Hi all,
I'm so sorry I've become a Drive-By Diarist these past few weeks. I had hoped to be able to give regular helpings of news and keep you updated about everything we're doing - after all, we wouldn't have made it this far without your help, and the very least I can do is let you know what changes your support has brought to us, but unfortunately changes have been intermittent and slow and punctuated by long periods where things seem to just crop up randomly and subside... I'm trying to practice self-care, but it's so hard to carve out time for that when I have so much I need to do, and Kim suffers setbacks and celebrates little triumphs on alternate days!
I'm not complaining, though. We're alive, we're moving ahead, we're making progress.
Yesterday was my birthday, so I'm taking a bit of time today to say thank you to everyone who has helped, commented, shared, offered support, kind words and advice. You are all amazing, and I am humbled to know you.
So, I hear you ask, how is Kim? What's been going on? Well, it's the usual mixed bag, I'm afraid. She's very weak at the minute. The chemo has floored her, and she suffers bouts of confusion and haziness that leave her scared, but scans and tests suggest that this is probably more to do with the chemo itself than the glioma.
The sarcoma is officially in remission. They've scaled back the chemo for that little bugger to once a week (because it's an experimental treatment, they want to continue it for six weeks, reducing all the while, observe what happens and then discontinue and observe again). With luck, she'll be completely clear officially by October.
Work on the property continues, with me juggling what we have against what we need to do. The electricity will be hooked up next week and we can stress-test the pump and pipes then. We're really hoping that it's in good shape because we don't fancy having to dig them up and replace them if they fail.
I'm utterly exhausted these days. I think(?) I'm getting three or four hours a night at the minute, but I keep pressing ahead because... well, I have no choice. Things have already dragged on far, far longer than we'd hoped or planned for in our worst scenarios, and everyone's patience with us is wearing thin. I promise you, we're trying to get ahead every day. I knew this would be a hard fight... but sometimes its feels too hard. Everything seems stacked against us so much of the time, and the setbacks have sometimes felt utterly ludicrous. I feel like a walking embodiment of Murphy's Law these days!
Anyway, I don't want to whine any more - you don't deserve anything other than my gratitude and appreciation. Perhaps I should phrase it better as "this is almost impossible, but thanks to all of you, it feels possible"!
On a final note, I urge anyone who hasn't stopped by already to visit winglion and Sara R's GoFundMe to save their home. They are truly pillars of this community. They give of themselves time and again through their community quilts (even us!) and have never complained or asked for anything in return. We cannot thank them enough (either personally as a community). I wish I could do more for them than just share the link with my meagre social media circle. I hope that we can help them. If anyone deserves that help it is them.
I'll get updates to you all as soon as I have them, and hopefully remember my phone next time I'm working on the property so I can send pictures!
We appreciate you all, and send you nothing but the best wishes and all our hopes for the future.
Love always
Callum and Kim