The night before…

Hi All

Having made the decision to go through with the full EPP – lung removal, it was wonderful to be contacted by other ‘Meso Warriors’ (America, Australia, U.K. ) via the blog. I never thought it would have the impact it has. They have had the same op, but 10&13 years ago….. Amazing stories, and like them I will still be writing these blogs in 10+ years time.(Sorry you maybe bored of them by then….)

Having made the decision, it was great to relax and celebrate turning the big 40! Ali booked us a meal at hawksmoor (best steak house in Manchester!), followed by nice surprise in the evening. Ali then booked for the 4 of us to go to langdale ( Lake District for the weekend). We had a great time, kids enjoyed swimming; we enjoyed 2 pub meals @Wainwrights & walks; and then a day with the staley clan in Ambleside. Thank you Ali you did truly spoil me.

Monday was all about getting ready for hospital visit, planning for the week ahead, and seeing friends. Thank you to everyone for kind offer of help, and we will be contacting you all to take you up on it (if we haven’t already….). It was also an emotional day as reality starts to hit home, and the fact I won’t be seeing the kids for 7-14 days. Thoughts of ” I may never see them again (due to high risk of surgery) has crossed our minds, but I remain positive this will not be the case, due to the trust in the surgeon and his team in Leicester, and the love, prayers & the support from every single one of you. This is helping us be so positive.

Today we dropped kids of at school who went in as normal, and it was us adults who were more emotional/worried. We have told the kids Daddy has a poorly lung, which the doctors are repairing. Joshua said to his Aunty ( who is a nurse!) “can you not do the operation, and Daddy stay at your house in Liverpool”! If only it was that simple….

This morning I also received 2 emails from Everton football club, one from Graham Stuart and the other Graeme Sharp. I was beaming, and the fact they had mentioned the blog made be very proud & emotional…..also on recovery I may get invited to meet the players…..Thank you to whoever has arranged this….

So I’m now enjoying a good meal (more steak and more beer), whilst writing this blog. We have met Dr Waller and his team this afternoon who have made us very relaxed (as can be) for tomorow. He advised he discussed my case at a Meso conference in Spain, with worldwide experts. Majority view was to go for full EPP. He advised Leicester is currently treating the most Meso patients worldwide!! I feel so lucky that I have had world specialists looking at my case, and at the best hospital. Due to the major surgery I will be having an epidural, along with any other strong drugs to numb the pain…”1000 X stronger than morphine” was said!!

So tomorrow I will be given sleeping tablets at 11am and go into theatre midday. The operation will be 3-4 hrs, and then into recovery. As a precaution I may go into intensive care, but more likely HDU. I should be out of recovery between 7-8pm ish!! I will not eat for 48 hrs, so hopefully by Saturday I will start to eat and have some movement…..Ali or my sister will update Facebook to let you know, and you will have another blog from me early next week.

So that’s me off now to look at the desert menu, drink with my gorgeous wife but once again, a massive thanks to you all for the love, support and prayers.

Dave & Ali X
Sent from my iPhone