leaving for home

I was all excited this morning to be coming home, after breakfast I left Caroline to the doctors for stitches to be removed and port taken out and went for a walk with Jo Ann to the beach. I dipped my feet in the Pacific Ocean, (didn't seem any warmer than the North Sea) and then we had a drink at El Yoghurt and watched the hummingbirds. It was sad to be leaving the hospital and lots of new friends among staff and patients, but I can't wait to be home again.

Spot the hummingbird

We left for the airport a bit later than expected, waiting for Caroline's vaccine and another patient, but got there with no bother. A short hop to LA and a shuttle to the hotel, which is very big with wonderful soft beds. We are tired and have eaten here tonight (Caroline managed to choose the most expensive wine on the menu for us, but only a glass each!) In the morning we will check out, leave the bags here and go shopping before checking in for the flight home. Caroline's removed stitches seem fine and she's hoping for a good night's sleep.

I'm running out of power and the adapter's no good, so bye for now.

the dolphins appear for us

Dr Contreras

Dr Contreras took the Sunday service again today and talked about miracles. One of the patients who has been very poorly with pancreatic cancer and had surgery last week, appeared to lead a hymn with her husband and brother, looking much better. Afterwards I went out with Gay, another companion, to the chocolate shop and the flower stall.  

Llama, giraffe and cowboy pinyattas waiting to be finished

Caroline had a drip this morning and decided to stay here during the afternoon, while I wanted to go on the trip to the artesan's market. Unfortunately the hospital minibus was busy, so 8 of us went in 2 taxis. The market was quiet, very hot and although I found a few bargains, I was ready to come back by 4pm. We walked past a shop making and selling big pinyattas, including life size lamas!

Before supper Caroline and I walked down to the beach, it was just the right temperature for us and the sun was low, some families were leaving, others still on the beach, in the sea or parading along the boardwalk. Lots of dogs: pugs, miniature schnausers and chiuauas, one family had a dog each to carry! We were pleased to see a pod of dolphins very close to the beach, everyone else seemed to have seen them before now except us.

Lots of new patients have arrived today, including one couple Tricia and Andrew, from Milton Keynes. We saw another couple in the nearest BBQ restaurant, a last supper perhaps?

We've both packed up ready to go, Caroline has some medical things to have done tomorrow, the port to be taken out and stitches removed, and I want to go down to the beach for the last time and dip my feet in the Pacific Ocean. Some of the patients say how cold it is, but not compared to the North Sea!

a busy day and a wild night

One ozone IV for Caroline and a nutrition class for me this morning. After lunch we went on a hospital trip to 'the Mall', which was quite small, busy and very hot. Masses of shoe shops, a fantastic frozen yoghurt stall and some bargains to be had in Sears which had a 20% off day. There were too many people for the minibus so Shelley and Bruce sat on chairs in the back, and Caroline and I took their place on the way back. It was a bit weird, felt like the popemobile, but meant that we spotted the Italian bistro on the way back and decided to go for supper. We had a fabulous meal, the restaurant is tiny, seats 14 with a minute kitchen and about 5 staff, spreaking excellent English. They gave us bread with a wonderful oily, tomatoey tapenade, a big salad, delicious pasta and red wine. Bliss!

Caroline's pasta

Afterwards we wandered in the dark down to the bullring, where there is a big free concert tonight, it felt safe as there were so many police about, very friendly, some with fab shiny motorcycle boots and others with semi-automatic guns. We bumped into Andrew, one of the missionaries from the hospital, and when some girls gave us some tickets, walked round and down the boardwalk into the concert.

The concert stage

The bullring enclosure is huge and even though there were lots of people, felt quite empty. I bought a cup of fruit described as lychees, thinking it looked like the yellow fruit we had years ago in Majorca, but it was disgusting. Boh! We all had one, Caroline said it tasted like sick and Andrew was quite shocked, he thought I knew what I was buying. He won't forget us, the mad English women!

We're safely back in the room, getting ready for bed, and thinking about going home. We called West Fleetham earlier today and Dad answered, home from hospital, and sounding good. The concert's still going strong, so we may need the airline earplugs tonight.

a photo of gorgeous George for mum

Caroline had a late muscle relaxant before we went to sleep last night, administered by George the night nurse, who Mum will remember from last year. It worked very well and her port is not painful today. This morning she had an IV and a meeting with Dr King the follow up doctor, followed by a visit to the pharmacy this afternoon to order her supplements to take home.

I had a companions workshop with Lety the psychologist this morning, and then after lunch we had a cycle rickshaw ride down to the beach. We felt rather sorry for the cyclist, who was a volunteer raising money for a local church project and said we were his lightest passengers!

