SATURDAY 29TH DAY + 10

Some of the terrace houses Scott can see from his room. If you are bored why not feed the fish - simply click on the gadget on the right and some food will appear - then watch the little fish eat!!

The view from the exercise bike. Note Centrepoint Tower in the distance.

More of the view from Scott's window.

Despite being connected to countless bits and pieces Scott still manges to keep mobile and use the exercise bike. A bit of a change from the helicopter!!

Like everything on this journey the week has been up and down. Earlier in the week, Scott was very ill and starting to show signs of Graft v Host Disease. Further invetigations showed a number of complications that hopefully have been addressed and as you can see from the photo he is starting to look like the person we know again.

However the hair is starting to fall out like before so he is waiting for a hairdresser from Darlinghurst to come on Monday and give him a new hair style. That is the difference between St Vincent's and St George. At St George the nurse would get the razor and shave. At St Vincent's they need to call in an professional to style!! It is difficult for the boy from Sutherland Shire to adapt to life in the Eastern Suburbs.

WEDNESDAY 26TH DAY +7

This is the baby that grew up and his beautiful bride to be - Sheena. Congratulations and we hope we can all make it for that important day in November!!

A week has passed and Scott is feeling the effects of large doses of drugs. He is doing his best to keep positive but that can be difficult when he is feeling as bad as he is at the moment.

Although he is probably better than after the consolidation chemo he is still feeling very low and would appreciate cards rather than phone calls.

A SILVER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AFTER THE BMT

Sunset at Cape Leveque (above)

Sunrise at Cape Leveque(above) and the beach and lighthouse at Cape Leveque in the Western Australian Kimberley region.

I had to include a photo of these beautiful native flowers that appeared at my work on Monday. They were actually a day early for the wedding anniversary but it is always better to remember an anniversay early rather than later!! And Scott does have an excuse!!

Scott knows that I cannot wear silver jewellry and we have plenty of cutlery so the obvious choice was SHOES!! And the scarf was a lovely accessory.

Some people go overseas or to some romantic destination for their Silver Wedding Anniversay - we went to St Vincent's!!!

But we have decided to renew our wedding vowes at one of our favourite destinations - the beautiful Cape Leveque north of Broome in the Western Kimberly

TUESDAY 25TH 25 YEARS MARRIED!!

Who can identify the little boy in this photo who will soon be married??? We all hope to be there in November as the next generation enters the next stage of their lives.

A scene from last century!! 25 years ago on a very cold day at the Uniting Church in Monash. Stuart's hairstyle reminds me of someone!! And we cannot forget the person who was responsible for making this happen - Glenys

MONDAY 24TH DAY +5

Unfortunately the cocktail of chemo and anti rejection drugs are starting to have their effect on Scott and he is feeling very ill, so please no visitors and even phone calls at the moment.

Despite feeling so bad, Scott did not forget our 25th Wedding Anniversay - even though he was a day early.

Enlisting the help of Jessica and someone else we have not been able to discover I received silver shoes, silver scarf and a wonderful bouquet of native flowers arrived at school!!!

SATURDAY 22ND DAY + 3

This is what Scott is goingto be seeing a lot of for the next few weeks. Nurses, doctors, drips and more nurses, doctors, ivs, tablets, needles and plenty of blood tests.

Scott is looking good and trying to maintain his fitness by walking around the ward and using the exercise bike. To keep his brain alert he has the mensa book and the flight simulator. At the moment he appreciates a short phone call but would prefer no visitors due to the risk of infection.

DAY +1 THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST

After the activity and excitement of yesterday, today has been a rest day for Scott. He is trying to keep busy by flying areoplanes on the flight simulator and regular visits to the exercise bike. We have a wonderful view here from the ninth floor. We can see the Sydney Cricket Ground and Victoria Barracks above the terrace houses of Darlinghurst and Paddington. Thank you to everyone for their support and prayers.

"DAY O" 19TH AUGUST 2009

A bit of an anti climax but a significant step. Scott looks very relaxed and a few hours later was back on the exercise bike.

WONDERFUL NEWS ON THE EVE OF THE BMT

Congratulations Ian - Vice Captain of Woolooware High School 2010!!
Ian has always wanted his name on the wall like his Uncle Stuart!!! And yes he did get is hair cut and has now adopted the clean cut image. We also have to congratulate Alex for his election as Captain.

18TH AUGUST DAY -1 FLIGHTS FLIGHTS

Today a member of the transplant team flies to Perth to pick up the stem cells that will be implanted tomorrow. The purpose of this is to replace Scott's immune system that has been damaged by the chemo and to provide a new set of cells to fight the leukeamia if it returns.

