(R) leg not working quite as well today. Not sure if it's because of inactivity yesterday (on a hospital bed all day) or just post-transfusion. However went to the movies tonight after chicken teryaki at Rialto foodhall. Saw Out of the Blue and we both thought it was excellent. Managed to get from the car to the house and back again with the walking frame - left the wheelchair in the car. (Used the chair at the movies of course.) A bit "hairy" up and down the steps with the walker but pretty impressive really! A rail down the side of the steps would be wonderful. Ross was going to organise a ramp but I think a rail would be just as good or better and much less hassle. We are going to try with the walker in the house all weekend. A quiet weekend in store.

Went to Day Stay today for 2 units of red blood cells. First time back since before transplant and were welcomed like old friends. I guess for a while there they didn't expect to see Ross again. Transfusion uneventful. Hopefully energy levels will improve. Looking forward to another weekend at home. Will leave Rehab+ Friday afternoon. Will try to get to see the movie "Out of the Blue" at 650 tomorrow evening at Rialto (about the Aramoana killings) - it has excellent reviews. Now we have our mobility sticker it makes parking a little easier (sometimes - often the disability parking spaces are full). Have had to return Ross's wheelchair to Auckland Hospital and have one on loan from Rehab+ for a week that's a bit of a dog. So we have to buy or rent one and are currently looking at TradeMe etc. If anyone knows of a good lightweight alloy self-propelling 2nd hand wheelchair for sale we're in the market!

Continued steady but slow improvement. I had my first night off in months last night and went to Menopause the Musical with Shirl & Barb followed by delicious Japanese food at Tenuki's - great fun! Today Ross had his first appointment with Richard Doocey, Haematologist, since transfer to Rehab. Everything from the lymphoma point of view is looking good - LDH is just above the upper limit of normal but no cause for concern post-transplant. Liver function tests show some elevation - due to the sulfadiazine - so that will be closely monitored but no option really. Haemoglobin a bit low so will have a transfusion tomorrow. Plan to re-scan head, chest and abdomen week commencing 5.1.06. and further appointment with Richard on 17.1.06 which fits in with a babysitting booking (already) for the day/evening of 19.1.06. while K & J go to the Big Day Out (they may change their mind once they have a real live baby!) Meanwhile no problem about travelling north after discharge (except the imminent arrival of a grandchild). A bit of a pain that we'll have to travel backwards and forwards from Northland for appointments but..... small price to pay really. Plan is for Ross to continue travelling to Rehab a couple of times a week for physio as an outpatient for some time. Antibiotics will continue for minimum of 3 months but more likely 6 months and possibility of prophylactic dose for the rest of his life.

An eventful weekend (well compared to pre-lymphoma anyway). Leisurely breakfast in the sun Sat then went to Christmas Wonderland in Birkenhead in the afternoon - organised by Berry & Ineke's church. Really breathtaking. Unfortunately whilst on the 3rd floor the lift broke down and eventually 4 guys had to carry Ross downstairs in his wheelchair. But got to hear Coro A Capella sing - really entertaining.



Coro Acapella

Yesterday watched TV - the 7s finals (NZ went down to SA in the final!) and then the Golf (NZ Open - Michael Campbell joint 2nd - an Aussie winner.) Attended Joc's Greek soiree at Kate & Ken's en route back to Rehab Plus and as well as Joc's extended family, several of my chorus members were there so it was good to catch up.



Me and Kate Langham



Darryl with his grandson



Jocelyn and her 3 granchildren

All in all the weekend was a success. However there is no doubt it will be much easier for us both in a one level house, or double storey with a lift, so am trying to get the house ready to sell early in the New Year - but the painters keep not turning up (like today!) Ross has a full on day today with Dr appt, circuit training, OT for 1/2 hr, then physio this pm.

