02.07.05

Days Go By

Posted in Uncategorized at 8:49 pm by GaZ

Yeah, it’s been a while since the last post, but I haven’t really been in the mood to write anything lately. I think that formula that everyone was on about a while back, while maybe not exactly correct about the day, has a point for this time of year. But there’s more to the gloom than just that…

Towards the end of last year, when my grandparents came down to Birmingham to visit Hanne and me, I noted that my grandfather wasn’t in the best of health… at the time I presumed it wasn’t too big a deal, and it would eventually pass, however I soon found out how wrong I was. His health continued to deteriorate rapidly, and it turned out that he had suffered from kidney failure. As a result, mum made the decision to come over to Wales just before Christmas (the very day my brother flew out there, actually) to provide support. To add to the misery, Taid (my grandfather) has now been diagnosed with myeloma, a form of cancer which affects the bones. The doctors can’t give a strong-enough dose of chemotherapy because he has a weak heart and because of the kidney failure, so it’s just a matter of hoping the steroids they’re giving him will kick start the kidneys and somehow slow the cell growth. Coincidentally, there was a story on the news the other morning about the benefits of holistic therapy and alternative medicine, especially with regards to cancer treatment… I’d say anything is worth trying once, even if it’s all in the eye of the beholder. Many studies have been performed to investigate the so-called “placebo effect,” with mixed results, though from my own brief research i’d say the general opinion is that there’s something to it…

Currently the situation is relatively stable. Taid is in hospital, and from what I gather through the grapevine from Wales he’s relatively ok. At least at the hospital he can receive anything he requires immediately, and there’s always a nurse at hand. Hopefully things will somehow pick up a little.

Anyway, i’ve been sitting here writing and re-writing this entry for ages now, so i’ll just leave it as is. Spare a prayer/thought for my grandfather if you get the chance. Thanks.

Permalink