Every blog entry you write you're supposed to give it a title. I'm hopeless at thinking up good ones!
But that aside...
LIVER, LISTEN & KINGS
...I have spent the last two days on various visits at King's, but today was the day for me.
Yesterday was ward visit day and it was great to have company. It was a long afternoon - very rewarding - but just as exhausting. We met people just being put onto the transplant waiting list, people who had recently been transplanted and people who had been on the transplant waiting list for some time. We finally got our photo id cards and progressed with the CRB checks (got one for UKA, need another for NHS).
Today was bloods day. I wanted to find out what I'm to expect with my "funny" bloods, and the long and the short of it is that I need to have a biopsy to get a precise diagnosis. I saw one of the top guys and I really pushed to know more, but unfortunately my current story isn't text book (boom boom)...
DOGGGGG
Had two excellent walks but today I went up Flower Lane near Godstone and walked through the woods with two dog walking friends and their pooches close to Woldingham School. Yes, Mad Dog and I met with her woof love, Harris - and their little bichon frise pal, Charlie.
Short and sweet for today. A good few days. Need a little rest...!!!
Thursday 16 June 2011
Monday 6 June 2011
I haven't forgotten...
I was reminded today that I haven't updated my blog for a few months, so what has been happening?
HOME
Our house is exam city right now, with GCSEs and A levels at their most stressful. Not helped by a carpenter taking over the whole of our ground floor (it's only a little house) to build our long awaited for cupboards. Yay - storage space at last!!
I think the kids are coping better than I am with the exam stuff. Well you know, "get off facebook", "are you on facebook?", "leave your phone downstairs", "have you eaten", "have you had a drink", "stop playing with the dog and concentrate!!" Actually, I'm not that bad. All I ask from the GCSEs (which are almost finished) is a small period of focused concentration, with breaks, then chill. But if the phone, tv, dog, get in the way.... A level boy is old enough to sort himself out. I won't be at university to check up on him (well that's what he thinks!!)...lol
LISTEN
It's been an amazing year for LISTEN. Our big push to raise the profile of our mentoring services within King's is really paying off, and it's now quite easy to spend around 6 hours each Wednesday at the hospital meeting referals, talking to groups, catching up with the staff and checking out our Lodge accommodation. Fantastic!
The committee meets once a month, but I'm in contact with the members at least every few days or so depending on what is going on.
I have rewritten the LISTEN leaflet which is just going through its final stages of proofing, and there may be some help with the future Newsletters which I hope we can do soon.
FUNDRAISING
I can't take any credit for fundraising this year, but wow, there are some fantastic people out there doing some amazing stuff for LISTEN. Chris, I've spoken about before, is still set to fly his cesna plane from Cape Cod to Cape Horn, some tens of thousands of miles, in Dec 2011-Mar 2012. And Andy Strachan, transplanted only in December, will be running 10k on July 10th. The Ladies of Caterham Rotary raised loads from a dance evening, and a quizz night, also in Caterham, recently raised around £600.
OFFICIATING
My approach to timekeeping has been a lot more relaxed this year. I've done plenty of it, in fact sometimes a little too much, but maybe because I've got a little more experience under my belt I just take each meeting with a calm approach and hope that I'm doing the best I can. For those new to this "sport", the precission of your timekeeping is measured by hundredths of a second with the widest "error" accepted throughout a whole day of races (sometime over 100 races) just 500th of a second. My "errors" this year over a day range from 3.54 (super excellent) to just over 5 (good, but should do better!).
I want to go up to the next grade of officiating but consisently need to keep my errors below 5. All great if the starter signal is good - but that's not always the case...
This weekend is the Surrey Schools Championships. This is a really long day in Kingston. Having competed in local district sports, the top 1-3 in each event, go forward to represent their district. Little N is doing the triple jump for South Surrey.
HEALTH
Interesting at the moment. I feel fine. Tired but absolutely fine. I am waiting for a date for a biopsy to see what my lovely liver is doing as its not totally happy at the moment. No worries. I'm so well looked after and have great support. No worries.
MAD DOG
Well Mad Dog failed her Kennel Club Gold award. Aaaaah. I knew she wasn't ready and she passed everything - except the very last. This was being shut in a stable with the door closed. Oh dear. Howl, cry, bark. She was not happy. Instand FAIL.