I piceked up Ross today at 230pm to come home for weekend. He will go back on Sunday night. Ross did circuit PT training and continues to make progress. This was notable when he coped better with the stairs at home between kitchen/family and hall/bedroom/bathroom once again (just hanging on to the rail on one side and a crutch on the other). This evening we went out to dinner with Katherine & Joss to Iguacu in Parnell - delicious food beautifully presesnted and great wines (the waitress kept pandering to Joss's requests to taste various wines!) all made for a wonderful evening. Good to have a teetotal driver - K is less than 4 wks from due date! Once again the wheelchair wasn't a big deal.

Walked 100 metres on the frame yesterday and did the circuit today. Stood to make a toasted sandwich with the OT today. So still considerable progress. And tonight went to a movie - saw "Borat". Probably the most irreverant movie ever made but pretty good. Accompanied by Saul and Jo, Steve Skinner and James Middleditch, the latter two who are both "baching" tonight as Margot is in Hamilton for a talk and poor Gloria is in Sydney having radiotherapy for 5 whole weeks. Delicious coffee and cake afterwards. Getting in and out of the movie in a wheelchair (Sky Cinemas, St Lukes) absolutely painless.

I was moved from my single room today to a room with 2 other guys (room 3). Still have web coverage so thats ok. Today 2 lots of physio, session with the quack, and one with the shrink. Have requested that I be placed on a normal diet in the hope that I'll get real food. At present I'm on a "low risk" diet which is probably a hang over from the transplant, and seems to consist of mashed/minced/pureed stuff.

Photos are from Saul and Jo's "meet the cheetahs" afternoon at the zoo.

Quiet night last night - watched the league (Kiwis robbed in extra time!) and watched the ABs vs Wales replay at 10am - joined by Steve (yes Roger ABs won well). Very quiet day - R sat outside in the sun for a while reading New Scientist while I dead-headed the roses and mowed the lawn - all very pleasant - then tea at Margot & Steve's en route back to Rehab. Saul would have come to watch the rugby but he and Jo had booked "An Encounter with the Cheetahs" at Auckland Zoo this morning (Jo's birthday present from S). They were enraptured by them - Saul said he got them purring and it was really like internal engines. Hopefully some photos for the blog. We managed the weekend well but will be better if I get some blocks for those 3 outside steps!

Not such a good sleep for us last night but you can't have it all. Ross managed to shower at home for the first time since the disastrous home weekend this am and all went reasonably smoothly. Able to use walker (with me supporting behind with his physio belt) from stairs to bed and from bed to bathroom, which is a real plus as we can leave the wheelchair in the kitchen/family room. We have been lent a shower chair and a height adjustable over-toilet seat with arms. He can now negotiate the stairs hanging on to the rail with one hand, crutch in the other, and with me negotiating his dud leg when needed. We went out to lunch today with Katherine to Frasers (Mt Eden) - good food but pricey and too noisy! However despite the cafe being very crowded no problem getting wheelchair in and out. This pm Ross blobbed out in front of TV and we are now about to watch the Kiwis vs Wallabies in the final of the Rugby League. Ross wants to watch the ABs replay at 10am tomorrow morning after a bit of a sleep in - I'm keen to watch it live at 550am but we'll see. Unfortunately my back is now giving me some bother - probably from lifting the wheelchair in and out of the car and with Ross in it up those few steps to the garage - but I'm doing lots of exercises and being as careful as I can!

Ross had PT and OT today, did the "circuit" and also practised getting in and out of a shower with a lip. Definite further progress. Home for weekend - yes will watch ABs take on the Welsh Sunday morning our time.

Film night last night - Ross viewed the 2nd Johnny Depp Pirates of the Carribean which he thought was OK (I had a HOP dinner I had to go to). Later he had a fall transferring from his wheelchair to bed. No apparent injury but had to be scraped up off the floor. However this evening he was walking from bedroom to dining room with walker, with me following immediately behind with his wheelchair, when his dud leg collapsed and twisted under him and to the right and he ended up in a heap on the floor - had to be scraped up again. Right knee painful at the time but now doesn't seem too bad. But worrying. Apart from that physio going well - probably a little less fatigued. Barbecue lunch today - evidently happens every 2nd Wednesday - and then nipped down to Mud Pie Deli Pt Chev shops with Katherine and had some of their decadent chocolate mousse with yoghurt - should fatten him up (but unfortunately me too!)