We're having an early night yet again, it's a movie & popcorn downstairs, but we prefer to come to the room. The nurses have produced a foam mattress topper for me, so I'm looking forward to a comfy night.

News from home is that Dad is walking and probably home from hospital very soon, so he will make it back before us.

last interleukin treatment & keep eating the pasta

Take that needle away from me!

This morning Caroline had the last interleukin treatment, an injection rather than a drip. She had no ill effects, but her port has been painful, we think perhaps after the sedated procedure yesterday, when it might not have been treated as gently as usual. The dr said that her body wants to get rid of the alien object, and they gave her a muscle relaxant and a hot water bottle, (or a baby as Magy calls it), to ease the pain. I went to another lecture this morning, a different dr, suggesting a rather less strict regime of a mediterranean diet with lots of tomatoes, pasta, olive oil and red wine, I'll settle for that. His main message was that a low glycaemic index diet is best, not just for cancer, but heart disease stroke and alzheimers. Oh and you don't have to eat brown pasta, white pasta or noodles have just as low GI.

Lunch was fantastic, stuffed peppers, chicken with white corn, loads of salad and chocolate cake (well nearly). We had a walk after lunch at the beach, and back past the border fence and El Yoghurt, where I bought a bead bracelet for Shelley, one of the patients, whose birthday was today.

Caroline beside the border fence hung with white crosses in memory of Mexicans who died trying to cross the border.

3 pm was my second laughter therapy class with Shary, where we sang 'How much is that doggie in the window?' with appropriate barking and tail wagging actions. Later Caroline and I sat in the courtyard and watched Carol & Clifford leave for Canada after a month here, Clifford holding his chilled vaccine flask and Carol needing lots of tissues.

Shary's laughter therapy class

This evening we stayed in the cafeteria for a sing-a-long with Bruce & Vicky. We knew most of the melodies, but not the words, which have been rewritten with the hospital as the subject. We had an unannounced visit from Willie Nelson (Bruce), who sang 'To all the clinics I've known before'. There are some amazing voices here; some of the hospital staff sang, including one girl who sang a beautiful Cielito Lindo duet with Bruce.

stem cell treatment for caroline - lunch out for me

The stem cell treatment happened today, Caroline was taken down at 9.00am and sedated before they took bone marrow from her right shin. While she slept it off I went to a nutrition lecture with a mad professor type, interesting, but a lot of science and 2 & 1/2 hours. Amongst many other things he talked about the detrimental effects of having too much iron stored in the body. Caroline & I have realised that although  a few years ago she had the same heavy period problem as me, she didn't become anaemic as I did, and must therefore have had much more iron stored away than me.

While she has stayed in the room recovering; and after the stem cells were put back in, had some twinges of pain, I went out for lunch to the hospital recommended 'Le Yoghurt Place' down the road, with other companions. The frozen yoghurt and the hummingbirds outside the window were fantastic, but the cheese wasn't like home.   We're having a quiet evening, hopefully Caroline will be well enough for a walk to the beach tomorrow, she's not been out at all today.

Lunch at El Yoghurt: Andrew & Beatrice, American missionaries at the hospital, Gay from Australia, Doug from Canada, Graham from Australia and Shary the laughter therapist.

Another couple from this floor go home tomorrow, Carol and Clifford (her Dad) from New Brunswick, they are looking forward to it after 28 days here. I think Caroline and I will be keen to come home by next Monday, back to our own beds [clean sheets please ; )] families and dogs. We have been a little spoilt by the service here, clean towels every day, (3 bath, 1 hand and 2 flannels sometimes folded like table napkins) and the room cleaned while we are at breakfast. It's no wonder we sometimes slip up and call the hospital 'the hotel'. Caroline is also hoping that her good sleeping pattern here will continue at home, and that there is a bedroom left after all the banging and hammering we have hearing about.

money changing and an unexpected face mask

Much cooler today, the Mexican's all wearing jackets and jumpers, but we're ok in a tee shirt. Caroline had another interleukin 2 treatment, injection this time, and although she was told it might give her a temperature, nothing much happened. I had a chat with Lety the psychologist and heard Dr Contreras again this morning, a more general talk about the philosophy of the Oasis of Hope treatment, ( not Issels), which is to concentrate on the survival of the patient rather than getting rid of the tumour.

Yesterday I asked the receptionist about exchanging some money, pounds for dollars, as Caroline said Mum had last year. Araceli initially said she couldn't but came back later and said she would do it tomorrow. This morning we did a private exchange based on an internet rate, (as she said, no commission) she is hoping to visit London, particularly Notting Hill, after seeing the Julia Roberts film, so she is keen to start collecting cash for her trip. Caroline and I found her a selection of notes and pound coins to make it more interesting.

