Tim Gives A Lecture

Today Tim lectured, and both Rod and Arlene were able to attend. Apparently it was a great lecture... :)

Ninth Chemotherapy

Today had the ninth chemo of 12, so am 75% done with this phase of treatment. The docs have decided not to give me any more bleomycin, the drug that was impairing my oxygen uptake. This should allow my lungs to continue to get strong.

However, I must definitely receive 4-5 weeks of radiation treatment. This will involve going in every weekday for the 4-5 weeks to receive a dose of radiation to the chest area, to shrink the central mass there so that my immune system can eventually get rid of it completely.

Side effects of radiation include potential burning of topical skin as well as the lining of the esophagus, and they will give me medications to counteract these. The main side effect of radiation is extreme fatigue which is cumulative over the course of treatment.

I am hopeful the radiation treatment will begin by the end of September.

(Photo is sunrise at our house...)

Bunya Mountains

Today we drove to the Bunya Mountains for a picnic. On the way there we saw a koala running across the road. He didn't climb very high up into a nearby tree, so we were able to get some great photos...

It was a great day in the mountains. We saw lots of birds and wallabies, and even bought our own little bunya pine to plant at our house!

A Busy Day!

Today we had a busy day. First we went out for Dim Sum in Chinatown. Then, we headed over to the new modern art museum to explore the galleries.

Finally, tonight we went out to dinner to celebrate Arlene's 70th, and Rod's 75th, birthdays at local steakhouse Cha Cha Char....

Rod & Arlene Comprehensively See Canberra

While in Canberra, Rod and Arlene saw many of the capital city's key sights, including...

NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE

OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

BOTANICAL GARDENS

LAKE BURLEY GRIFFITHAll in all they packed in quite a bit of sightseeing into four days...

Cats Huddled Around Heater for Warmth

The cats were grateful to huddle against the oil heater on these cool nights...

Rod and Arlene Depart for Canberra

Today Rod and Arlene left for four days of touring in Canberra... they were quite excited and had lots they wanted to see...

Sunday Markets at Eagle Street Pier

Today we went to the Riverside Markets at the Eagle Street Pier to hunt for cool souvenirs. Arlene got some nice soap, some jewelry, and assorted odds and ends. After a nice lunch of German sausages at the Market, we visited IKEA, which Rod and Arlene had not been to before...

Denali Helps Arlene with Laundry

Today we had a lazy day, starting off with a great breakfast of French Toast. Denali was a very helpful cat, helping Arlene do some laundry...

Afterwards we went on a short hike around nearby Lake Manchester, where we saw lots of birds in the forest.

TERRIFIC NEWS !!!

Today started with some very excellent news from the respiratory physician at the Royal Brisbane hospital. The oxygen exchange rate in my lungs has decreased over the period of having chemotherapy, starting from a low baseline of 70% gas exchange, dropping to near 50% by the beginning of June. At that time the chemotherapy drug responsible for lung problems (called bleomycin) was dropped from the formula I have been taking. Since then my lungs have continued to feel better.

The respiratory physician felt that the initial low 70% baseline reading was due solely to fluid on the lungs and residual fluid around the heart after the pericardial drainage. He did not think my history of bronchitis or mild asthma had any impact on the gas exchange levels. Further, the xrays, CT scan data, the lung function tests results and my own experience of how my lungs were functioning pointed to the decreased gas exchange most likely being from toxicity to the bleomycin, but that no permanent damage had been done to the lungs. He further recommended the most conservative course of continuing to not take the bleomycin, since the different between including or not including this drug on overall cure-rate was the difference between a 91% and a 90% cure rate.

This is excellent news and Denali was so excited she started to sing.... :)


After leaving the hospital Rod, Arlene and I made our way over to the graduation for the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, to see my students graduate. I wore the lovely hand-made sterling silver necklace Rod made for me, of a bird perched on a branch. It was a really nice day...

Tim's Graduation Ceremony

Today Tim participated for the first time in the academic procession at graduation. And while he did not graduate himself (he'll probably graduate at the December graduation), he was with his colleauges as they celebrated the graduations of students and colleagues. Tim's colleague April did graduate, and her daughter Carla really loved the poofy hat...

Tim's New Jacket

Here is Tim looking scholarly in his new linen jacket, an early graduation present from Evelyn, Joann, Bryan and Michael!

Eighth Chemotherapy

Today I successfully completed my eighth chemotherapy, again without the bleomycin drug that has been potentially negatively affecting my lungs. Bought a new chemotherapy beanie today, which Tim is helpfully modeling...

Chopping Wood for Firewood

Today we went out into the forest around our house to search for firewood. It has been in the '50's in the mornings and evenings, so we've been running the wood stove often. After seeing the number of fallen trees around the property, we probably have enough firewood for YEARS...

Trip to the Gold Coast Hinterlands

Today we traveled to the "hinterland" inland from the Gold Coast. It is up on a plateau with spectacolar views inland as well as over the Gold Coast and the Pacific Ocean. We ate a picnic lunch at a cheese fatcory, visited the Tatra Polish Heritage center and visited the lovely Natural Arch National Park, with its lovely waterfalls and bush walks.

Rod and Arlene Arrive in Australia

Rod and Arlene arrived today in Brisbane. Their flight was a bit bumpy, but they are very happy to be here at last!

Putting Finishing Touches on the House

Tim's parents are due for a much-anticipated visit later this week, so we have been putting the finishing touches on the house. We hung up more pictures and such, including this lovely embroidered wall hanging of north american birds, given to us by Roger and Karen Remmington. Roger is a former NASA scientist who is now in our psychology department here at UQ.

Birds in Yard

We've certainly been getting a lot of birds in the yard - our yard list now stands at 24 species of birds and 10 species of mammals and reptiles. The ones pictures here (from the top) are kookarurra, magpie and king parrot. One bird we've seen only rarely (and which I don't have a photo of yet) is the pretty little spotted pardalote (below) which has a sweet little song.

Cousin Robert in Hospital!

My cousin Robert had a very memorable Fourth of July this year - he stumbled at a curb during a parade at the shore, and he managed to break his ankle in three places! We all really hope that his recovery goes well and is swift. We will be sending Robert some unusual Australian care packages to keep him amused!

Cold Days

These mornings have been cold but crisp, and we have has several good days of rain, so the garden is getting greener. I love to come out on the porch in the mornings to see the fog through the trees... and so does Zamboni...

Seventh Chemo Finally Done!

It was good to get this last chemo done after waiting so long... now am 58% finished! Denali is often waiting for us to come back from the hospital - she is a welcome sight when we arrive home!

Visiting Onyx

Today we went to visit our friend Annette and her new kitten Onyx. Leaving the house there were TONS of cockatoos in the upper yard by the mailbox. Annette would have loved it (cockatoos are one of her favorite birds!)...