Back to work

On Friday it was six weeks since Quent’s last operation so he is able to start lifting things and being more active. He has been really good about taking it easy, helped by all the planning he has been doing for the work on the new house – which we hope to start in the Spring.

A few weeks ago, in anticipation of a clear scan, we arranged to go back to work.

Quent goes back to the office tomorrow for the first time since the start of his IL-2 treatment in July 2007. In the meantime, the office has moved to Swindon, so it’s going to be a long commute. He will be going back part time to start with, while he builds up his strength and will work at least one day a week from home to save on travelling time.

I am also stepping up my work, with Oakley now in full time school and Quent back at Allied Telesis. I will still be working from home, but I aim to achieve a lot more than I've been able to over the past couple of years.

On Friday, Quent and I went out for lunch in celebration of the past year and a bit – when we have had each other’s company more or less 24/7. It has been a wonderful silver lining to a tough period and I will miss him enormously when he heads off to the M25 tomorrow morning. As will Oakley, who has had a perfect playmate, happy to play Lego, Gogos, Playmobil etc. before and after school.

Of course, the scan wasn't clear, so this week we are back to hospital as well as work. We have an appointment with Dr Savage in London on Tuesday and another on Wednesday in Manchester with Prof Hawkins. We will be picking their brains about the options going forward. We know it’s an area with plenty of research happening, so we are hoping to come away with something positive.

I have that “back to school” feeling from years ago, but I guess it’s only a few weeks until Christmas. “Yikes”, as Oakley would say!