At 8:40am this morning Mom passed away in her sleep. We are still sitting around her as we write this and she looks so serene and peaceful. It has been such an awful fight over the last five months and we are so relieved she is no longer in pain.

The messages and thoughts that you all have shared with us over this time has been such a source of strength for us and mom. We can't express how much. Thank you all for the huge amount of support you have given

We were sooooo close

With only 3 days of Radium treatment left (and 5 days of chemo) Joy's platelet count dropped to single figures (evidently, it should have been closer to three figures!) requiring that all treatment had to be stopped and Joy spent most of Friday in a day ward getting platelets gradually infused into her system. Her platelet count will be checked again tomorrow morning (Monday) and, all being well, treatment will continue where we left off. Joy was beginning to feel like a cyclist in the Tour de France and looks forward to being drug-free very soon.

Meanwhile Cape Town is cold, wet and nasty anyway, so being in bed is a pretty good place to be... not that England looks much better, but at least we have winter to blame (our thoughts really go out to everybody affected by the floods). So lots of R&R and keeping warm in bed is on the cards for the last leg this treatment. But our eyes for fixed on the finish-line and our spirits are strong so expect more soon.

Lots and lots of love...

No Neukes is gonna be Good Neukes

Sorry I've been a bit slack with the web-page-site-blog-thing recently, but as the chemo and radium therapy comes to the end (only 8 days to go!), things have really gotten tough for Joy. Because the effects are accumulative, she needs so much more rest now and can't believe how much sleep she needs. Fighting nausea is often her biggest battle and we're literally counting the seconds until we're free of the daily radium/chemo routine.

We've got a little getaway planned to club Mykonos with the Hermans' family for a few days soon which we're all really looking forward to. Not sure exactly when but everything is kinda on hold until the treatment completes and we can do all the things we've been promising ourselves. Thanks so much for all your support, prayers and good wishes. They mean so much to us, especially right now.

Off with her wig!

On Wednesday, having visitied the oncology unit for treatment, the girls there convinced me to enbrace my new image and be brave enough to leave my wig off, for me a security blanket I thought I would never be able to do without. However having taken the step, it really it wasn't so bad, in fact it was quite liberating! Now I am learning to accessorise with pretty earings and makeup which I have even been told make me look so much younger and quite funky... that can't be bad can it! My dear friend Suzi from Switzerland who came out specially to be with me at this time, is staying with us for ten days and has been truely wonderful, giving her input in so many ways, not only is she a great Homeopath and Midwife but knows so much about the oncology treatment I am getting and has been invaluable in helping me augment it here. It's been so good talking to her and learning about the way things are handled in Basel and sharing that with Dr McAdam here who was most accomodating and positive. She goes back to Switzerland on Thusday and we shall really miss her. I feel so loved and supported by my friends and family and I thank you all for your wonderful messages that have been so important to me. I shall never forget your kindness and hope that soon we will be sharing more than this blog together.

Have Sushi - Will Travel

Saturday night was incredible! Rolf and Phil organised a brilliant sushi chef called Harry to come round to our house and prepare the most delicious Japanese fare. After two hours of solid eating, all nine of us staggered away from the dinner table having eaten ourselves into an absolute coma. Harry certainly knew his stuff and we all, Suzi Arne Trevor Lucia Barry Neil Joy Rolf and Phil had a wonderful time. Many many thanks to you both for an unforgetable evening. It was The following day (Sunday) Joy walked the length of Camps Bay beach (for those who know it) and for good measure, she walked all the way back again! Sushi power rules!!

Calender Girl

After her operation, Joy had great difficulty knowing what day it was and lost the plot entirely from time to time. Thats where Rene Hermans stepped in. He constructed the most amazing calender for Joy and it has really been an enormous help in keeping us both on track. Lorna Morrissey has kindly loaned us a Bemer mat that Joy lies on several times a day and instantly erases any feelings of nausea. What incredible friends we have. Deeds like these have beaten the life out of my cynical armour plating that has served me so well all these years. We are humbled and overwhelmed by all your continued love and support. Week two of radiotherapy and chemo, draws to a close and, touch wood, nausea is pretty much a thing of the past. Our loveto you all.

Let the Chemo Begin

Tuesday morning was the beginning of chemo. Instead of just giving me some pills, they handed us the entire dispensary to take home! (See the picture of me outside the Oncology dept) So much has happened since then and we have been backwards & forwards to Constantiaberg hospital daily for radium therapy which doesn't hurt, but makes me feel (and look) a lot like Hannibal Lector. Having to be stapped in so that i can't move my head at all. With the mask they have fitted me with, I must look pretty scary. The first day was a big learning curve for us as we were told to experiment and see what the best time of the day suited me to take the chemo capsules. I took them early on day two (wednesday) ...... big mistake! I thought was done for but hey, I'm still here! Things have got a lot better since then and I have felt a lot less nausia and thursday was much easier, so things are looking up and I had a constant stream of visitors coming to wish me well. Gayle gave me a foot massage and Hannah gave me reike which made me feel very pampered. Today, (friday) is the end (briefly) of radiotherapy for the week but the chemo continues throughout the weekend. I fall asleep at the drop of a hat but I'm told the way through all this is lots of naps. I love hearing from you all so much and it really makes my day. Thank you for your love and good wishes. xxx