OK, there is quite a bit of news. Simon went to Peter Mac on Monday and was told that the nerve tests wouldn't be done this week which was obviously really disappointing. Simon had been dreading being back in hospital, as he is bed ridden for the whole time because of being hooked up to the IV machine and on crutches, but thought at least he was having this done. He was annoyed that they had told him they would do it, so that he didn't get the doctors at Myer St to do it. Meanwhile I received the appointment time for the test, which wasn't until July 23rd! I didn't even mention this to Simon!



Fortunately, yesterday one of the good doctors heard this and rang the place that does the test, told them that this was urgent and they slotted him in to a cancellation today at 1.30pm. That was really great! The test was fine and told them that the nerve damage seemed to be in his shoulders and would most likely heal itself. This is good, but they couldn't tell us whether it would be two weeks or a year!

Another good doctor prescribed some tablets to help with the pain in his hands. They seem to help a little bit which is nice. Why no one knew of this drug six weeks ago, I don't know! As mum said, "Oh they're characters aren't they"! But it's really good he has them now.

On his first day there he was waiting for a knife to cut the cheese (!) for his lunch. He asked 5 different people. Dinner came around before the knife did, so he was forced to skip lunch. And he had to wait for most of the day before someone was able to bring his bag up from the car. It's hard for him having to rely so much on other people for so many things.

On Tuesday morning he was dozing as the cleaning lady mopped around his bed, which is extended because of his height. Suddenly she slammed the extension shut and Simon was just able to move his leg in time before she broke it, because he didn't have the brace on! It's scary to think of all the things you don't even think about that could go wrong.

This morning they woke him at 4.40am to do his obs, checking temperature etc... which drives him crazy! He has (fortunately) never had a high temperature, so there doesn't seem to be any obvious reason why they wouldn't let you sleep for a couple of hours more so that your day isn't quite so long.

His hair is starting to come out again, and this time even his eye brows are affected, so that will be a bit harder for him than last time, but it's nice that it grew back so quickly last time.

This seems like a long list of whinging, but it's just really a list of things that have been happening this week that haven't all been great.

On a brighter note, Daisy, Kitty and I have had fun going up on the train each day and having dinner with him both nights. It's really nice having the excitement of getting to visit him. And he is so bored and lonely that he REALLY loves seeing us (I know he does anyway, but it's just magnified!)!

Other great things are that Simon is the only patient they let home with this kind of chemo when his counts are .2. Everyone else has to wait until theirs are .05 which can take a week! As I write this Simon is waiting to hear from the doctors if he might even come home tonight after only 2 nights because his counts are .14, so the nurses are just double checking. That would be amazing to have him home so quickly!

Yesterday Simon's work gave me a voucher for a facial or massage or whatever I want which is just amazing of them. They have been ridiculously supportive anyway without doing something like this.

This whole thing has really emphasized how surrounded we are by lovely people, our wonderful family, and soooo many others.

Everyone at church continues to be unbelievably supportive in so many different ways, but especially in prayer.

We have so much to be thankful for I can't believe it sometimes.

He was just told he can come home now. I'm amazed at how exciting this experience can seem at times!