity.....
Today is 18 February, which (until this morning) meant it would be exactly one month until I am due to retire. I'm now told that the date of my last day of service has been pushed back to 28 March to give me a bit more leeway to finish the report I'm due to start working on in ernest next week. Very welcome news in some respects as the extra week takes a bit of pressure off a deadline which which would be very difficult to meet given other commitments. However, it's also frustrating as it pushes back the end date I had firmly fixed in my mind. I saw the early release compensation offer for the first time this morning and it's not what I was expecting - whether I get a satisfactory answer to my queries before the decision deadline early next week remains to be seen. I do hope so.
Today is 18 February, which means it's less than three weeks until we're due to hang the exhibition. There's lots of printing, framing, mounting, stretching and varnishing to do before then, publicity to organize and private view invitations to be sent out at the start of next week.....
Today is 18 February, which means its ten weeks and two days to our 39th wedding anniversary.... Oh dear, I seem to be getting a bit ahead of myself. I don't want to wish away our precious time together. Need to get back to the here and now, take each day as it comes and make the most of it. After all, a date is just a date, is just a date. Life is for living not watching the clock or being enslaved by the calender. Let's enjoy every day, as much as we can....
Posts
you have it just right in para 2 re waking in the night
ReplyDelete