My photo
Welcome to my 2nd blog. As most of you know I was diagnosed with myeloma (bone marrow cancer) in July 2008. After 18 months, lots of therapy and a stem cell transplant the myeloma has come back, we are fighting this time with the same confidence as last time, so with your prayers, thoughts and support hopefully we can win again. If you would like to email me please feel free ivanpaul.it@gmail.com

Tuesday 6 October 2009

Just a Thought

I friend recently told me about a sign he saw outside a Church:

'Yesterday is the past,
Tomorrow is the future, and
Today is the present - a gift from God'


How many of us spend too much time worrying about something that we have done and wishing we could turn the clock back and do it differently, or spend hours planning what we are going to do tomorrow, or the next day, or next week - when we don't really know what tomorrow is going to throw at us. This, quite often, gives us very little time to enjoy the present - the things that we actually have some control over.


So when you wake up in the morning say to yourself - "This is the first day of the rest of my life, I am going to make the most of it." Enjoy the day, with all of it's pleasures & opportunities, and take things slowly - make the most of the present - that gift from God.

Monday 5 October 2009

Hospital

One day I had just had enough and decided I was ill and had to do something about it. (It tok me long enugh) My friends and family (mainly my wife) had been saying for a long time that I needed to go to the doctors.
I regret to this day not listening to my wife, when I decided to go to hospital I phoned my friend to take me, I didn't ask my wife, thinking back it was probably because I knew it was bad news and I didn't want to upset her (I had already done that by not going for medical help earlier). I think she was just pleased that I was eventually going.
I was kept in Warrington hospital and after tests was transferred to Royal Liverpool Hospital for a plasma exchange because my blood was so bad that I couldn't even have a transfusion.

Sunday 4 October 2009

Family and Friends

Where would I be without the support of family and friends? From the very begining my family (especially my wife) and our friends have been there for me and equally importantly for my wife.
Some friends who I expectd to be there disappeared but others came to the top and have done more ffor us than I could have asked for.

Tuesday 29 September 2009

Early days

Leading up to being diagnosed with Myeloma I was feeling very tired and wanting to sleep longer and go to bed earlier, this wasn't me, I tried to find reasons and excuses for it, at first I blamed it on a bad cold, if I am honest with myself every day I was getting worse and I knew it but didn't want to admit it. On the odd day that I felt a little better I would make myself believe I was on the mend.
For a sensible person, why didn't I listen to friends and family???? Answer..... I was scared stiff.

Monday 28 September 2009

Welcome to My Blog

As I have said above, I was diagnosed with myeloma in July 2008, I would like to help anyone who feels they could benefit from talking to someone who is living with myeloma. I had a Stem cell transplant in March 2009 at The Royal Liverpool Hospital.
Please feel free to ask any questions by adding a comment below, I will answer them as honestly as possible telling you my highs and lows.