                                             Araceli at her reception desk.

This afternoon I went to laughter therapy with Shary, where 3 other companions and I laughed, sang and hugged. No room for British reticence, and some funny jokes.

Did you know Tijuana is the golf capital of the world - there are 18 holes in every street.

Mohammad and Nader left today, and we have several new patients on the 5th floor, but we haven't met them yet. One of them had a mud poultice this afternoon, and there was some left so Annabel gave me and Carol a face mask!

Not a pretty sight, but as Carol said my skin is now as smooth as a baby's butt!

Another British couple arrived this evening, Pam and Wesley from Surrey, and sat at our table for dinner.

Companions lunch at El Yoghurt Place tomorrow. Caroline may be having the stem cell treatment, so I'll probably go for some cheese.

monday - patients getting ready to leave & news from home

Another good night's sleep for both of us, although my bed is a little hard and is bruising my hips a bit. Another companion, Carol, who is Canadian and here with her dad Clifford, sat on it and promptly told me to ask for the foam topper on her bed when she goes on Thursday. Apparently it was bought by another companion and passed on to her. 

Caroline has had lots of IVs today and another UV treatment on her blood. We've also had a second visit from the visiting missionaries, Beatrice and Andrew, who blessed me as well as Caroline this time. A lot of the activities on the board are described as being led by 'Amigos dos Esperanza' who I've been expecting to meet all week; I realised today it's not someone's name, but refers to these missionaries, 'friends of/in hope?'

David and Ruth Ann have left the hospital today for the Amish guesthouse and outpatient clinc, and when I went to the supermarket today I saw several other Amish families, including a beautiful blonde mother with an 8 month old baby called Andrew with flaxen hair. Our neighbours Mohammad and Nader his son leave for Wisconsin tomorrow, and Carol & Clifford go on Thursday. If no-one else comes Caroline will be the only patient in the Issels section of the hospital.

A couple from Indiana arrived yesterday on the third floor; Henry and Joanne have been married for 51 years, from the ages of 18 and 15, and have a great grandchild of 7! It was Henry's first ever flight to get here, but he seems to have coped extremely well, although the lack of Diet Coke in the hospital might be a problem for them.

We are getting lovely emails from Mum, who seems to be in a whirlwind of activity while Dad is recovering in hospital; making jam, walking Ollie the hip breaker, preparing for the joiner coming back to replace some more windows and finishing today with a trip to one of the Seahouses curry joints with Dave and my children. (Dad's not keen on spicy food, so she doesn't get much opportunity.) Dad has been up walking and should be transferred to Alnwick tomorrow so that will make things easier for her.

Sorry no photos at the moment, my phone camera has started to store photos in the phone memory rather than on the card and I can't get at them.

Good news, Nader next door has just fixed it so I should be able to upload some more tomorrow.

Keep the comments coming please, we really appreciate them. It's particularly special to hear from our American cousins; Happy Anniversary John & Nancy.

good mexican coffee - no cream no sugar

Sunday today, a service in the cafeteria after breakfast and we were surprised to see Dr Contreras again, Caroline only saw him once last year. He was very interesting, speaking for about 1/2 hour about his father's work and his own, starting from a lifetime achievement award he had just received for work with cancer patients. I forgot to take my camera for photos, but will try to get one from one of the other patients tomorrow. Dr Contreras was followed by Bruce, one of the missionaries, who talked about his own cancer treatment, remembering when he had to learn to have coffee enemas and how the nurse would arrive with a jug of coffee for him, telling him ' good mexican coffee - no cream, no sugar'.

There is an Amish couple from Wisconsin in the hospital, Ruth Ann and David, she had surgery on Friday and appeared at breakfast today looking very well. She is extremely friendly and is enjoying talking to everyone at meal times. They have 8 children, 5 still at home, the oldest two looking after the farm and house.

Caroline has felt much better today, the eye drops have helped and she slept almost 10 hours last night. I was going to go on the market trip today and leave her to rest, but there weren't enough people wanting to go so we went for a walk through the malls and past the chocolate shop. We bought some dark chocolate goodies to try, a few choc raisins and chocolate with almonds. 

It feels as if we are on another planet here, the time difference with home, 8 hours behind, is difficult to get to grips with, most of the time we are awake, they are asleep. For most people emotions are very close to the surface, but although all the patients have major health problems, it's not an unhappy place and Caroline and I have had a lot of laughs.

Quite a few people have gone home in the last few days so we're waiting to see if tomorrow brings any new arrivals.