Not to give up, we now join the next group training for gold every 2-3 weeks, and hope that she will do it soon. Go Summer!!!
Oh and Summer is very much in love. Meet Harris...
Monday 14 March 2011
LISTEN today...
I love productive meetings. Today was the monthly LISTEN meeting and the leading topics were mentoring and how we wanted to develop long term. We could certainly do with more hands on board, creative and handyman type people, but I love the team we have and I think our personalities and skills compliament each other well.
The committee are currently trialing mentoring at King's on a regular basis - visiting the wards, liver intensive care and the LISTEN Lodges. As part of developing our skills we each have to attend an Educational session run by the pre transplant co-ordinators when patients are told they are being put on the liver transplant list. Patients and their families attend, and they are talked through the period leading up to that "wished for" telephone call to say a possible match has been found - what happens during the transplant - and a little of after too. I was "Educated" a few weeks ago.
Because of the nature of the job, we are around vulnerable people and we take this very seriously. We are lucky to have our very own "in-house" counsellor (just one of many hats he wears) and he (we know who he is!!) attends our visits with us, so we know that what we are doing and saying is correct. We never give medical advice - ever - and we visit to listen and mentor.
To become a Liver Unit Mentor we attend a days training run by the Specialist Social Worker at King's (I took my training in 2008). From meeting and listening to other support groups at liver units around the UK, it seems that we are the only group to be trained.
But as with any "job", you won't be the best unless you continue your training. So we're going to run possibly two days of workshops with talks given by medical bodies within the liver unit, full mentor training and role play etc.. This is for our current mentors and prospective mentors.
Why do this now? Our main focus for 2011 is to develop our relationship with the liver unit. We want to be in a position to offer our mentors more work than they have had and by being a larger presence in the hospital, the hope is that we will.
After just 4 weeks I think we have already been able to mentor around 400% more than previous 4 weeks. There is a lot more to this, but I won't bore you!!
Back home. Landed with a bump. A £65 dentist bill for the kids and £33 pilates bill...
Otherwise back at the ranch, Stav is in France snowboarding, Little N is beeing a teen, Mad Dog is making me laugh and Big A..taking dads absence to antagonise his sister even more... So a usual week..lol..
Tonight, I've had my pilates fix, Glee fix and watched the 2nd part of Waking the Dead. Now watching the American The Apprentice. A fab night of TV for me!!
I will be visiting the King's Charitable Trust on Thursday which is in Waterloo then having my own blood tests at Denmark Hill.
The committee are currently trialing mentoring at King's on a regular basis - visiting the wards, liver intensive care and the LISTEN Lodges. As part of developing our skills we each have to attend an Educational session run by the pre transplant co-ordinators when patients are told they are being put on the liver transplant list. Patients and their families attend, and they are talked through the period leading up to that "wished for" telephone call to say a possible match has been found - what happens during the transplant - and a little of after too. I was "Educated" a few weeks ago.
Because of the nature of the job, we are around vulnerable people and we take this very seriously. We are lucky to have our very own "in-house" counsellor (just one of many hats he wears) and he (we know who he is!!) attends our visits with us, so we know that what we are doing and saying is correct. We never give medical advice - ever - and we visit to listen and mentor.
To become a Liver Unit Mentor we attend a days training run by the Specialist Social Worker at King's (I took my training in 2008). From meeting and listening to other support groups at liver units around the UK, it seems that we are the only group to be trained.
But as with any "job", you won't be the best unless you continue your training. So we're going to run possibly two days of workshops with talks given by medical bodies within the liver unit, full mentor training and role play etc.. This is for our current mentors and prospective mentors.
Why do this now? Our main focus for 2011 is to develop our relationship with the liver unit. We want to be in a position to offer our mentors more work than they have had and by being a larger presence in the hospital, the hope is that we will.
After just 4 weeks I think we have already been able to mentor around 400% more than previous 4 weeks. There is a lot more to this, but I won't bore you!!
Back home. Landed with a bump. A £65 dentist bill for the kids and £33 pilates bill...