Another important flight is from Melbourne - my sister Diane is flying here to provide support for us all.

A WALK IN THE PARK

This is Judy and I doing a walk in the park - a must to keep the all important fitness up. We had a wonderful cup of coffee here - the total distance was 2.2 kilometres.

At this point I have settled in with books,computer and mobile phone. To compare the three hospitals, Prince Henry (30months), St George (5 months) and now St Vincents is difficult because my opinion is tainted by my condition on admission. In this case I feel 90% just a little tired. A hangover from the chemo at St George. With a little luck I will beat this AML and the combat flight simulator!!

SUNDAY 16TH AUGUST

29 degrees and where are we?? Walking down Oxford Street!! Scott is trying to keep as fit as possible in preparation for the BMT. He was given a pass to leave the hospital for a while so we decided it would be a good idea to explore nearby King's Cross and Paddington.

My New Phone number

My New Phone number
Originally uploaded by luddite2008

Now I am here for a few weeks, if you want to talk to me please ring on this number 83824478 and those outside Sutherland Shire add 02. At the moment I am happy to talk but this may change as the treatment continues so please continue to read the blog and feel free to comment.

A MEDIA STAR!!

This article appeared in the Leader Newspaper 13th August 2009. We are trying to encourage people to donate blood and volunteer for the Bone Registry. If you are over 40 and are having trouble reading the newspaper article click on it to make it bigger!!

WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST DAY -7 BMT

Today Scott was admitted to St Vincent's Hospital for a series of tests, then Chemo in preparation for the BMT on 19th August. We are all so grateful to the donor a 23 year old woman from Western Australia. She appears to be an excellent match thanks to the research and work of the people from the ABMDR. Chest X-rays, Lung Funtion tests, ECGs, etc etc to ensure he is strong enought to take on the BMT

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY STUART!!

After Chemo the hair grows back the opposite - who is this youngster with the straight hair??

The birthday boy with his Mum!!

Mum, Scott and Stuart at the Crest Hotel.

Ian always has to be the centre of attention!!

Throughtout the 6 months that Scott was in hospital he missed many important funtions like Kim and Jason's Wedding and Debbie's 50th Birthday.

However he was able to go to 3 very important funtions - Ian's School Play, Ian's Gang Show and Stuart's 50th Birthday!!

As the BMT draws very close he is looking forward to the next very important occassions and hopes to be in attendance for Jessica's 21st on the 23rd October and Brett and Sheena's Wedding on the 21st November. Unfortunately we don't think he will be out of hospital for the next important date - Judy and Scott's 25th Wedding Anniversary on the 25th August!

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

Scott and Judy celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on the 25th August. As Scott will be in St Vincent's on that date we had an early celebration. Thank you to the generosity of the Royal Motor Yacht Club Port Hacking and the great new managers of the restuarant Enigma at the RYMA. Wonderful food, wonderful views and wonderful people!!

FUN AND GAMES AT THE BLOOD BANK

Three experienced blood donors and an experienced blood receiver!! Ian made his first donation just after his 16th birthday and the week after we found out that Scott had leukaemia. I was surprised to learn that NSW is the only state where 16 year olds do not need their parent's permisssion to give blood.

The staff were having a great time and so were we!!

Three blood donors and a recipient!! Hopefully our blood can help another family like ours!!

The student nurse with the experienced one! Jessica was the first in our family to donate blood through the mobile service that visits schools. She dragged me along reluctantly until I admitted the only thing that hurts is when they prick your finger to check the iron levels.

Enjoying the facilities at the new donor centre near the RTA in Miranda. Ian has registered for the Shire Vampire Award.

After the donation we had some wonderful milkshakes to rehydrate!!

Scott is glad that for the momemt the needles are not in his arm!

Some of the staff having fun with Scott's camera.

The least we can do is donate a bit of blood. We want to encourage more people to donate in the Year of the Blood Donor and we also want people to sign up for the Bone Marrow Registry. Someone in Western Australia (Scott's MUD donor) has made the committment to try to save a life and Scott is overwhelmed at this generosity. We all are and hopefully our blood donations can help someone undergoing chemo or burns treatment. Jessica, Ian and Judy are all A+ and Scott is A-. This may change though if his donor has a different blood group!

Until we were swept into this journey none of us were were aware that 70% of bone marrow donations come from outside the family. Scott's brother Stuart only had 1 chance in 4 of being a compatible donor and unfortunatly the odds were not on our side. However, Scott has been given another chance through the generosity of a person who has put his/her name on the Bone Marrow Registry. This is not simple as the person will have to undergo several uncomfortable procedures before the stem cells can be collected. We are so grateful for this MUD (Matched Unrelated Donor) and now realise there are many people like them.