The Roller Coaster Update

Last week was a horror, starting with Lib going to hospital in the ambulance in the early hours of Tuesday morning. It seems that what happened is Lib was given an injection the day after the chemo treatment the previous Wednesday to lessen the risk of infection due to low white blood cell count, which is what occurred after the previous chemo. This injection causes white blood cells to enter the bloodstream from the bone marrow as I understand it. In Lib's case, this caused the extreme pain. When she went into hospital her neutrophills were down but not as low as last time. The next day they had shot up to way above normal levels. She came home last Friday and is much improved but still sore and generally not well, but functioning and managing. Hopefully she will improve from here, but with this chemo business it can be slow for some.

On a happier note, the Demons rolled the Hawks Friday night. Then, I had a good day Saturday when I drove brother Jod to Brunswick so he could attend a 100th birthday party. Some weeks earlier I'd said I might be able to drive him, he was looking for a driver as he didn't have the confidence to drive there himself. I had thought it might key in with Lib to visit her niece and baby who are out that way. Lib was not up to going anywhere, just wanting to rest, but she was happy enough to be left at home so I could take Jod. After all it's not every day you are invited to a 100th birthday party and I thought it'd be a shame if he missed it.

We were half an hour late as we were held up by three separate car accidents before we got half way to Melbourne, but it didn't matter. The lady turning 100 was Florence Howlett, the wife of Jack, one of Jod's old drivers when he was a fireman in the Victorian Railways. Jack died about 7 years ago but Jod has kept in touch with Flo. She was an absolute delight and it was a great pleasure to meet her and her family. Her children are around Jod's and my age, the youngest Chris is 65. Of course there were many nephews and nieces and grandchildren and great grandchildren and it was a fabulous event to be included in. I had gone along semi reluctantly and just doing Jod a good turn (if you can't do your brother a favour now and again what's the guts of you) but ended up really enjoying a memorable day and meeting so many good folk. The food was great, the speeches were too, and Flo is as bright as a button. Jod and all the invited guests got a lovely little book with the family history and photographs on leaving. Jod will cherish it and the memory of the day.