Otherwise back at the ranch, Stav is in France snowboarding, Little N is beeing a teen, Mad Dog is making me laugh and Big A..taking dads absence to antagonise his sister even more... So a usual week..lol..
Tonight, I've had my pilates fix, Glee fix and watched the 2nd part of Waking the Dead. Now watching the American The Apprentice. A fab night of TV for me!!
I will be visiting the King's Charitable Trust on Thursday which is in Waterloo then having my own blood tests at Denmark Hill.
Saturday 5 February 2011
PRIMA Power
I knew it was about to happen. I knew it would be soon.
But that didn't make me any less suprised when I saw it!!!
That is of course, the PRIMA article. From contact to the newsagent shelves has taken about 6 months, with the photoshoot taken in Reigate Priory Park in December between the two massive snowfalls Surrey experienced. It is so lovely however, to have a natural family picture taken by a professional.
PRIMA - March Edition - Pages 117 and 118 - Out now (until about 2/3/11).
Of course the first thing every one of my family did (me included) was to look at the pictures and see if their hair, face, clothes etc looked ok. What a vain lot. Of course, I'm full of steroids so particularly bloated but hey, gotta get used to it.
The article is entitled "Why I want everyone to carry an organ-donor card", "Donna Barrington-Smith, 41 (I'm 42), a travel writer (well, sort of) from Reigate (Redhill), Surrey, explains how the kindness of a stranger saved her life".
There is, as you would expect, a little artistic licence, but the story is generally how I told it. In fact with the current situation I am ecstatic how it pushes people to consider signing up for a organ donor card. And LISTEN gets a mention too. Fantastic!!
But that didn't make me any less suprised when I saw it!!!
That is of course, the PRIMA article. From contact to the newsagent shelves has taken about 6 months, with the photoshoot taken in Reigate Priory Park in December between the two massive snowfalls Surrey experienced. It is so lovely however, to have a natural family picture taken by a professional.
PRIMA - March Edition - Pages 117 and 118 - Out now (until about 2/3/11).
Of course the first thing every one of my family did (me included) was to look at the pictures and see if their hair, face, clothes etc looked ok. What a vain lot. Of course, I'm full of steroids so particularly bloated but hey, gotta get used to it.
The article is entitled "Why I want everyone to carry an organ-donor card", "Donna Barrington-Smith, 41 (I'm 42), a travel writer (well, sort of) from Reigate (Redhill), Surrey, explains how the kindness of a stranger saved her life".
There is, as you would expect, a little artistic licence, but the story is generally how I told it. In fact with the current situation I am ecstatic how it pushes people to consider signing up for a organ donor card. And LISTEN gets a mention too. Fantastic!!
Thursday 3 February 2011
Exciting...
Today I went to King's for a meeting with the King's Charitable Trust Marketing Manager and a fantastic couple who wish to raise lots of money for LISTEN, the fund dedicated to supporting pre and post liver transplant patients and their families.
Firstly I must tell you about Chris and Corrine McLaughlin. And ask that you look at FLIGHT4LIVES. This website will develop as the months lead up to December 2011 when they plan to fly their little Cessna plane from CapeToCape - Cape Cod to Cape Horn.
Chris and Corrine with their Cessna
A dynamic couple, Chris received a liver transplant at King's in April 2010; he was previously a BA Captain flying 747s. Corrine is a BA Purser.
They weren't prepared for what happened to Chris in March and April 2010 as he waivered in and out of conciousness, especially finding out that the severity of his liver disease had also shot his kidneys.
Whilst Chris battled in Liver Intensive Care, Corrine was having to drive from their Surrey/Sussex border home to King's every day. The distance isn't one of the longest that families supporting a liver diseased patient has to travel, but as anyone knows who has had to travel to Denmark Hill SE London from outside the M25, the traffic is hideous and it is a very time consuming journey full of traffic jams and traffic lights. Incredibly stressful.
Luckily, a LISTEN Lodge room became available. In Corrine's own words "The Lodge saved my sanity." She added, "Someone told me I could stay at the Halfway House (the name of past accommodation used by the King's liver unit) and I was a little worried about what I would be walking into, but was also so grateful to be able to stay near to Chris".
