Rowing our waka through rough seas- Grahame’s cancer challenge 2019

Mullett challenge 2020 Bald angels in Kerikeri have a Challenge for fundraising so I thought I might have a go at “ Bald to a Mullett” challenge https://www.facebook.com/BaldAngelsKerikeri/posts/1706691886122100:0 https://www.baldangels.org.nz/ Here’s a preview Before Aspiration but won’t be so dark. More grey and salt and pepper and likely less dense !!! I have made contact with team to set up a donation process and will let you all know in near future

D - 30 - Our journey on the Waka continues. Xmas day modelling kit completed -  care of Klaus and Minette Chemo care package This is my yacht waiting for me patiently at home . Hoping to regain sufficient “oomph” to be able to get It back in water and sailing when get home  Second day of chemo round two -  dawns!! - very restless night and many trips to loo have not helped . Feeling quite “ropey” this morning. Thought about a walk down to Newmarket but sensibility suggests a morning of rest as advised by my nurse Renene.  Shorter days of treatment Tuesday to Friday ahead . Radiation at lunchtime then only couple hours of single drug Etoposide in afternoons. Hopefully week gets better day by day. Definitely needed all the extra symptom management “ drugs” today Found this statue today which clearly reflected how my head and stomach is feeling today We “boogied” into radiation appointment in a Motown mood which brightened up the day of Machine 6, then the crew at Mac

D - 29 - Chemo round 2. And so the waters become a bit more turbulent again and I will depend on you folks as extra paddlers in our waka to help get us through this week ahead. 6 days of “ drugs” finishing next Monday. All your positive thoughts, positive affirmation and the “ odd whisky held high” will strengthen our foundations and resolve to keep paddling on. A bit vague in head from all the symptom management drugs and some “man” opausal hot flashes care of Magnesium in 1st and last litre IV fluids of the day. Secondary benefit though is the steroids will fix my hay fever that has returned on the break off the “drugs”. Back in the chair Listening to Osca Pietersen Jazz care of link from Stu Mcoll. Thanks Stu - has been good to relax too National Geographic helping start a new week of exploration. We will go looking for more statues, new experiences and “ fun “ things to do this week Beware the “Radio-active”man!!! Not sure what the put in the mix today but

D - 28 - Return to reality. So today back to the reality of our travel through troubled waters on our “waka”. Short trip back from Paeroa to our unit here at Domain Lodge. Apprehensive about the upcoming week of chemotherapy. Big and long day tomorrow with recipe of two drugs over aroun 8 hours and 5 litres fluids. I have been a bit nauseous today and put that down to the apprehension and anticipation. Sure it has nothing to do with the “odd beer and whisky” consumed as part of yesterday’s celebration. Son Brendan gifted Lewis and I a great single malt so had to try it.!!!! Renene and I will get through this week together as we did the first week and go looking for some “ bright spots” to help us through. There must be more we can discover hidden in the environment around us . Like the creeper has made its steady progress to the top of this structure we will persevere though this journey withe the intent of reaching our goal of successful treatment  “Onward and upward”

D - 27 - Dual celebration Today was not about me but a day to celebrate four special people committed to a new life together as couples. We gathered together as a wider Whanau/ family to celebrate the engagements of my daughter Courtney to Lewis Chellew and Renene’ cousins daughter Chanel to Shaun Callaghan. Shaun and Chanel have come all way from South Africa to spend 3 months with Chanel parents who are newly resident in NZ. Courtney and Lewis  Shaun and Chanel with gifts of Mere or patu and  Moro porowhita Courtney and Lewis were gifted two “environmentally friendly” gifts to plant that would be gifts that would grow alongside their commitment to each other What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate new beginnings in these young people’s lives and something very positive to distract us from these troubled waters we are navigating. Like finding a sandy beach and sheltered anchorage after a stormy passage on the “waka”. The fellowship, the friendly and h

D - 26 - pre chemo round 2 preparation So the dreaded round 2 of chemo approaches starting Monday 30th. We went early for routine radiation then an appointment with the Registrar for the lung chemo oncology team. A few surprises for us at the appointment . I had some blood tests done Monday having forgotten about the arranged domiciliary visit on Saturday. Turns out that my white blood count had dropped significantly . I was surprised as the two prior ones , first having just completed chemo and second a week following, had remained quite normal. My expectation was , “ those two have been fine so what to worry 3 weeks post chemo. Also surprised no one had contacted us to check if any clinical concern. Thankfully repeat done today suggests a return towards normality. Hopefully sufficiently so that they don’t delay chemo start Monday. Registrar also gave us the possibility of sneaking into a 3 rd drug option based on the “Pacific trial” of a immune modifier drug . There is a possibi

D 25 - BOXING DAY Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 so good to see and experience the wonderful Xmas each of our new and  old friends have shared through their “individual Xmas eyes” Back onto radiation so early morning “burn” then a walk amongst the domain up to Museum and back . Each day we walk we find some new experience . Today a spray of daisies rambling across the ground under the large pine trees “Trippin” amongst the daisies as we walk  Renene’s favourite terraced houses An eager wait till son Brendan’s  plane arrived from Melbourne . Long awaited re union of our ”nuclear”family ( excuse the pun). So good to have a voice to be able to converse with my family.  We all went to brother- in- law Pey for late afternoon swim and BBQ and a catch up with Renene’s old friend Ruth from school days. Great fun doing bombs in pool though the nieces weren’t as impressed when they got a good soaking!!! Definite “SunSmart” approach required with bald head  pale as baby botto