Melbourne visit draws to an end

Helen has now completed her Grand Tour. Two weeks in Mont Albert, two weeks in Northcote and finally a whole month in rehab in Camberwell.
She has done really well with the rehabilitation work - much more physically able than when she went in although of course she still fatigues easily and her capacity varies from day to day. A wonderful array of family and old friends have visited throughout the time including Robin and Mary-Lou, David and Carol, Sally and Lindsay, Jamie and Tiffany and family, Kathy and Tim and family, Julie and Cynthia, Barbara, Margaret, Ramon and Mary, Dorothy, Peta, Laurie, Bryan and Millie, Bill, Carl and Hayley and baby, Margaret H, Nada, Helen and Owen, Alison, several friends of Louis'and mine including Susan and Emma and Gill (and baby) and Siobhan (and baby).
As you can see - quite a social whirl - although less so during the rehab time.
Rehab mainly involved twice a day physiotherapy - sitting and standing, walking and balancing exercises.
Now Helen and I are back in Darwin. Just us here at the moment - Louis is in Brisbane for a while.
We went for review appointments with both oncology and palliative care and both doctors were delighted with her improvements - especially the weight gain (now up to 61kg!). Helen doesn't like this much - particularly as it is centrally focused doe to her steroids and also as this is quite a bit heavier than she ever was as a healthy independent person but the good things about it are: better skin health, more comfortable sitting, reserves for if she is sicker or can't eat and best of all, it is another marker that the cancer is quiescent as it is no longer burning up all the calories she eats plus more (which is what cancers do when they are growing).
Her oncologist says she has "stable disease" as in the chest/lung lesion and pleural effusion are still there but no bigger and there are no new cancer deposits apparent. Next review is booked for mid April with a CT scan and after her birthday on the 2nd of April. Seems quite amazing to think we are expecting to have another birthday - particularly when I reflect on last year's party preparations which included being discharged from hospital with a "top-up" transfusion of 4 units of blood!
In Melbourne we were able to access a number of allied health inputs that weren't possible in Darwin including Vision Australia, ABI Mobility services, neuropsych assessment and inpatient OT and physio.
I might publish a summary of some of their reports in a future blog as some of the information (especially the neuropsych) may be useful for people visiting/interacting with Helen.

Monday 24th January

Helen is still in the Epworth (Room 17 now - on the upper level).
We had planned that she and I would fly back to Darwin together today but unfortunately I have caught some kind of virus so plans have changed and the Melbourne stay extended for another week. Still not quite sure whether she will stay in the Epworth or perhaps with her niece Kathy in the interim but will update when I know what's happening. We have rebooked flights so will travel back to Darwin on Sunday the 30th Jan in the afternoon.

Friday 7th January 2011

Helen is going well - physio, exercise physiologist, dietician, OT, neuropsychologist and social worker have all been in to see her!
On week days she will have 30 minutes of physio at ~10 and 2 pm and one session some time on Saturday. Sunday is a day off. I will leave Melbourne this afternoon and I think Louis plans to be away Mon to Wed net week. There is a possibility Dorothy will visit Helen this afternoon which she is very excited about.

New Room and phone number

Okay - so - Helen has moved to Room 5 at the Epworth Rehab in Camberwell. Much closer to the nurses' station, bigger, has access onto the courtyard and best of all the door and the bedside table on on her right meaning she can see a little of them!
Her new room is still on the Lower Level of 888 Toorak Rd Camberwell and is room number 5. The phone in the room is 03 9805 4204.
This morning she has been supervised and supported in self showering and self dressing (pretty tiring), been to physio and begun a neuropsych assessment process. Now she is having a little rest before some more physio exercise in the afternoon.
I am staying around the corner untill mid-Friday when I will fly back up to Darwin for a week and do a little work as well as see Douglas and the dogs. Louis is still in Melbourne - at the Nothcote house until the 9th. I intend to come back down ~ 14th -15th and at this stage Helen's admission has been slightly extended to go until the 23rd or 24th January.
I don't think much happens around the hospital on weekends so it would be great if people still visit her there as she does feel a little lonely and nervous being in a "place".
We are not 100% sure what will happen from the 24th so will keep you posted as this evolves.

Tuesday 4th January 2011

Helen is in Room 28 at the Epworth Rehab Hospital at 888 Toorak Rd Camberwell until 17th January. Her room phone at the moment is 03 9805 4232 but I think there is a possibility they will move her room in the next day or so so that she is closer to the nurses' station. This afternoon she is going to check out the gym with the physio who seems very lovely.
I am staying with a friend nearby at the moment so I can pop in regularly and Louis is having a few days off but will be back on deck soon. Many thanks to all those lovely people who have sent her/us New Years and Xmas greetings.
More news to come soon.