Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: billybob
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 04:17 AM

Day 2 for Jane,
love and hugs Jane,Nigel and Ann

Wendy xxxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 06:14 AM

Bruce & Gnu, thank you for lightening the mood. The humour was much needed & much appreciated. Laughter is in pretty short supply in the Paterson household at present.
       Yes, day two for Jane. Day one seems to have passed without anything unduly unpleasant occurring, so let's hope for more of the same today.
       Several of you have taken the trouble to PM me. I'm moved by the intimacy of your writings, encouraged by the wisdom of your words & overwhelmed by the depth of your compassion,
                  Stay Close,
                                  With Love,
                                                 Nigel & Ann.
                                                 xxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 10:24 AM

With the time difference from here to there, Day 2's treatment may also be done. I hope it went as well as Day 1's.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 04:40 PM

Fingers crossed.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Janie
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 07:53 PM

Still pulling at the oars along with the rest of the crew. Looking around and - Oh! Everybody, Look! Off to port! Dolphins playing along side. And do you notice the play of light from the sunbeams breaking through the patchy clouds?

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: billybob
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 11:14 AM

sunbeams here too!
Ho hum, drove to hospital for Billy's consultant appointment and we were too early!! One week too early, and I thought mum had the memory problems?

Love the Dolphins,

Wendy xxxxxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 06:04 PM

we were glad to take tommy from hospital on monday - although frustrated that the delay in getting the discharge bits meant driving home in the london rush hour.from there we went to evilena childrens hospice for further recouperation and training for us re new equipment.becky and i came home today while tommy continues his "holiday".he is pretty much back to his usual self now.thanks again for your interest and prayers.
while we were away i continued to remember in prayer,nigel,ann,and jane and everyone else.God bless    pete.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 06:40 PM

Backatcha, Pete.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: billybob
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 07:40 PM

Good news Pete,

with love
Wendy xxxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 09:15 PM

Wendy, I went to a doctor's appointment one month early! And I have my mammograms done annually in the same building. The doctor is a breast surgeon. I haven't needed surgery, but I have had a few questionable mammograms and needed stereotactic (needle) biopsies. Several months after my arriving one month early and returning on the correct date, I went in for another "routine" mammography. Instead, I went to the breast surgeon's office! I put it down to tension. Breast cancer killed my mom and some other family members.

Pete, I'm glad that Tommy is out of the hospital

I am continuing to think of Jane and hope her second and third days of treatment have not been too awful..

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 11:44 PM

I am continuing to think of Jane and hope her second and third days of treatment have not been too awful..

what ShantyLass said,

sandra (who recently stopped just outside the physio's office to check her diary - I was a week early. I slunk away before they could see me)

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 11:13 AM

Days 1,2 & 3 of Jane's radiotherapy have gone as well as we could hope. It is distressing for her, but not painful. The process involves wearing a close-fitting mask so that the laser can be accurately targeted. Jane then has to be strapped down firmly so that no movement is possible. Mercifully, each session lasts for about ten minutes only. Whilst prone & immobile she visualises many of the beautiful places she has visited in the Middle East; our Dear Darling Daughter suffers from claustrophobia! The visualisation technique is the only way she can cope with this constrained form of treatment. It's good to see Jane eating more. Her oncologist has encouraged her to eat anything & everything she fancies; the more calories the better. The chemotherapy part of her treatment can't be restarted until she's regained as much of her weight loss as possible.
       Some lovely posts above...positive news about Tommy; Wendy, ChanteyLass & Sandra bringing us some smiles, despite the underlying seriousness of the situation & Janie with the dolphins, a visualisation for us all, to which I want to add: don't lose contact with your 'Inner Child'. The ability to play is just as vital in adulthood as it was in childhood. Swim after the dolphins & PLAY!
       With Love to You All,
                                     Nigel & Ann.
                                     xxxxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: billybob
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 06:28 PM

My Dear Nigel,

The "inner child" here went out to play! I went to see Les Mis the film, with my daughter last night! Oh the joy of going to the "pictures" such Fun!! We got two for the price of one thanks to our mobile phones, and, because we had two scoops of icecream each and a fizzy drink, earnt so many points that we can get a free ticket next time( as long as it is on a Tuesday?)I have to say ,loving the stage musical so much, I went with an open mind to not compare! But I thought the film was wonderful and loved that it was filmed quite a lot in Greenwich at the Royal Naval College so near to where I spent my childhood.Got back home to find that Billy had a rather difficalt evening with mum, but they were watching a concert of Glen Campbell at the Festival Hall ( circa 1970 something) and ,bless him, Billy was delighted that Samantha and I had enjoyed our girls night out!

