Wednesday, 26 September 2007

50 is the new...

.. 30 is the lowest I've heard so I'm going for that. I've seen lots of cards (none sent to me) that do that "oh no, five-oh" type of thing. Bemoaning the ageing process. Well, as many a wise person before me has said, it sure beats the alternative.

I had a wonderful birthday party, brought forward a week to add to the confusion about when my birthday actually was (really to fit in with chemo dates) and I was very well and fit and had a great time. I had asked for no gifts but one my of my oldest friends (by duration) Peter had gone and bought me a wig. I've made out I don't care about losing my hair, brows, lashes, but I have to admit it is aay-maaazing what they can do now with wigs and I wore it most of the evening. As you can see from the picture on the blog, you'd never know I was wearing a wig, although oddly the DJ played Jackson Five songs non-stop!

Health-wise, I had chemo cycle 5 two weeks ago and took it well but have been very lethargic all through week 2. Not enough to go back in to hospital so that's a win. However, the interim blood tests showed that I was anaemic, and so I am going in tomorrow to receive a red cells transfusion to perk me up ready for chemo cycle 6 (of 6!) starting next Monday 1 October.

In lieu of presents, I had suggested people might like to donate to a charity that provides wonderful information and support for cancer-havers (there has to be something better than "patients", and certainly "victims"). To my astonishment and delight, over £750 has been given through me or direct to www.cancerbackup.org . No less gratifying are the eight people who have told me they have started or resumed giving blood. Thanks you all, I am humbled by your generosity.

In fact, in my speech at the party - you knew I'd be making a speech, didn't you - I remarked on how great it was to know of tributes from those dear to me and those who are not so close but our paths had crossed and an impression made. At funerals, I had often thought when hearing eulogies that I bet the deceased did not know how much he or she was appreciated and I resolved to tell more people how they have impacted on me and how prized was our relationship. I have said before here that the warmth of fellow-feeling I have received since being diagnosed is more heartening that can be described. The empathy, the small touches, the "hi, how are ya" are part of the essence of our co-existence, our humanity, that I feel so much more now that I'm not running around in the daily routine that is normal life.

I haven't actually done it a lot (habits of a lifetime?) but I do resolve to be openly more appreciative - and encourage you to do the same!

Carpe,

Paul

215 comments:

1 – 200 of 215   Newer›   Newest»
Unknown said...

Thats the perfect wig for you!!!!

lovely!!!!

Like always, beeing so positive and cheerful.

Hope you had a great time in your birthday!!!!

Love you lots,

Mary

Anonymous said...

Hello Paul
Have only just heard your news.I am gald that the chemo is going well. If anyone can beat this than you can. Your postive thinking the support,love of your family,friends and your faith will I am sure see you through this.
Love and best wishes
Janice Ray Michelle and Stephanie

Anonymous said...

Hey its the hair bear bunch!


Fantastic graphics of the shrinking dark spots - Hmmm I see some Marcomms opportunities here :-)

No seriously folks - brilliant to see that the chemical stew is making a real difference. Cant wait to see you on the 13th

Regards
Jamie

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday Paul. Keep on keeping on.

John

Anonymous said...

Thanks for a lovely evening Paul.It was so good to see you and Daniella ( I think you should stick to yhe blonde wig, they say lighter colours suit the more mature complection!)It was also lovely to see all your children and catching up on what they`re all doing - they`re a great bunch, you and daniella have done a great parenting job there!It was also so nice to see your mother and Edward after so many years.
Good luck tomorrow.
our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Danuta x

Unknown said...

Hi Paul,

Congratulations on your 50th and your tremendous strength in battling through the chemo. I hear from Paul(Kennedy) it has been pretty bleak for you at times, to say the least. As others have commented, I am not at all surprised by your 'tower of strength' both mentally and physically, and it's great to hear of all the support and love being expressed; all thoroughly deserved. May I add best wishes from Fid and I and we look forward to seeing you soon.

The wig is a great improvement; reminds me of 'elephants and barstools' - definitely makes a great imression.
Tim and Fid

Anonymous said...

