Greatings everyone

Sean has kindly invited me to be his guest blogger. Sean, I thank you, and many happy returns for yesterdays wedding anniversary. I have so much to tell, so to get my sea legs, thought I would just summarise what is going on with me first of all, then bore you to death in future blogs - I have a book to write, and many stories to tell. I, like Sean, am not frightened of telling people how I feel, what I have been through, and will in future blogs, explain in detail (perhaps a little too much at times) of what is going on, and what has happened to me.

The year I became Ill. I had completed my first ever Triathalon in the May, turned 40 in the August, and on September 3rd, a chest infection, that just wouldnt budge, got hold of me (it is very strange how certain dates now stick in my head).

Inbetween then and now, I have had a huge journey, some good, some bad.

People say "oh your so brave", but its my hubby and children (aged 6 and 8), who are the bravest of all. I, in reality, have no choice. Its do or die!!

My illness, was first diagnosed as Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma; then the Docs changed their mind to Intravascular Lymphoma. I have or had no lumps or bumps, so its been a pretty rough ride.

My chemos have been R-Chop, Eschap, Beam followed by a bone marrow transplant, and then 6 months later, the BMT obviously failed, I am now undergoing more chemo. The main poison of this one is Methatrexate. But for the first time also, I still have my hair, only loosing the grey hairs!! The Docs call me a medical mystery, on more than one front.

So I have just had my 2nd Eidoram chemo, and on Thursday I had a bone marrow biopsy, as an out-patient, to see how my poor body is coping, and if need be, to take more chemo. For the first time I was asked if I wanted 'sedation'. I refused, as this was now my 5th, I think I will manage, thanks. Well it was the fastest extraction I have ever had, over and done with in 5 minutes. Yes there is pain involved. But once the anastetic wears off, you feel like you have been kicked in the back by a horse (Im still looking for that damm horse!).

The next morning was the sweetest, My 6 year old daughter saw I was struggling putting on my boots, and she took over, then as I was putting the house alarm on, and Daddy was getting them into the car, she ran round and opened my door!!!

I have not had too many days of crying over all of this - but that one made me cry!! Oh and also, that now that they actually can see this blummin thing quite clearly in my frontal lobe, I am not allowed to drive for 2 years. That hurt - its like the straw that broke the camels back!!

I will leave on a funny note. I had a couple of friends visit the other day, and I was moaning about the food (even tho I have been left with no sense of taste or smell - a story for another day); one suggested I take my own microwave into hospital!!!