Hope Jane gets through Friday with her fantastic determination that she has shown throughout!Thinking of you all,as always,

Fondest love

Wendy xxxxxxxxx (still looking forward to tea at the beach hut in the spring)

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 07:46 PM

Speaking of dolphins and what lies below, a shorter version of this was on FB. THIS is the original, amazing footage with text commentary and a great message. The whole 8+ minutes are worth watching, but the close-up action starts about 4 minutes in. Perhaps a few minutes of respite for us all.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: catspaw49
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 08:34 PM

Nigel, your family makes me happy to ever have come here. And all of you like myself are fortunate to be crewing here. My very best thoughts to all.

As for my situation...........

After several weeks of testing and transfusions I have been being treated for the past 5 weeks with weekly shots for Myeloplastic Dysplasia. Basically, the bone marrow isn't producing the required red blood cells. The drug, Aronesp, isn't working as much as we had hoped but it seems to have started to do a bit of something.   The Doc wasn't pleased however and we're upping the dose for a month and see how it goes. I hope the progress keeps up.

If not we will start on Vizada, a form of Chemo, which knocks out the nasties and allows the goodies......or something like that....LOL.....Anyway, the MPDS that I have can and probably will develop into Leukemia but of a type that doesn't respond well to treatment. The Vizada is about the only thing which has shown doing much both in terms of forestalling the onset of the Leukemia and improving to some degree the morbidity rates.

So we're going along for now and seeing what is working. Hopefully the Aranesp does better and we'll move on from there. Whatever it is and however it goes, we're taking it one step at a time.   Like Woody said, and I intend to take his advice, "Take it easy.....But take it." HEY! Matter of fact....Let's all do that.......

Take it easy...But take it.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 08:45 PM

Spaw, good luck with the increased dosage for your treatments.

Kat, nice video.

Wendy, I'm glad you enjoyed a night out.

Nigel, I was wondering if your daughter's treatments would involve restraints and a mask. I know someone else who has undergone similar treatments. I, too, have claustrophobia and would try to visualize something pleasant. I am so glad that she has only one day of this left.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Janie
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 09:08 PM

I've got my fingers and eyes crossed in hopes of a good response for you, Pat. You still having to make that long drive to stay "in-network?" Orion is bright in the sky here tonight. Very clear sky, the atmosphere well-scoured by the high winds of the last couple of days. I think it may be snowing in your neck of the woods, but even if you can't see it, Orion will soon be directly overhead where you are also. My aim ain't that precise from such a distance, but I tried to concentrate on the triple star cluster, Rigel, it being the brightest and a triple and all, eh? May as well aim for the mostest. Anyways, while I've never figured out if Rigel marks Orion's left foot or the left corner of a bad hem job on his tunic, moonbeams and starlight channeling love and light to all, and tonight, especially to 'Spaw, Karen and the boys.

Good to hear from you, Nigel, and to hear that Jane is tolerating the radiation treatments. She is obviously determined and resilient. Probably like her loving parents. May she have and be able to execute wonderful food cravings!

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: catspaw49
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 10:22 PM

Thank you Janie and CL.....but Janie Bud, not to worry yet......LOL.....and I just realized I'm also DYSLEXIC!....LOL....The chemo drug is Vidaza not Vizada............


pSwA

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Janie
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 10:27 PM

go ahead - blame dyslexia on poor keyboard skills. See if I care!

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: gnu
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 11:01 PM

Gee... I just feel inadequate. I have no words for any of you except to say I like to hear good news and don't even wanna her anything BUT good news. But, that is life. Had a bunch of bad news today... but... that is life. Sometimes, that is all there is to say other than... I am still here and I am in for the long haul because there are no finer people I would want to row my oar beside. Thanks.

Time to thread a bit... rant... cajole... listen to music... and hope the f***** power doesn't go out again tonight! It's a tad windy here.

