Lindsey newsletter # 103
Nantes, Sunday 4th February, 23-00.
Silence. Only Lindsey and I. And Lindsey is now sleeping.
Vikki has left for a five week tour of La Réunion island this afternoon. Jill had left this morning.
Oh. Of course we miss them already. But there is something nice in just being the two of us for once.
But let’s go back.
On Tuesday 23rd a blood analysis took place. In the evening when I saw the results it was clear that something was wrong. We had done an analysis on Friday and the white blood cells had gone right down since. And on Wednesday when Boris Lindsey and I went to the hospital this was confirmed. She needed a count of 1000 for the treatment to be given. And she was at 820. So all we could do was go back home and wait for them to go up.
On Saturday we had another analysis and they were even lower. The rest of the week end was gloomy. All I could do is prepare Lindsey for the possible further delay.
On Monday afternoon we went to the hospital and they checked there. After waiting for quite a long time they found that the count had risen well above the 2000 mark so the different products could be given. This meant being in the hospital till nearly 10 at night. By which time I was already in London.
I had to go to London for a project meeting; The plane landed in Luton where I discovered the fish-tank. This is the large room in which all the planes poor their passengers who then are dispatched to different queues and eventually are able to get out. I reached two conclusions: the first was that there was something worse than Roissy in Europe. The second is that this was clearly potty training for the English to get used to what life is going to be after brexit.
The second round of treatment is not as fun as the first. We are not having those spectacular days which impressed upon me so strongly. Lindsey is tired and quite depressed. Even if she was told she would not lose her hair, in fact these seem to be falling by patches.
So now for a quiet week. I will try to shuffle through my (far too many) lectures and spend as much time at home as possible. And I am sure that by the end of the week we will be happy to have visitors again!
Lindsey newsletter # 104
Nantes, Sunday 18th February, 15-00.
2 weeks. One cycle. More of the same. Only worse.
The fist week (which was the second of the cycle) was very gentle. Only Lindsey and I. I managed to work from home quite a bit and made sure I had one of Mélissandre, Michèle, Marie-Pierre, Justine, Nawel around when I was out. Lindsey was mostly tired with some good moments too, allowing her then to go out or do things.
On Saturday we had the feared blood test. And it gave the wrong result again. The white blood cells were too low, meaning that the Monday routine would be more complicated.
On Sunday (11th) Julie (Lindsey’s sister) came to visit. Nice to have some positive energy around.
On Monday we went to the hospital for the treatment. As expected the Doctor asked for an extra blood analysis which was positive. The treatment could take place but I had to go and teach. Julie and Lindsey had to get back with a taxi.
Julie left on Thursday.
One new problem has appeared. A couple of times, Lindsey has had severe nose bleeding episodes. The first time was in the bath, so was reasonably easy to sort out. The second time took place at Denise’s fish stall in Talensac market. This can happen and sometimes a cauterisation is proposed to avoid the incident repeating itself. Sorting this one out will be one of the issues of next week.
Lindsey’s arm is also a source of bother and pain. We do go and see a physiotherapist, but I am not very convinced, and don’t have any better alternative, sadly.
When Lindsey feels a bit better she phones family and friends to reassure them. Which is very sweet.
Love
Lindsey newsletter # 105
Nantes, Monday 26th February, 18-00.
Lindsey sitting in the chair after a long day in the hospital. We had round 4 of the treatment today. As before, the blood analysis from Saturday was not good enough so we had to go through another analysis. The results gave the all clear we needed. But it meant spending a lot of time there.
The week had gone well: Boris arrived on Monday, Lali on Tuesday. Lindsey has been feeling well sometimes, less at other moments. One problem has been the nose bleeding. This happened until Tuesday. Then it didn’t.
On Friday the SUPREs arrived. Lindsey met up with them on Saturday morning, just outside the market.
The SUPREs all come from Alicante and are Lindsey’s great friends from when we spend one year there, in 2001-2002.