Month: May 2026

The month of April was supposed to begin with a Blue Lagoon Cruise around the Yasawa Islands of Fiji. It was booked to celebrate my 75^th birthday on board the Fiji Princess. Because of my diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma I had to cancel the cruise and as a result missed out on a harrowing shipwreck. The 55 metre MV Princess ran aground on a reef near Monuriki Island after a severe squall caused the ship’s anchor to drag, pushing it onto a reef. All 30 passengers and most of the 30 crew members were evacuated by the navy.  There were no casualties. I would have had my birthday dinner, gone to bed and then been woken in the dark by a loud crunch, told to grab my lifejacket and leave the ship at dawn. 

That is an alternate version of my life this year.  Instead, I underwent six rounds of R-CHOP chemotherapy, followed by a troubling PET scan and a laparoscopic biopsy. After an anxious week which I shared with my A-to-Z followers I received the all clear, at least until my next PET scan in July.  It was not all doom and gloom.  Friends and family rallied to the occasion and we enjoyed several glorious days away from the enforced isolation of home.

The comments and support from followers have been the highlight of my days in April.  I so much wanted to put Z for Zero as I waited for the results of the biopsy but late on the afternoon of the 30^th April I had to post without the news.  Fortunately, the next day the doctor rang to say all was well so I ran up another post, this time Z for Zero.

I’m not going to list any names this year of the people who kept me going through the month of April.  You know who you are and I thank you with all my heart.  I have printed out all those signed up for this year’s A to Z so will try to visit everyone over the next few weeks.

Thank you to all those who make the A to Z possible each year.  Please keep it going. I’m thinking about next year’s focus but have no idea at this stage. All I know is that if it’s on, I’ll be there. 

I know I have already posted my Z for Zooming Through April but I just had to let you know the news.

As a last resort I rang the doctor’s office at the hospital again today.  A different person answered, took down all the details and assured me she would contact the doctor as soon as possible.  I didn’t hold out much hope and went on with my day.

We were at Bunnings choosing plants for the rock wall when the phone rang.  It was the doctor!!!!!!

He told me he was currently in Melbourne and had not seen the results. There was some mix up because he thought I was operated on in the Private Hospital.  That had been changed to Wollongong Public Hospital as there was no time slot available.  Anyway, he had someone fax through the report and told me what I had was fat necrosis (dead fat in the abdomen caused by chemo treatment).  It is not cancerous, not life threatening and often goes away by itself.  This is what we had suspected all along but it was very pleasing to have confirmation.

So I’m cancer free. Of course, I will have PET scans every three months but I can live with that.  On Monday we are off to Paperbark Camp, a present from the family, to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

Thanks to all who followed my journey and cheered me along the way.  It was the A to Z and its  people that kept me sane over the past few months.

Cheers to everyone. John has opened the champagne!