God bless youse... yer a good bunch.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 05:50 AM

As gnu alluded to, it is a very humbling experience to spend thread time with truly beautiful people. It speaks to a goodness found in the human character too often overlooked in our day to day lives. I think no one will visit this thread and remain untouched by the thoughts of others or the depth of compassions we may not have known we had within ourselves. It ain't quite a miracle on 34th Street but it's darned close.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 10:22 AM

More good news: my friend Richard who I requested thoughts for a while back is out of hospital and recuperating. There's been a couple of minor hiccups (an infection and some nausea) but he's improving now.

Yesterday he got the test results on the tissue and its all clear, the surgeon removed the only tissue that was cancerous.

So thank you to you all for being so positive....it really does help.

And best wishes to all those still in the throes of surgery / radio / chemo.

Thanks

Paws

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 11:06 AM

that's great news, Paws!!

Spawdarlin'...I told you you can quit being the evil twin, now! luvya

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 11:29 PM

Paws, your post about Richard makes me happy.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: billybob
Date: 02 Feb 13 - 03:16 AM

Lovely to get some good news, thank you Paws,

Hoping all went well this week for Jane, Nigel

Wendy xxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Feb 13 - 03:29 AM

Wonderful, Paws.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 12:47 AM

We're still waiting anxiously to hear from a few and especially how things have gone with Jane. I know I've been sending the best mojo I got everyday.

I have received a number of PM's regarding my situation and let me assure all of you that I'm doing fine with the whole thing and it just ain't time to worry yet. I'll let you know when and we can all worry really hard for about 15 minutes then and get it over with. Maybe we can schedule it.

Love you all and my love to all,


Spaw

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Janie
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 01:47 AM

The moon is rising.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 03:56 AM

Apologies to you all, my Dear Friends. Depression has slowed me almost to a standstill. Spending far too much time sitting, staring into the middle distance, unable to do anything.
Kat, I haven't watched your video.....I will.
Spaw, I should've written immediately; you are in great need of support & I fell short of the mark.
The news about Richard is very good to read, thank you, Paws.
Jane has completed her five sessions of radiotherapy without undue distress. Followup consultation next week. She found the energy to make it to the kitchen on Friday & baked a cake. Her sense of achievement was palpable (and almost unbearably moving to witness).
                            With Love to You All,
                                                            Nigel & Ann.
                                                            xxxxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: billybob
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 06:58 AM

Nigel and Ann,

Thinking of you

xxxxxxxxxxxx

With love

Wendy

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 09:58 AM

That is pretty fine news about Jane as things could have been infinitely tougher. And the fact she baked a cake? Yeah, I bet she felt good. You and Ann have a strong minded daughter Nigel. Good vibes still coming from Ohio.

And Nigel.....There is no mark to fall short of. You and this crew have proven your capacity to support and to care and to love. Never make your level of caring a goal when everyone knows how wonderful you've shown it to be.   Guilt is the one thing we will not allow aboard.

And that goes for the rest of you!!! Keep the voyage alive..........and this thread on the page....LOL


Spaw

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 11:48 AM

I'm still here, heeding Spaw's call to make sure it stays on the page...

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 09:09 PM

Nigel, when you are ready to tell us more, we will be here to read it. Share in your own good time.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: maeve
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 01:20 AM

Friends are here in the dark of night...depression can be a way to sort fears from reality. It's Janie's quote about the light that's visible because of the darkness. We must face it on our own, but we are not alone.

Whether we put the fears onto paper, play them on an instrument, or carve words to speak them, the agony of depression is at once anesthesia and exploration of What Is...yet is never All That Is.

The cold of tonight's winter wind brings fresh breath to stagnate lungs. Breathe in...out...in...out...

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 05:32 AM

cool summer breezes here - from my fan!

but still thinking of everyone

love to all

sandra

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 09:16 AM

me, too.

Maeve, that is beautiful, thanks for sharing it.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Janie
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 08:59 PM

maeve, what you said is beautiful. More importantly though, it is very, very wise.

