There are times when it is difficult to think of anything to
write in this blog. I certainly don’t want it to become dull and repetitive.
November has been neither dull nor repetitive.
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| Tabby and Donella - star quality |
Things kicked off on the first weekend of November when Tabby and Donella took part in the “It’s
good 2 give” fashion show. This took place in the performing arts centre at
Stewarts Melville College – a great venue. Along with another 40 or so models,
Tabby and Donella were assigned three fashion boutiques around Edinburgh and in
the run up to the event attended each for fittings etc .
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| Receiving the plaudits |
On the day of the Show, all the models had their hair done
by Charlie Millerand his team . For
those of us expecting something out of the “Women’s Institute” – dream on. The
show was glitz and glamour at its finest.
Organised by the wonderful Lynne Mcnicoll, the show was hosted by Grant
Stott – ably assisted by three girls who have all been on the Ward 2
Roller-coaster. All the models were affiliated to Ward 2 at the “Sick Kids” –
either patients, family, staff or friends. I was asked up on stage and interviewed by
Grant Stott about Tabby, the last 12 months and “It’s good 2 give”.
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| "Hurry up Lynne!" (Only joking) |
The show was terrific. It was so good to see so many
patients and “ex – patients” taking part and at times was quite moving. Tabby
looked wonderful in each of her outfits
– she and Donella seemed very at home on the cat-walk. In the last set, Tabby
appeared in a lovely bridesmaid dress with a fur stole while Donella wore a
show-stopping red glittery ball gown (apologies for inadequate fashion speak).
She looked stunning. It was hard not to
break into a cheesy Chris de Burgh song (Lady in Red). It was even harder not
to buy “that dress” for Donella. Anyway it was a great day – we had a ball.
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| Tabby and Kelly Brown, Scotland Captain |
A week later, as the “orthopaedic” member of the medical
team at the Scotland New Zealand rugby international, James Robson (team
doctor) invited Tabby and me to a training session to meet some of the players.
I picked Tabby up from school and we went along to Murrayfield to watch the
last hour of a training session. James
had set this all up. Throughout the time players would come over and chat to
Tabby and pause for a photo. At the end of the session 8 or 9 of the guys
jogged across the pitch and presented Tabby with a signed Scottish Rugby jersey
and an SRU fleece. The biggest guys in the
team, Al, Jim and Richie then picked Tabby up and put her on their shoulders –
about 10 feet up in the air! Tabby
called them her “Gentle Giants”. It was
good fun and I am pleased to report that Tabby was nearly as excited as I was!
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| Nick, Mike, Jim, Richie and Al |
I would like to thank James and all the guys who took the
time to come and have a chat with Tabby and have a photo. You could never meet
a nicer bunch of people who train so hard and are so keen to help out. The
recent Autumn Series results and loss of their coach seems scant reward for all
their hard work. Keep it going lads!
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| Proof that I am as tall as Richie Gray |
Tabby continues to work hard at school and really enjoys her
after school clubs. Her favourites are “Funky Fitness” and “Street Dance”. She is also in the choir. In fact P3 will be
singing “Silent Night” in German in the carol service. Last week, Tabby found
the music on her I pod and we discovered her practicing in her bedroom. She
sounded truly angelic. At times one almost forgets that Tabby is still in the
middle of her chemotherapy – until the week of steroids that is. Last week we
certainly witnessed a short fuse of frustration against a background level of
general grumpiness! When the steroids
stop she is back to our usual Tabby. Over the last month her appetite has been
poor. Big on carbohydrate and low on protein. She told me recently, that meat
and sausages now taste like pooh. I believe this is a common complaint with
those on chemotherapy and not a reflection of Donella’s cooking. At the moment her diet comprises chicken and
“Nutella”.
As a consequence of her chemotherapy, Tabby’s neutrophil
count has continued to decline. In fact her mercaptopurine and methotrexate was
stopped a fortnight ago to allow some recovery. Despite that, Tabby awoke on
Tuesday morning with a high temperature. Bags packed, Donella and Tabby were
off to the “Sick Kids” again. She is now back in her usual room in Ward 2. After 3 days we still have not found the bug
and suspect it’s a virus. Her temperature is coming down although with the
occasional spike of pyrexia to keep everyone on their toes. At the moment, Tabby has no neutrophils –
none whatsoever- it seems. So at the
moment she is on high doses of intravenous antibiotics until her temperature
comes down and she grows a few more neutrophils.
Just when you think everything is running smoothly!
Finally, this evening Tabby popped out of Wd 2 briefly to deliver a quiz sheet to
“Radio Lollipop”. Fifteen minutes later, she still had not returned. Donella
went to investigate and found her in the “Radio Lollipop” studio being
interviewed – live on air! She was on air for ten minutes talking about
herself, her family, the cats and favourite holidays. The only thing she didn’t
do was plug her new book. Next week she will be appearing on Parkinson and
Jonathon Ross.
Donella has spent the last 3 nights in hospital with her and
I will take over on Friday. I hope Tabby gets out soon because we are off to
see the Pantomime “Mother Goose” at the Kings next week!
Here’s hoping for a Christmas Tabby and all of us can enjoy. Christmas blog to
follow
Merry Christmas,
The Lawsons