And what a suprise she got when she walked into the beautifully decorated LISTEN Lodge (Lower)! She loved the accommodation so much and was so thankful to use such fantastic facilities - and especially as the Lodges are only 2 minutes walk from King's (when you are receiving calls at 6am and odd o'clock, that is sooo important) - that when Chris said he wanted to give something back to King's after his liver transplant, that Corrine insisted that he raise money for LISTEN.
So starts a story...
LISTEN will provide any support they possibly can to Chris and Corrine. And I hope to keep you informed off their progress...
Chris hopes to raise around £50,000 flying over 16,000 nautical miles in a plane that needs refueling every 4 hours and travelling over rainforests, desert etc... Some of the money he raises will also go to liver research and the Nigel Heaton Fund - but their wishes are that LISTEN recieves the highest percentage. WOW! And thank you. And boy, how exciting...
After this I went up to Liver Outpatients to remind them that I wanted them to put together a wish list of what LISTEN could raise funds for, and also did the same on Todd Ward (main liver unit ward. I popped into the the Relatives Room on Todd and was delighted to find that there were 3 plaques in the room including the LISTEN plaque.
Then home. xx
Firstly I must tell you about Chris and Corrine McLaughlin. And ask that you look at FLIGHT4LIVES. This website will develop as the months lead up to December 2011 when they plan to fly their little Cessna plane from CapeToCape - Cape Cod to Cape Horn.
Chris and Corrine with their Cessna
A dynamic couple, Chris received a liver transplant at King's in April 2010; he was previously a BA Captain flying 747s. Corrine is a BA Purser.
They weren't prepared for what happened to Chris in March and April 2010 as he waivered in and out of conciousness, especially finding out that the severity of his liver disease had also shot his kidneys.
Whilst Chris battled in Liver Intensive Care, Corrine was having to drive from their Surrey/Sussex border home to King's every day. The distance isn't one of the longest that families supporting a liver diseased patient has to travel, but as anyone knows who has had to travel to Denmark Hill SE London from outside the M25, the traffic is hideous and it is a very time consuming journey full of traffic jams and traffic lights. Incredibly stressful.
Luckily, a LISTEN Lodge room became available. In Corrine's own words "The Lodge saved my sanity." She added, "Someone told me I could stay at the Halfway House (the name of past accommodation used by the King's liver unit) and I was a little worried about what I would be walking into, but was also so grateful to be able to stay near to Chris".
And what a suprise she got when she walked into the beautifully decorated LISTEN Lodge (Lower)! She loved the accommodation so much and was so thankful to use such fantastic facilities - and especially as the Lodges are only 2 minutes walk from King's (when you are receiving calls at 6am and odd o'clock, that is sooo important) - that when Chris said he wanted to give something back to King's after his liver transplant, that Corrine insisted that he raise money for LISTEN.
So starts a story...
LISTEN will provide any support they possibly can to Chris and Corrine. And I hope to keep you informed off their progress...
Chris hopes to raise around £50,000 flying over 16,000 nautical miles in a plane that needs refueling every 4 hours and travelling over rainforests, desert etc... Some of the money he raises will also go to liver research and the Nigel Heaton Fund - but their wishes are that LISTEN recieves the highest percentage. WOW! And thank you. And boy, how exciting...
After this I went up to Liver Outpatients to remind them that I wanted them to put together a wish list of what LISTEN could raise funds for, and also did the same on Todd Ward (main liver unit ward. I popped into the the Relatives Room on Todd and was delighted to find that there were 3 plaques in the room including the LISTEN plaque.
Then home. xx
Wednesday 2 February 2011
Love kids! Glad mine are older!!
This morning was the second morning in a row that I have officiated at the local sports centre, a five minutes' walk away!
On Tuesday nine junior schools put together teams of around 20 kids aged 9 to 11 to compete in a Sportshall event. Today there were seve schools. The idea is to have fun, make lots of noise (in a positive way - no booing) and enjoy competing in various toned down athletic events.
Their smiles were delightful, but after about 90 minutes I was reaching for the paracetamol!!
Such a shame that the government are withdrawing the funds to an extent that after three years of this event, next year it will be no longer. THat is unless someone leads the helm in encouraging the schools to arrange it themselves!! There is of course, a little more to it than that, as it will be the secondary schools who decide if they spend their funds on the junior schools. Such a shame. Such a shame.
