10 Nov 2008
Incommunicado
Well, it’s arrived. The last day of freedom before I become temporarily hospitalised again.
Tomorrow, I go into the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford. The plan is that on Wednesday morning I will have surgery to remove all (hopefully) the secondary tumours that are in both my lungs. It’s a major operation which could possibly take most of the day, depending how things go. The norm is then a 4 – 5 day stay in hospital. I’m aiming for 4. There’s a lot of scary stuff that surrounds this operation and I’m not going to lay it out for you. If you’re really interested, do a search for “median sternotomy and bilateral pulmonary metastectomy” on Wikipedia or Google and make your own judgement. Needless to say, I’m extremely scared; those that know me don’t need me to remind you of that.
So please send me all your positive vibes/thoughts/prayers (delete as appropriate) this week, but especially early on Wednesday morning (GMT) and throughout the rest of that day.
Please also send the same to Sara and the kids so they have the strength to see this through for themselves and to help me when I come home. It’s going to be a tough week (especially as we have a pregnant cat who it seems has decided this week is good time to give birth).
Thanks to all of you that have already sent your messages of support. I really appreciate it. Thanks to all who have helped in practical ways thus far and who continue to do so this week.
Hopefully I will post on Thursday or Friday from the hospital. It will be short, needless to say, but will let you know how I am.
“Catch you on the flip side……….”
John L. “Jack” Swigert, Apollo 13 Command Module pilot, before the damaged vehicle lost contact with earth on its journey around the dark side of the moon, April 5, 1970.
Jack also had bone cancer. He died on December 27, 1982. He was 51.
You and the family have plenty of vibes from me and all the Browns!!!!
Ben
November 10th, 2008 at 9:10 pmpermalink
hiya mate. hope you get a good nights sleep. will be thinkin of you lots and auntie sara and cousins too. hopefully see you all soon. big hugs, love and prayers coming your way. all the best for wednesday. xxx
JamieG
November 10th, 2008 at 10:20 pmpermalink
Sending lots of love and prayers to you and the family. Thiinking of you on weds Andy, keep on fighting, there are lots of people out there who are rooting for you,you can do this.Love the Houses..
Sue and Ian
November 10th, 2008 at 10:23 pmpermalink
And… matey boy… lotsa thoughts and prayers flying your way… please know that sooo many people are thinking about you, s,a,h,e&g [many you dunno and may never meet] anyway, see ya shortly… actually you’ll see shortly tomorra!
Please don’t let her bring one home unless it’s pure ginger!
Cheers Mate x.
Mel
November 10th, 2008 at 11:20 pmpermalink
My prayers go with you, Sara, and the kids tomorrow, Andy.
Patti
Patti
November 10th, 2008 at 11:25 pmpermalink
Mate, prayers are being offerred from so many people and places around the globe for you all – as mel says you probably don’t know most of them!! Just imagine them all supporting you,sara and the kids in a huge virtual hug when you get scared.I will be hugging you virtually too as I can’t do it physically this time and will be praying for you throughout. Love you loads x x x
shortly
November 11th, 2008 at 12:32 ampermalink
OK, so that moment you have been dreading is finally here and no matter how scary it is mate – it will all be worth it in the end! You have huge support and love surrounding you and your lovely family and we will all be willing you along tomorrow. You will be given the strength and courage to get through this – so be brave!
Thanks go back to you too for all your support you have given so unselfishly to us, especially at this particularly difficult time for you – you have been a rock! Love to all – A,C, N, A xx
Cheryl Smith
November 11th, 2008 at 12:07 pmpermalink
Andy, you, Sara and the children are constantly in our thoughts and prayers, but we will be praying for you especially tomorrow. Continue to be brave and strong – you will get through this. Love to all of you – strength to Sara and the children for the waiting time! I hope you all have a restful night and much peace for tomorrow. Louise, Lawrie, Megan & Lorna xxxx
Louise
November 11th, 2008 at 5:28 pmpermalink
unc send the vibes last week and a new lot will arrive every day! You’ve also got our thoughts and aunty mave is doing the prayers! be strong and we’ll see you over the weekend. just call if you need us. xxx
clossie and the mavis
November 11th, 2008 at 11:08 pmpermalink
Prayers coming by leaps and bounds for you, Sarah and the kids, and also for your medic team. God bless
Jenny Dibsdall
November 12th, 2008 at 9:04 ampermalink
Praying for you loads and thinking of you loads every day. Hope to come and visit soon – need to see the kittens!!!
Got them all at Waterbeach praying too.
love Emma xxx
Emma
November 12th, 2008 at 9:45 ampermalink
Hi Andy,
We send masses of love and prayers right now. We thought of you yesterday during the op and will continue to send prayers for you and the family. Through these I pray you’ll know that there is a God who’s loving, hugging, holding and keeping you and your family through it all – it’s what He promised and I’ve not found him to be a liar just yet!
Hopefully will meet you one day soon.
Love to all
Richard Mingay
Richard and Caroline Mingay
November 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pmpermalink
Looking forward to hearing the latest news soon Andy
J
Johnny Laird
November 14th, 2008 at 2:12 pmpermalink
Hope to hear from you soon babe. Thinking of you heaps. Big prayers & lots of good thoughts winging their way to you, Sara and the family. Love you lots x
Deb Raymond
November 14th, 2008 at 11:49 pmpermalink
Hope all has gone well. Jo and I are praying for you, and looking forward very much to seeing an update on here!
RobGT
November 15th, 2008 at 3:14 pmpermalink
What an amazing week this has been! We are so proud of your courage going through stuff none of us would want to tackle. It was good to see where it was all happening yesterday and to know that you are very near to coming home. You are so fortunate to have Sara supporting you through all this (but I know you don’t need to be told that) and of course Linz, here, there, and everywhere directing backstage –what a team!! There are happier times ahead for all of us who love you so much. You are constantly in our thoughts and prayers, loads of love from both of us xx
Mum and Dad
November 15th, 2008 at 11:26 pmpermalink