News from home is good, Dad seems to be recovering well from surgery and will be moving to Alnwick hospital before going home.

Keep the comments coming, it's lovely to get a response.

movie star

Mrs Issels has been on the phone several times to see how Caroline is and ask her if she would be filmed for the website. It's wonderful confirmation that they see her as a success story, but unfortunately in the last few days she has had what appears to be a minor virus, which at the moment is affecting her eyes, which are sore and feel gritty. Hopefully it will be gone by Monday, when the video is being shot, as she won't want to be filmed looking less than her best. I've got to blow dry her hair tomorrow, no pressure...................
She had two blood treatments today, the blood taken yesterday which had been activated with interleuken 2 and then a UV treatment of some blood which was put staight back in. The interleuken has left her feeling ropey, and has made the eye problem worse. Apparently all to be expected, but uncomfortable.
There was a shopping trip to a mall today, which I didn't go on, but I've signed up for the artisan's market tomorrow afternoon. Caroline won't come, but there should be some patients as well as companions, the Oasis of Hope patients don't seem to have any treatment at the weekend. The hospital is very quiet, the other patients we have met so far have been American, Canadian, and Australian, with the odd Italian and Nigerian.

Magy

Caroline is looked after in the afternoon & evening by a delightful nurse called Magy, who Mum and Andrew will remember from last year. She's a grandmother with a grandaughter called Carolina, but she looks no more than 30 and is a lot of fun, very efficient, calm and caring.

She has a selection of cartoon work tunics, this is Betty Boop.

friday - lovely sunny day & everything's looking better

After a very overcast start the sun came out gloriously, we had slept well, with no painkillers for Caroline, and after another X-ray to confirm that the lung was fully reinflated, the drs took out the valve this afternoon. Caroline was a bit disappointed not to get more sedation but it went well, the main problem seeming to be that she had healed so well that it took a while to loosen the stitches. She had the usual IVs this morning (see photo) and we've had two walks, one to the beach where there is a new boardwalk. I'll take the camera next time to show you.

The blood results came back this morning, and although the results were delivered very dead pan by the doctor, virtually everything was absolutely normal. Her uric acid levels were low, but that's because she eats no meat. So fantastic news.

We've not had cake for a day or two so it was a lovely treat to find it there at lunch although we saved it to have with a cup of tea later. I'm enjoying the food, but missing cake and cheese. No detox headaches yet.

The first full week is over for the children back home, they'll be happy it's Friday, time for a lie in. The weekend isn't going to be much different for us, although I'm planning to go on the market trip on Sunday.

It's great to see that we have acquired a few followers, I have tried to reply to Lesley's comments, but the site won't let me do it. I'll get Dave to send me your email address.

Good news also from home, Dad's had his hip pinned, Mum has seen him this afternoon after the surgery, and she hopes he will be transferred to Alnwick on Monday.

thursday - unexpected events continue

After 24 hours of Caroline having the chest valve put in (and sticking out of her clothes at odd angles) she is doing much better. The initial relief of being able to breathe again properly has passed and she just has to wait for the all the air to be expelled. This means that some treatment has been delayed, she has had some IVs but not the coley's vaccine.

We had a short walk this afternoon, which was her first time out of the hospital, but otherwise a quiet day. It was a shock to hear from home that Dad is in hospital in Ashington, having fallen and broken his hip while walking Ollie.

wednesday afternoon- Happy Birthday Charlie William & George

The sedation for the port going in was fine, but unfortunately not everything else. Caroline started to wheeze and her chest felt constricted when she came round yesterday afternoon. After vists from drs in the evening and night, she was xrayed again today and about lunchtime we were told she had a collapsed lung. (Apparently happens in 3-4% of cases.) She's had a tube put in to reinflate the lung (48-78 hrs) and is coming round now. It's very distressing for her, and means the first coley's vaccine will have to be delayed.

Plus we had our second earthquake yesterday evening, apparently the hospital has some kind of tremor damping system below ground, but it's a bit alarming!

tuesday- sykpe working and a lecture from dr contreras

After breakfast Dave skyped us, a bit slow, but fantastic, we're going to try again same time tomorrow. Then a really interesting and convincing lecture from Dr Contreras, on cellular metabolism and nutrition, Caroline had 2 more IVs before we went and she has gone for a sit outside before the dr comes at 1.30 to put her port in. She's asked for sedation so should be less stressful than last year. I've got some oil to massage her before sleep tonight if  she needs it.

