Oakley, Maggie, Manon and George
Last week, Quent had his annual scan at The Christie (13 since his first treatment there) and today we found out it was CLEAR. Hooray.
There's not much to add, excep that it's maybe time to introduce a few new characters into the 'mini-series':
Dr Manon Pillai
Aviva only pays for 10 years of post-treatment scans (fair enough), so it was time to either pay ourselves, go NHS in Watford or go NHS in Manchester. Quent opted for the latter and so we were transferred over to Prof Hawkin's NHS (Prof-trained) counterpart, Manon Pillai. We've only spoken to her on the phone so far, but Philip (our Christie cancer friend) thinks she's great and Prof thinks she's great, so she's obviously ... great!
George Kabambe
In 2019 we decided it would be good to have Quent's Endocrinology Consultant close to hand, following an incident when Quent forgot to take a tablet and passed out (an "Addisonian Crisis").
Professor Trainer, at the Christie, transferred us to Dr. Ana Pokrajac, who trained with him and is based at Watford General / Hemel Hemstead. When she recommended a 'day curve' to check Quent's levels of hydro cortisol, we met George; the kind and smiley Endocrine Nurse at Watford General Hospital.
The Christie asked Quent to get bloods done before going up for the scan this time (presumably due to Covid-19 precautions), so Quent went to his new friend (and blood-taking expert) George.
Oakley
Oakley has said a few times that he'd like to meet the man who saved his dad's life - Prof Hawkins. He's usually in school when we go for scans but I'd earmarked 2020 as a possible date, post GCSEs. He came with us last week but we weren't allowed in (Covid-19)! It was a shame not to be able to show him round the hospital, but he could see from the outside how leading edge it is; as we pointed out all the new research centre buildings that have sprung up since when we first visited.
Prof Hawkins came outside to meet Oakley; he may not be Quent's Doctor any more and we may not be allowed in the building, but he still facilitated the request as if such kindness was totally normal.
Maggie
Oakley and I weren't sure where to go for the two hours it takes to do the scan. Cafes were newly opened (it was 6th July) but Quent is shielded and we weren't too keen to take pot luck on public toilets. Instead, we visited the Maggie's Centre at the Christie, another relatively new building, opened in 2016 and a great resource / comfort to cancer patients and their families. Oakley commented on how peaceful and calm it was - and I felt safe having a wee!
As I typed this, it struck me just how many people have played a part in Quent's treatment and recovery. The Oncologists, the Radiographers, the Endicronologists, the A&E team at Watford, the support (and associated fundraisers) from charities like Maggie's and Macmillan - and of course our friends, family and all the readers of this blog. Thank you, everyone!
It's maybe time to put on the record just how brilliant Oakley has been over the past 13 years. Not only was he a (the?) key reason for Quent to endure the IL-2, he's also remained calm through any periods Quent has spent in hospital - even when I know he's been worried. And I'm not just writing this because he's recently started reading the blog, honest. 😉
There's not much to add, excep that it's maybe time to introduce a few new characters into the 'mini-series':
Dr Manon Pillai
Aviva only pays for 10 years of post-treatment scans (fair enough), so it was time to either pay ourselves, go NHS in Watford or go NHS in Manchester. Quent opted for the latter and so we were transferred over to Prof Hawkin's NHS (Prof-trained) counterpart, Manon Pillai. We've only spoken to her on the phone so far, but Philip (our Christie cancer friend) thinks she's great and Prof thinks she's great, so she's obviously ... great!
George Kabambe
In 2019 we decided it would be good to have Quent's Endocrinology Consultant close to hand, following an incident when Quent forgot to take a tablet and passed out (an "Addisonian Crisis").
Professor Trainer, at the Christie, transferred us to Dr. Ana Pokrajac, who trained with him and is based at Watford General / Hemel Hemstead. When she recommended a 'day curve' to check Quent's levels of hydro cortisol, we met George; the kind and smiley Endocrine Nurse at Watford General Hospital.
The Christie asked Quent to get bloods done before going up for the scan this time (presumably due to Covid-19 precautions), so Quent went to his new friend (and blood-taking expert) George.
Oakley
Oakley has said a few times that he'd like to meet the man who saved his dad's life - Prof Hawkins. He's usually in school when we go for scans but I'd earmarked 2020 as a possible date, post GCSEs. He came with us last week but we weren't allowed in (Covid-19)! It was a shame not to be able to show him round the hospital, but he could see from the outside how leading edge it is; as we pointed out all the new research centre buildings that have sprung up since when we first visited.
Prof Hawkins came outside to meet Oakley; he may not be Quent's Doctor any more and we may not be allowed in the building, but he still facilitated the request as if such kindness was totally normal.
Maggie
Oakley and I weren't sure where to go for the two hours it takes to do the scan. Cafes were newly opened (it was 6th July) but Quent is shielded and we weren't too keen to take pot luck on public toilets. Instead, we visited the Maggie's Centre at the Christie, another relatively new building, opened in 2016 and a great resource / comfort to cancer patients and their families. Oakley commented on how peaceful and calm it was - and I felt safe having a wee!
As I typed this, it struck me just how many people have played a part in Quent's treatment and recovery. The Oncologists, the Radiographers, the Endicronologists, the A&E team at Watford, the support (and associated fundraisers) from charities like Maggie's and Macmillan - and of course our friends, family and all the readers of this blog. Thank you, everyone!
It's maybe time to put on the record just how brilliant Oakley has been over the past 13 years. Not only was he a (the?) key reason for Quent to endure the IL-2, he's also remained calm through any periods Quent has spent in hospital - even when I know he's been worried. And I'm not just writing this because he's recently started reading the blog, honest. 😉
posted by Helen at 7/13/2020 01:55:00 pm
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