Love to all.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 12:45 PM

im sure we have all been in the place where it all seems just too much effort.glad janes treatment went quite well and that she even had enough energy to do the cake.sometimes the loved ones looking on and feeling helpless take it worse than the one directly afflicted.
yet the knowledge of such love will give encouragement to the sufferer.blessings   pete.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 04:04 PM

Some beautiful & comforting posts here. Maeve, I read & re-read, as Janie described them, your:"...very, very wise" words. As a direct consequence, I am endeavouring to compose my way out of my depression. Today, I have roughly two minutes-worth of a new piece residing in my computer. I'm content with the results so far & my mood is lighter. Without all You Good Folks & my Music, I really would be adrift & rudderless,
                     With Love,
                                    Nigel & Ann.
                                    xxxxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 09:18 PM

And we are still here and will be when you need us.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: billybob
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 04:43 AM

Still here Nigel xxx

Sunny here in Frinton this morning, we are off to the hospital for the consultant appointment ( hopefully on the right day after last weeks arriving one week early) may throw my hat in first to see if it's thrown right back?

Many wise and wonderful people on this thread,

Love to you all

Wendy xxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 04:08 PM

i hope it was a positive,encouraging appointment wendy
.pete

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: billybob
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 05:25 PM

Hi Pete,

thank you, yes some positive thoughts, the Leuchemia count is down from 200 to 2.5!! But the other blood counts have not come back up, probably because of the chemotherapy, but not so low that Billy needs a blood transfusion. Bone marrow biopsy on March 4th and CT scan, then another big follow up appointment two weeks later to see how Billy has done on the trial so fingers crossed for a while!

Hope Tommy is still doing well?

Still here thinking of Jane and her lovely parents

with love

Wendy xxxxx

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 07:20 PM

I'm checking in, spending less time in front of the screen these days and more time teaching, reading, being with family. My heart is with all here who are waiting for the dark times to end.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 07:22 PM

Good job billy and of course Wendy too. Keep it up and so will we. The news across the boaard here isn't too terrible right now but we're all goin' to keep keep this boat moving forward.....making waves!

Okay......Got a request.......

I went in for my weekly Aronesp shot and after increasing the dosage last week, this week I have continued to improve. We were at Connie and Wayne's on Sunday and I did pretty fair.....at least a good bit better than I had been and I had already gone past my record for being without a transfusion.   Today I feeel better that I have in months and was figuring thqat maybe I had picked up as we'd been hoping and would be on my way to avoiding the Vidaza.

My hemoglobin DROPPED a tenth.......I was dissappointed to say the least.   And yet, as we left I walked at a reasonble clip to the car with Karen.....she has been coming around and picking me up. AND all the way to the car I am talking and jumping around the ice patches. I haven't felt this good in months and yet the damn Hemoglobin went down. DAMMIT!   We stopped at our favorite Thai restaurant that we used to stop at every month but haven't been there in 3 or 4 even though we've been to Columbus weekly.....and we enjoyed the meal!!!! I'm telling you it was a damn good day and a way above the norm week.   Dropped a damn tenth...........

Okay....I may not be thinking the thing hard enough SO.................

This week when you think of this thread even though you may not be posting at the time....let's say it just crosses your mind.......Think "UP SPAW." That's it......just think "UP SPAW" whenever.............okay. You can do whatever other things we all do differently and personally in our prayers or Mojo or best thoughts or whatever ta' hell VooDoo You Do or I Do.........But also think "UP SPAW."

Now I'm prepared for the possibility this may not not work but let's give the Aronesp an assist the next 7 days. Hey......who knows? Can't hurt.


Spaw.....as in "UP SPAW"

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: maeve
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 07:32 PM

"UP SPAW"...of course. Similar felicitous thoughts are rolling for each one here.

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 08:05 PM

Way-hey, UP SPAW rises!

I had some good news at the kidney doc's today. All numbers are normal for me, but creatinine went up. Good news, it's probably due to low BP, so i get to reduce another med. Really relieved.

love to you all

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: gnu
Date: 07 Feb 13 - 06:52 AM

Great to hear good news.

UP yours SPAW!

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 07 Feb 13 - 09:00 AM

UP SPAW!

Subject: RE: Healing thoughts & prayers please (Nigel Paterson)
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 07 Feb 13 - 11:29 AM

Nigel - you're not alone.

You know that everyone here one is willing you and your family to bear this awful load.

You have the strength of us all.