Anyway, on another matter. No call from King's so I'm hoping for happy bloods. I've been incredibly tired over the last 3 weeks, something I've never had to contend with before except in the early days post transplant, but may be it is something I will have to resign myself to for the moment.
On Sunday I took a bump all the way down the stair...stupid mare!! Talking to the dog, carrying a big basket full of dirty washing and descending steep stairs don't go together. All bumps clear now. Stupid mare!
For those with athletics "know", you'll understand when I say that Little N is going to 2nd claim for Sutton and District. This is because RPAC are not part of the Junior League which Sutton is joining this season for the first time. This is athletics for Under 17 and Under 20 only. She will still compete for RPAC outside of this;there was never a moment when we considered her doing otherwise.
Mad Dog had to miss training and her play date with little Delhia the miniture poodle, today as I was at the schools athletics. Also, I did have a laugh to myself when I read what she has to achieve for the Kennel Club Gold Award....now she holds her silver.... NO CHANCE....LOL xx
On Tuesday nine junior schools put together teams of around 20 kids aged 9 to 11 to compete in a Sportshall event. Today there were seve schools. The idea is to have fun, make lots of noise (in a positive way - no booing) and enjoy competing in various toned down athletic events.
Their smiles were delightful, but after about 90 minutes I was reaching for the paracetamol!!
Such a shame that the government are withdrawing the funds to an extent that after three years of this event, next year it will be no longer. THat is unless someone leads the helm in encouraging the schools to arrange it themselves!! There is of course, a little more to it than that, as it will be the secondary schools who decide if they spend their funds on the junior schools. Such a shame. Such a shame.
Anyway, on another matter. No call from King's so I'm hoping for happy bloods. I've been incredibly tired over the last 3 weeks, something I've never had to contend with before except in the early days post transplant, but may be it is something I will have to resign myself to for the moment.
On Sunday I took a bump all the way down the stair...stupid mare!! Talking to the dog, carrying a big basket full of dirty washing and descending steep stairs don't go together. All bumps clear now. Stupid mare!
For those with athletics "know", you'll understand when I say that Little N is going to 2nd claim for Sutton and District. This is because RPAC are not part of the Junior League which Sutton is joining this season for the first time. This is athletics for Under 17 and Under 20 only. She will still compete for RPAC outside of this;there was never a moment when we considered her doing otherwise.
Mad Dog had to miss training and her play date with little Delhia the miniture poodle, today as I was at the schools athletics. Also, I did have a laugh to myself when I read what she has to achieve for the Kennel Club Gold Award....now she holds her silver.... NO CHANCE....LOL xx
Friday 28 January 2011
Friday 28th January 2011
Getting back to this blogging now, and I love to hear your comments too, so please keep contacting me either via the blog or on facebook.
A quiet day today, catching up on work articles and resting.
Took mad dog out and enjoyed joining "the pack"; a group of dog walkers for an hour.
Tomorrow I'll be timekeeping at Lee Valley for the Senior London Games. Doesn't start until 12 but doesn't end till 7pm... long day.
No call from King's so hoping that's because I've got happy bloods. Yay!
A quiet day today, catching up on work articles and resting.
Took mad dog out and enjoyed joining "the pack"; a group of dog walkers for an hour.
Tomorrow I'll be timekeeping at Lee Valley for the Senior London Games. Doesn't start until 12 but doesn't end till 7pm... long day.
No call from King's so hoping that's because I've got happy bloods. Yay!
I've started watching the newsagents for the March edition of PRIMA magazine. Here are some photos of our photoshoot. With the big steroid head that I have at the moment, it wasn't an enjoyable experience but I know there were some lovely pictures of the family complete with mad dog.
Thursday 27 January 2011
Happy and Sad...Good News and Bad News..
Good news...I had a really interesting day, today.
Bad news...I had to say adieu to a good friend who I will miss (but I hope she will return in 6 months)...
Good news...I went to a very interesting talk at King's given by pharmacy.
Bad news...I've been told I can't run the London Marathon (but I was starting to come to the same decision myself, but it was taken off of me).