Spent weekend at home and did some cautious experiments to see if I could manage the stairs.

Today Dee went home with Lavara the OT for a home assessment -i.e. how suitable home will be for me when I get out of rehab, checking for any modifications that might
be required etc,

It's unlikely I'll be be able to walk unaided again unless things improve with the strength of my right leg and/or the damage to my brain turns out to be temporary and gets better as the toxoplasmosis gets better.

At PT I tried a different walking frame, and practiced going up and down stairs with crutches. Saw the quack also. They are talking about discharge in 2 weeks assuming I am ready.

This is the view from my room. A birdbath outside the window attracts all sorts of birds.



Note the goatee. It's the only place any hair is growing back.

Yesterday went to Cafe Extreme for lunch then home. It was raining cats and dogs so not the easiest for me getting R and wheelchair in and out of car and house but no real problems. Duncan came round after lunch and we took the opportunity to try Ross out on the stairs between kitchen/family and hall/bedroom/bathroom. Wheeled him to top step and he got up and grabbed rail with one hand and a crutch with the other and managed the steps with one of us moving his right leg for him and the other getting wheelchair to the bottom. This is really wonderful progress and means he can come home weekends. A bit of a problem getting wheelchair into bathroom - very tight indeed - in fact scrapes a bit on bedroom door but if we took the door off would be easier. Bathroom itself tight but manageable if I assist. Haven't tried shower again. Thought we should quit while we're ahead. Enjoyed ABs beating France again this morning - not quite the trouncing seen last week but still pretty convincing. Steve & Margot have gone so it will be interesting to see if I can manage R on stairs unaided. Tonight we're going to dinner at Katherine's to celebrate her birthday - Saul cooking and Rafe also going - and then back to Rehab Plus. I think it's been a pretty good weekend.

Yesterday Ross worked very hard - 1 hour of physio am and 1/2 hr pm. Commenced "circuit" training. Berry & Ineke joined us for lunch (and we all listened to MIB on National Radio). Physio very pleased, as am I, but Ross still feels it's all very slow. Today (Sat) went to Cafe Extreme for lunch and came home. we will see how it goes as planning to stay overnight and go to K's for her birthday dinner tomorrow night, then back to Rehab Plus. Steve & Margot kindly staying over with us to help get Ross up and down the stairs. All Blacks playing France tomorrow 9am our time which was the big incentive to get home to watch!

Once again Ross too pooped to write up blog. He worked hard at physio today and "walked" further. Also "walked" with the gutter-frame walker from his room to dinner this evening, but after 2 x physio sessions and that he was exhausted. Felt that may be explained by low haemoglobin as his Hb was down to 93 yesterday so was repeated today but result was good - Hb had increased to 101. Platelets still struggling between 30 and 40. Occupational therapist is doing home visit next Monday to see if any modifictions or equipment can assist with getting Ross home at least for weekends to start with.
Nice to see Sebastian this pm, also Jan, Ted and Steve.

Ross too whacked to write up blog. 40m on gutter-frame walker today! Then a "burn" around Western Springs Lake in the wheelchair - it was a glorious day - which fair tuckered me (the pusher) out! A bit frustrated about his fatigue but definitely getting stronger. The (R) leg is still pretty stubborn though.

2 more sessions of PT. worn out from last 2 days so didnt seem to progress today. Went 30 m on walking frame.

Took off to Pt Chev shops at lunchtime and enjoyed some real food.

had 2 sessions of PT -about 50 min in total. Am able to walk hanging on to rails. I need to concentrate on my bad leg now.

Went home to watch the rugby this morning and had lunch there with Steve and Margot. Back by 2pm. Visits from Barry & Carolyn, Ken and Saul (Saul brought home-made ravioli - delicious).

Weekend so most inmates have gone home. I;ll try going home tomorrow to watch the all blacks play France. Steve and Margot dropped in with dinner-salmon, asparagus,new potatoes and
salad. Very nice.

Tried some exercises today-left me knackered.