6 Hours , 6 Years later… July 2017 to July 2023

18^th of July 2017

A difficult day never to forget. On the 18^th of July 2017 following my stem cell transplant the previous week this happened

“I had 6 hours of conscious life left, that is beyond any personal terminal diagnosis ever. I wanted to make two calls only, my Mum and Anita. My Mum was in 24/7 advanced care for Vascular Dementia and if she had a window of clarity the news would have dire effects. So I waited till 9:30am and made my only call. Anita. She was shocked and asked what I thought, the answer was typically me “I’m gonna beat this honey” and that was it”

The article was extremely difficult to write back then, I had hours to live at which point the palliative care would be increase to a coma level with zero recovery and death within 72 hours.

I had confronted and made peace with God and I was ready to face heaven or hell but a last chance had appeared from somewhere deep inside, an absolute need to continue this enduring battle, a do or die situation. I opted for the “Do” but I was ready to die. I had no remorse and few regrets just like the song “My Way” I had indeed lived a life that was full…

Six years later and I am still here. Even though financially I am in trouble my quality of life is great, I get up early everyday and make the best of what I have. Even dream of winning a few Euros in the Lotto just like millions of others. At 61 I am starting to really look my age, the battle scars and the continued health issues have taken a chunk of body and soul.

But today is a milestone and not a tombstone.

Even with the current medical issues I still enjoy my quality of life I have energy to burn off every day. I can get hit with fatigue especially following IVIG but once it hits I just let it run its course.

Looking back to that day feels strange, I was falling in and out of consciousness for days and I had walked through the Valley of the shadow of death and crawled back. I have both the physical and mental scars to prove it. At deaths door is a situation that very few experience but once there and knowing that I had no regrets in life I had knocked on that door but for some reason I was spared.

Over the past 6 years via these articles I have been able to help a lot of people, and I continue to do so. My close friend Terry Green who was diagnosed with one of the most aggressive forms of Sarcoma and given 3 months to live 18 months ago continues his battle and has done what is medically seen as the impossible, but “The Impossible Dream” for people like Terry and Myself is a way of life. We look at the issues presented and become strong not just mentally but physically. Battling terminal cancer comes with a price and part of your soul. The rollercoaster effect of treatment is a challenge especially the dips. For people looking at us particular on the downhill slopes they think there is little hope but there is and our strength and determination is what makes us stronger

I stopped updating Terry’s article in May as his chemotherapy has been changed, Terry and myself agreed to give this new part of his war a chance to progress before making the whole situation public. The details of the this new approach are very detailed and very private but we will resume the post soon.

Life is a rollercoaster to be sure.

Back to the here and now. 6 years 2,195 days in total. And so much has happened in that space of time. My treasured Mum passed away 5 years ago, we have moved house 3 times (not including AirBNB while awaiting our current house, which was another 3 moves from West Kerry to North Cork and South Kerry), I gained employment in 2018 only to lose it to Covid in 2020, thanks to a short sighted employer. I’ve beaten Covid in April 2020, narrowly escaped a relapse in 2022, turned 60 in June 2022, lost our little Pom to a virus in 2022 and got adopted by a Jack Russell in 2022. But I have beaten everything that life can throw at me and enjoy the waking hours. Even now with another question over my health I am active and can’t stay still. Bring it on and I will tackle whatever comes in a direct ruthless manner.

Did I mention winning the Lotto…. But the lotto I have won is the lotto of life itself, we can all dream of winning money, its what really helps. My own biggest win was €500 5 years ago, it felt magic. Wouldn’t it be nice to win.

But it would be hard to beat the Impossible Dream that I commenced in 2014.