Up to date now.

mexican bi-centenary

Tomorrow, as well as being Charlie, William & George's birthday, it's Mexico's bi-centenary of independence, so fiesta all round. We have found earplugs in the flight goody bags, Caroline says we'll need them, although the fireworks should be fun to watch. We have a huge plate glass window, facing South East, it feels a bit goldfish bowly from inside, but is completely reflective from outside.

what do they put in the air-con?

Caroline was convinced she would sleep well here and she had the best night's sleep since her last visit, up a couple of times in the night, but feeling rested this morning, a lovely blue sky when we opened the blinds. The vampire came at 7 to take her blood, and she was weighed before breakfast. I snuck on afterwards to check my weight; ideally at the end of these 2 weeks she will have gained weight and I will have lost. 1/2 stone swap would be fantastic.

arrival in Tijuana

The hospital mini-bus took us over the border and delivered us to the door, in time for lunch, and then Caroline saw the doctors and had a couple of IVs, administered by a sweet nurse called Maggie she knew from last visit. I'll get her photo later. They took a while and I had a walk around the block, getting some pesos from the bank, although not very many because I got a bit confused about the exchange rate and ended up with about £8 only. I also wandered around the nearest supermarket, full of wonderful vegetables and chiuauas in trolleys.
We ate our evening meal and watched Ameica's got talent before crashing out at 9pm.

adventures in san francisco

W didn't feel like eating in the hotel 'Chutney Grill' which looked at bit like one of Gordon Ramsay's kitchen nightmares. The hotel staff advised us to go to a shopping mall called Tanforan, where there was a 'Target', so off we went by taxi. Target turned out to be like Asda, and amazingly had Boots toiletries, which Caroline paid for with the BA debit card.  We were starving and went to a big 'restaurant brewhouse' called BJs, where we had a last glass of red wine and a big salad. I would have severely embarrassed the children when I asked to take the photo of the 3 men with lots of beer samples!
In the hotel we were really sleepy and were flat out by 8.30, only to be shocked awake by the phone at 10pm, when reception called to ask if they bring the lost case up. Still we slept quite well and took the shuttle to the airport.
On the flight we were separated, I was sat next to a very polite friendly and fit 19 year old trainee marine; he was interested in a pen-pal in England so if there's an email from Wilson Stophe please respond. I've tried to find him on facebook with no success, maybe he gave the crazy English woman a false name!! Another embarrassing moment from Mum when I asked him if had a photo on his facebook page showing his 6 pack!

the kurt geiger shop at heathrow

Caroline can't make her mind up!

Got here at last

I'm having a few problems with web access on the netbook so am writing on the hotel computer and can't upload any photos. (Nice shot of the Kurt Geiger shop at Terminal 5) Flight was fine, full so we didn't get upgraded, but the Captain came and apologised personally!
We were picked out for a random immigration check, so when we got to the baggage carousel not much was left, and Caroline's Oasis of Hope case wasn't there. We've got a tracking code for it and $75 on a card from BA for more toiletries, so we're hitting the mall shortly. Fortunately all Caroline's 6 pairs of leggings were in the other case.
A bit of confusion finding the hotel, ended up at the Marriott, rather than the Doubletree, and then couldn't find the room, up and down in two lifts several times but all now sorted and we just have to find something to eat and stay awake a bit longer. Hope to have more sleep tonight, neither of us had much last night.

trial image

panic setting in

I was feeling quite organised until today, when there seems to be such a lot of different things to finish off and sort out that I don't know where to start. I got some dollars yesterday, and was told that this week Mexico has stopped accepting the dollar and only pesos are valid, not that we need money for anything much, but I'm sure the girls will expect some sort of present from TJ.

Last few bits of work to finish off, a planning application to submit and multiple post-it notes to leave for Dave & Jan. Joe has shown me how to zoom the camera on my phone, checked out Beth's netbook, and is going to show me how to skype.

We're staying at the airport hotel so no-one has to drive us down at 5 on Sunday morning, tomorrow will be packing, picking raspberries, last minute tidying up and labelling everything in the freezer. Heather, our cleaner has offered to pickle some beetroot while I'm away which is fantastic, the first time for years we've got a good crop and I'm away when it needs harvesting.

end of the school holidays

Last day of the school holidays for Anna, George, Charlie & William, back tomorrow to year 10 subjects and to see all their friends, as long as they can get up in time for the bus.
I've done our visa waiver forms and my travel insurance, although it was a bit of a shock to realise I'm now in the 51- 65 age group! 

getting ready to go

I've started the countdown to setting off for the Oasis of Hope in Mexico with Caroline, we fly from Newcastle early next Sunday morning, and this is my trial post on a new blog, so family and friends can keep up with what's happening and how we're getting on.