Wednesday, December 15, 2010

The amazing Mr Shieff...

Playlist
Uriah Heep – Albums 1970-1976
Fretwork – Portraits
Gluck – Orfeo ed Euridice
Monteverdi - L'orfeo
Couperin - Lecons des Tenebres

Another reasonable sleep, although I kept waking in the night…

Up around nine and breakfasted then spent some time tidying up, putting out the rubbish etc and getting rid of all the flowers in the house – no flowers allowed apparently…

This led me to the washing up, including a couple of vases…

Of course one of them broke and promptly slashed my hand open – and I had no idea where Pam keeps her first aid stuff…


Soldiered on with a piece of kitchen roll stemming the bloodflow (pic above taken tonight)…

Updated the people who needed to be updated and spoke with Pam on the phone – sounded fine and looking forward to my visit today…

A miserable day as I set off for London around 12:45 – down the M1 to Brent Cross and this time found a suitable side street to do away with the worry of any potential clamping or £100 fine…

Through the shopping mall…


…and out for the C11 bus…

Jumped off mid journey and took a No 31 to Camden Lock…

Lunched here on some excellent chinese food…


…then visited the bookshop from the other day and purchased works by Monteverdi, Gluck and Couperin and had a look around the stalls – a lot less busy than Sunday and the weather was grim – freezing and drizzling…

Down to the Camden Music & Video exchange and picked up Steven Wilson’s remix CD of his "Insurgentes" album…

Noted chum Michelle’s favourite shoe shop opposite…


It is her birthday today (and chum Debbie's tomorrow) - Happy Birthday ladies!!

Then a No 24 back to the Royal Free and my visit to sister Pam, noting this lovely painting near the entrance.…


When I arrived the screens were drawn but merely for some physio assessment to determine a potential release date…

As the screens were drawn back, Pam looked bruised and battered…


...and was being forced to read "The Sun"...

Just kidding, she was in excellent spirits despite the black eye and bruising…


Two and half hours into my visit, I had the best 15 minutes of the last 15 days!!

A chat at Pam’s bedside with the very upbeat Mr Colin Shieff, Pam’s neurosurgeon and, quite frankly, the man who has saved her life…


He advised that he removed a tumor the size of a golf ball from Pam's brain…

He also advised though that he needs the results of the tests on the tumour to know how things will proceed from here - he said he could promise us 100% he has no idea whatsoever of what the tests might show – Pam may need further surgery, she may need radiotherapy, she may need chemotherapy or all three or she may merely need check ups for the next five years…

But he wants Pam to return to "normality" asap…

He advised she has been assessed and passed physically fit enough to return home and live on her own – although she does need to have a banister fitted and will need one of these panic button things that old people wear around their necks in case they fall over - apparently social services do this…

He wants Pam to enjoy a good Xmas with no worries and is absolutely fine with me driving her to Scotland on Monday…

To add to the good news, my mum and sister are arriving tomorrow evening at Luton to spend the weekend here, flying back Sunday…

After Xmas, Pam and I will drive back to Hemel on Monday 27 December and meet with Mr Shieff on the 29 or 30 December for the results of the tests (which will be ready a week before that but Mr Shieff is relaxed about matters)…

Then Anne will fly down on 30 December and we will all spend New Year as planned prior to the advent of the tumor…

Finally, Anne and I will fly back to Scotland on 4 January …

So there we have it - until the tests are compete and a case conference has been held we won't know what the future holds but Pam has made an amazing recovery from the op - albeit with a big black eye which will get blacker still and a scar on her head - oh and some badly shaved hair…

What a difference from this time last week!

With this news I set off back to Brent Cross - and noted Santa Claus and his elves were on duty.…


Visited HMV and had a bit of a celebratory splurge - couldn’t resist Chris Rea’s Greatest Hits which of course, rather aptly, includes “Driving Home for Christmas” …

Spent the rest of the night listening to new acquisitions whilst imparting the above to family and friends…

Highlight of the Day : Meeting the amazing Mr Shieff…

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pam is a testament to positive thinking, isn't she.
She's got you doing it too!!
Moira

Cloudland Blue Quartet said...

Indeed she has..

Bt when the alternative is so awful, you surely have no choice but to be positive...

i am trying to teach my mum to say "that's a good idea" when anyone suggests something to her - rather than "oh no that'll never work"...

An uphill struggle methinks...

Unknown said...

I owe my life to the amazing mr shieff I wouldn't have been here if it wasn't for him I've known him for over 20 yrs and his helped me in every way possible ty 😊

Cloudland Blue Quartet said...

Hi Penny. I'm glad that things turned out well for you. The world is a better place for having people like Mr Shieff in it. I appreciate your comment. Thanks.