A storm in the Khumbu Valley
My Allograft 2018/19 – 24. 21st July 2019 By Andy Burrows, 21 July 2019 Irony and poetry There’s a certain poetry in where I am right now. Because where I am right now is in the Wessex Ward in Basingstoke Hospital in the same side room I was in almost 12 months ago when I…
In the mind
My Allograft 2018/19 – 23. 14th July 2019 By Andy Burrows, 14 July 2019 Feeling the length of the journey I’ve no idea, as I write these words, what I’m going to say. It just seemed right to update, being six weeks since I last put anything on the blog. So, here goes!… It’s Day…
Down
My Allograft 2018/19 – 22. 2nd June 2019 By Andy Burrows, 2 June 2019 Hello again! Ok, so I’ve changed my mind! I was thinking, when I wrote the last blog post, that it would be too boring to write any more on the blog about my allograft journey. But I’d forgotten two things: Firstly,…
Coming up to 100 days
My Allograft 2018/19 – 21. 5th May 2019 By Andy Burrows, 5 May 2019 Losing the dangly bits It’s Day 87. That is, 87 days after my transplant, after Day Zero. I’ve been out of hospital two whole months. I have to admit, it feels like longer than that! I’m still making progress, ticking off…
It is what it is
My Allograft 2018/19 – 20. 14th April 2019 By Andy Burrows, 14 April 2019 Back to the Future Most of you will know of the actor Michael J Fox from the 1980s – mainly as Marty McFly in the iconic Back to the Future movies. He was also the original Teen Wolf and Alex in…
The long trek goes on
My Allograft 2018/19 – 19. 6th April 2019 By Andy Burrows, 6 April 2019 Some progress It’s 58 days since Day Zero, the day I received my donor’s stem cells. It’s five weeks since I came home from hospital. And the reason I’ve left it almost a month since I last wrote an update is…
The real cancer battle
My Allograft 2018/19 – 18. 10th March 2019 By Andy Burrows, 10 March 2019 Not much change Every morning I see my pale, colourless, hairless reflection in the mirror, and I feel slightly uncomfortable. The weight I’ve lost since the end of January is obvious – 12kg (26 lb / 2 stone) in six weeks…
The view from the summit
My Allograft 2018/19 – 17. 2nd March 2019 By Andy Burrows, 2 March 2019 Home So, the big news is that I’m home now, just this afternoon, Saturday. Sorry if that’s a sudden announcement, but I don’t like to raise expectations too much in advance, otherwise it creates too many questions, like, “Are you home…
Up and down
My Allograft 2018/19 – 16. 28th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 28 February 2019 The tedious last few steps There hasn’t been very much to report in the week (almost) since I last posted an update. And it is starting to drag to be honest. The summit of my Everest climb is in sight, and…
Coming out of the clouds
My Allograft 2018/19 – 15. 22nd February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 22 February 2019 Progress measures Things are continuing in the right direction, I’m pleased to report. Yesterday, I tried to eat something, but after two spoonfuls of Rice Krispies I couldn’t take any more. It was bland, and my stomach was complaining. I tried…