Monday

She had a quiet day with only a CT scan. Trish had to drink some sort of fluid to enhance the quality of the results, not too unpleasant to swallow apparently.

At the moment she is scheduled for theatre on Wednesday. The neurosurgeon says he will remove the vertebrae T6 and replaced it with a ‘cage’ a metal substitute so the spine does not collapse. He will remove other material as required. He intends accessing the spine via the chest.

Sunday arvo 30th

Trish is doing OK.  They have mastered the type of drugs and the dosage.  She has a lovely en-suite private room on the 7th floor with panoramic views of Sydney.  She will be scheduled for surgery sometime this week.

Saturday Night email

Thanks for all the messages of support.  I will be passing them on tomorrow when I see her.  It will mean a lot thanks all.  Tim.

Saturday night

Trish has arrived in Sydney at St Vincent Hospital Darlinghurst, not sure of the phone number yet but will update the blog when I do.  The flight was uneventful. 

Saturday 2pm

We met with Dr Venter today who gave Brad and I a good description of the major issue Trish faces.  There is a tumour mass pressing on and distorting the spinal cord.  The doctors find it hard to believe that it’s not interfering with the spine in a serious way already, hence the concern about standing or bending.

When Trish arrives in St Vincent Hospital in Sydney the neurosurgeons will determine what course of action to relieve the risk of damage from the growth, either remove by surgery, radiation treatment or chemotherapy.

She was transferred early this afternoon to the Wagga airport and air ambulance on to Sydney.  I am heading off today and Brad will arrive Monday.

Friday 28th - Wagga

6pm called to the hospital, results of the MRI are in and as expected not good.  Cancer in 3 parts of the back.  The main concern is a large lump of growth in the centre of the back and it could be trying to invade the spinal cord.  Trish needs to remain in bed and not bend forwards or sideways.  Also some in the left lung could be the source but need a biopsy.  Constant checks as to her coherence, feeling and strength in her legs.  Lots of pain killers and blood samples every hour.

The local doctor is arranging an air ambulance flight to Sydney's St Vincent Hospital Darlinghurst tonight or first thing in the morning as soon as the medical team are available to operate to either remove the lump or check the viability of such action.  Hopfully she will get a good nights sleep first as the flight may not be very comfortable.

Thursday 27th - Batlow

Trish is off to the Doctor with the results of the CT scan to be discussed.  I knew it was serious when the Doctor's nurse came out to the motor vehicle and suggested I would be needed inside.  The Doctor said he thought it was Cancer and Trish was to go to Wagga base hospital by ambulance immediately.

Monday 24th - Batlow

Monday two days before Australia Day and after 7 weeks of ever increasing pain Trish finally saw a compotent medical professional, in Batlow.  Nagging back pain had increased to unbearable.  First considered to be a muscular problem visits to masseurs and Chiropactors gave little or no relief.

The Batlow doctor said the xrays from Narrandera Hospital were of little or no use and a CT scan was needed.  On Tuesday down to Wagga and back to Batlow.  Trish is not travelling well.  Australia day was a quiet day waiting for the appointment to review the CT scan on Thursday.