Good news...Saw lots of people that I haven't seen for an age..
Sad news...A good friend had a very sad day today. My thoughts are with her and her family xx
Happy news...I am aiming for the London Marathon 2012, with the main goal in the meantime, to stay out of hospital this year and have lots of happy blood...
Bad news...not for me, but two poor consultants at King's who had to listen to me having a bit of a rant about the ongoing discussions regarding national v local transplant list...
Good news...I think I was preaching to the converted..if you get my drift!
On the last Thursday of every month, LISTEN runs a Group Support Meeting for pre and post liver transplant patients at King's. Every second month a hospital professional comes to the meeting to talk, and today was pharmacy. We usually have 3-5 mentors attending (me included) but today we were to say goodbye to Jacomi, the Liver Unit Social Worker, so we were joined by many more - a brillant turn out. Jacomi has been a fantastic support to LISTEN for many years and has become a very cherished friend.
The talk by Pharmacy, bascially (for the interest of any Liver Transplant Patients reading this blog), was to advise us that a number of generic drugs have been introduced recently. There are now generic Tacrolimus and generic Microphenolate. As you would expect, King's are asking that we stick to the drug brands that we are currently on and NOT change to a generic brands. So keep to Tacrolimus Prograf (or Advograf) and Mycophenolate CellCept unless King's advises otherwise. There is a chance that some GPs may prescribe the generic brands as they are cheaper, but the variable between the known brands and the generic brands is too wide to guarantee the generic brands effectiveness. So for now, avoid. The Tacrolimus is a particular concern; the Mycophenolate, I was told by one of the consultants after the talk, we will almost certainly be told we can accept the generic brand..but not yet.
After "Group" was the official opening of the Todd Ward Relatives Room for which LISTEN donated half the funds. Todd is the main liver unit ward at King's and this family room was a dull, dark uninteresting box; now it is in the process of becoming a lovely butterfly. The nurses made lots of fantastic dishes, and I'd have to say there was around 60+ people coming and going to have a look.
From Todd I went to Liver Outpatients and it was lovely. Yes, being in OP was lovely!! lol.. It felt like we were continuing the party as so many patients and mentors had blood tests too.
Met and spent time with others not mentioned. So for me, a very sociable and happy and sad day. But a good day. Always a good day xx
Bad news...I had to say adieu to a good friend who I will miss (but I hope she will return in 6 months)...
Good news...I went to a very interesting talk at King's given by pharmacy.
Bad news...I've been told I can't run the London Marathon (but I was starting to come to the same decision myself, but it was taken off of me).
Good news...Saw lots of people that I haven't seen for an age..
Sad news...A good friend had a very sad day today. My thoughts are with her and her family xx
Happy news...I am aiming for the London Marathon 2012, with the main goal in the meantime, to stay out of hospital this year and have lots of happy blood...
Bad news...not for me, but two poor consultants at King's who had to listen to me having a bit of a rant about the ongoing discussions regarding national v local transplant list...
Good news...I think I was preaching to the converted..if you get my drift!
On the last Thursday of every month, LISTEN runs a Group Support Meeting for pre and post liver transplant patients at King's. Every second month a hospital professional comes to the meeting to talk, and today was pharmacy. We usually have 3-5 mentors attending (me included) but today we were to say goodbye to Jacomi, the Liver Unit Social Worker, so we were joined by many more - a brillant turn out. Jacomi has been a fantastic support to LISTEN for many years and has become a very cherished friend.
The talk by Pharmacy, bascially (for the interest of any Liver Transplant Patients reading this blog), was to advise us that a number of generic drugs have been introduced recently. There are now generic Tacrolimus and generic Microphenolate. As you would expect, King's are asking that we stick to the drug brands that we are currently on and NOT change to a generic brands. So keep to Tacrolimus Prograf (or Advograf) and Mycophenolate CellCept unless King's advises otherwise. There is a chance that some GPs may prescribe the generic brands as they are cheaper, but the variable between the known brands and the generic brands is too wide to guarantee the generic brands effectiveness. So for now, avoid. The Tacrolimus is a particular concern; the Mycophenolate, I was told by one of the consultants after the talk, we will almost certainly be told we can accept the generic brand..but not yet.