Hi mate! As you may remember, we both entered the Great North Run a little while back and then you came up with quite a good excuse not to compete! Well, I managed without you, somehow (but obviously expect to run it with you next year!). The whole day was a very uplifting experience, with 50,000 people running for the opportunity to take part and to raise money for good causes. Thanks to my sponsors we raised more than £500 for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Alzheimer’s Society, and I thought of you the whole way round (mainly because you were laying in some hospital bed wimping out of running whilst my kneecaps felt like they were going to burst out of my legs!). There must have been at least another 50,000 fantastic supporters all along the course who cheered us home. It certainly restores your faith in human nature!
I ran it in 2 hrs 4 minutes, which was a bit disappointing as I have run under 1 hr 50 in training. My excuses for my slow run are:

1. Because of my start number (49294) there were 49,000 people in front of me.

2. It was a bit hilly

3. I had trained to run 13 miles and didn’t realise that a half-marathon was 13.1 miles!

4. I am crap.

5. All of the above.

(P.S. My daughter thought it was very funny that Paula Radcliffe had finished before I had even started!)

The Geordies really support the event well. My favourite was one I met at the start, who, as I was checking that I had my energy gel pack, was busy checking that he had his emergency fag for the 6 ½ mile mark! As we ran past the start, everybody was high-fiving this bloke who I realised was Sir Bobby Robson. I thought ‘doesn’t he look old?’ which was exactly what everyone else was saying about me after I crossed the finish! I also enjoyed the sight of dozens of uniformed St. Johns Ambulance ladies lining the route, holding out rubber-gloved fistfuls of Vaseline and shouting ‘any chafing?’You'd pay quite a lot of money for that service in Soho!(so I'm told).

I realised that I had hit ‘the wall’ at 10 miles when, after overtaking 2 sunflowers and a tree, I got burned off by Scooby Doo! As we ran down to the beach at South Shields for the final mile or so, the enthusiastic ‘Oggy Oggy Oggies’ at the start had been replaced by a grim quiet focus on the countdown markers. Spurred on by the Red Arrows aerobatics display overhead, I challenged a guy running for the RNLI (& old enough to be my granddad) to a sprint finish and we crossed the line together (& then had a big girly hug!). If anyone fancies running it with Paul and I next year, then we'd love you to join us. Just don’t tell my knees yet!’

Phil Rumbelow

Anonymous said...

hi PAUL.;cousin MARY HESSION here;read your blog all the time and we 're very much on the journey with you....love and hugs to all the O 'Byrnes....you truly are an inspiration...xxxxx

Unknown said...

Hi Paul,

Thinking of you Paul and glad to hear you're cheerfully progressing.
Raquel Welch does a nice line in wigs if you tire of looking like Michael Jackson.

Make those dark spots disappear and we'll send some positive vibes from the land that is 12 hours ahead already..

Ian

Unknown said...

Hey Paul, me again! Just checking how everything's going.

Hope you are all doing ok.

Mariana

Mc Donnell's eire said...

..A line to say G'day Paul with large heart and wondering how you are..
all our love & to all the family,
from
Mary,Annmarie & Catherine xxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Paul
Eva has just called me about the annual masters event and told me about your illness. I will be competing again and will attempt to better my performance from last year, using the tips you gave me! Hopefully I will see Laurie although Eva had not yet heard from him.
I was shocked to hear your news and wish to send you my love and to let you know I will be thinking about you.
You talk about making an impression on people and you did that to me. You have inspired me in many ways, despite our brief exchanges.
I dont expect that you will be at the gala so I will keep in touch by checking your blog.
Lynn Jones

Karen said...

Oh Darn! Hi Paul, I wanted to leave my first comment on your blog and I thought 'flagging the website' meant to bookmark it. Unfortunately I've since discovered that it is to signal objectionable content - other than your wig I can't imagine they will find any. Really sorry about that, I hope it won't cause you any problems and let me know if as the flagger I can help.

It was lovely to meet up with Luke a couple of weeks ago and spend his birthday with him. My partner took Luke and Noel on a brewery tour and to an Auckland rugby match last week (very kiwi male behaviour); unfortunately it seems Luke would be better off watching provincial English games for talent!

Really pleased to read that you are doing well in your treatment, your positive attitude I'm sure plays a big part.

With love,
Karen

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