After "Group" was the official opening of the Todd Ward Relatives Room for which LISTEN donated half the funds. Todd is the main liver unit ward at King's and this family room was a dull, dark uninteresting box; now it is in the process of becoming a lovely butterfly. The nurses made lots of fantastic dishes, and I'd have to say there was around 60+ people coming and going to have a look.
From Todd I went to Liver Outpatients and it was lovely. Yes, being in OP was lovely!! lol.. It felt like we were continuing the party as so many patients and mentors had blood tests too.
Met and spent time with others not mentioned. So for me, a very sociable and happy and sad day. But a good day. Always a good day xx
Wednesday 26 January 2011
January 2011
Christmas came and went. All very lovely. New Year came and went. Little N and I travelled to Lancs and Cheshire to visit family, so very lovely too.
Now January is nearly over! Where has it gone?
Mad Dog and I passed our Kennel Club Silver Award last week...yey!! She was as good as gold. I think I had the right dog?! Today we had our first training lesson towards the Gold Award. "Now you are Gold" advised Ann Cook our trainer, "The dogs are trained off the lead"!! Yeah, right...lol
Mad Dog VERY happy with this decision. Mad Dog decided she rather liked Gold training! Mad Dog set all the other dogs off and played chase and hide and seek around the training centre. And me? Sorry, I just stand there and laugh.... Bad Mad Dog! Bad Mad Owner!
I have been enjoying a month that I lost being in hospital last year.
I was Chief Timekeeper for the Surrey Cross Country Championships, which was a real challenge and great fun. Helped of course, by the support of two exceedingly good timekeepers with two very brand new ones.
Then I was at Lee Valley as Timekeeper Steward, which is all administrative work and knowing how to keep your cool and react quickly to unplanned situations. I like this sometime more than timekeeping!
This coming weekend I will be timekeeping for the London Games held again at Lee Valley (north London). This will be my first track event since September, so I'm a little nervous - but will be fun!
Last weekend was the British Liver Trust (BLT) Conference held at Walton House near Stratford Upon Avon. A very beautiful setting and it was great to meet some ex-LISTEN committee members, one whom I'd never met, and one who I haven't seen for quite a while. BLT had raised funds to cover the costs of our accommodation and dinner, and a few of the topics were quite controversial.
The NHS want organ donation to be transparent. Apparently it currently isn't. So in doing this they are investigating and discussing a National Transplant list as opposed to the current Unit List. The exception to the rule is the Super Urgent List which is already National but only the top 3 cases are allowed and usually with 48 hours to live. This was the list I was put on.
The major flaw that I see in this new National List for all liver transplants, is that due to the total lack of donors and of course people not signing up for the Donor Organ List, the organs that do become available will go to maybe not quite the sickest but those who will have the best chance of a long life. What's the problem here I bet you ask? Well, personally, and I have been given confirmation of this, it will mean that because of the lack of organs, there will be no re-transplants. A computer will hold all the information and will allocate the organ to the next on the list. No chance for re transplants because whilst you may get another 10+ years of life, on average this will not be so. The other issue is getting the recipient of the organ to the organ (or vice versa) which rather than local London and south, could mean transporting from Scottish islands, NW England etc, where a shorter distance to travel (ie going to your local transplant unit) would mean the organ would have a much better chance of "taking" as the period from harvesting to transplant is tight.
Enough! I'm really on my high horse about this right now and could go on for ever....I won't!!
Running. Have been doing quite a bit but 3 runs in a week equals needing sleep for a week. I am considering deferring my Marathon place until 2012 if that is a possibility. My running pal is in agreement for us both.
Tomorrow is a busy day. Thursday.
I have had a plaque made to take to King's tomorrow:
Todd Ward Relative's Room
Partly funded by
LISTEN At King's
January 2011
So tomorrow is the grand opening of the said ward room which LISTEN donated around £3,000, with the same amount again raised by a gentleman called Wayne Bowden. He is currently training to cycle from London to Brighton and hopes to compete in the Transplant Games which this year will be in Northern Ireland.
SO tomorrow. Group Support will start at 12.45 with a talk by the pharmacy about new drugs available, then the opening, then time for my bloods.
Happy bloods tomorrow please!
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