Paul's Health Updates

A little over 2 weeks into the South Island adventure. Since the last update in Kaiteriteri we have had a bit of weather to deal with …
– The trip from Kaiteriteri to Westport took much longer than planned with the road through the Buller Gorge closed so it was a detour through Reefton.
– In Westport and the surrounds we took in the Seal Colony and Lighthouse and made the stop at the Pancake Rocks on route to Greymouth.
– We spent a couple of nights in Greymouth due to some pretty horrific weather.
– We moved onto Hokitika where we spent a night in a DOC camping ground on Lake Kaniere … and woke to some stunning views.
– From Hokitika we moved to Franz Josef where we arrived in time to get to the Glacier before the weather closed in again.
– We decided to cut a track after a night while the Haast Pass was open (after a reasonably lengthy closure and in advance of another weather system). Despite the weather the road was OK although the effects of the storm and reason for the closure were evident. We were still able to take in a couple of waterfalls and the Blue Pools on route.
– A night at lake Hawea and catching up with a colleague.
– Onto Wanaka where we are currently stationed (having extended our stay here to 3 nights) … the snow started falling soon after arrival and kept falling … the locals tell us the snow line was much lower than the peak of the ski season. It made for spectacular views in the following days, we checked out the town, took a boat trip to see a lake on an island on the lake and took bike ride round the lake … this wasn’t entirely as planned given the height of the river … we forded a couple of sections but when we came to one that was a few feet deep we turned and retreated … all part of the adventure!!!
– Off to Queenstown/Cromwell tomorrow.

Given there will not be any formal health check-ins until December for those that are interested a VERY brief update on our South Island Trip. We are almost a week in. So far the hightlights have included
– a very smooth Cook Straight crossing (that included dolphins),
– a boat trip into the Queen Charlotte Sounds and walking a section of the track,
– a couple of very pleasant camp sites with amazing views at Momorangi Bay and Elaine Bay (although we got blown out of there)
– A coffee and lunch at Mapua with the most amazing outlook
– Catching up with family in Nelson

We are currently in Kaiteriteri waiting for a weather system to hit … but the sun currently out and life is good.

A few photos below

Had my last oncology appointment for a while earlier today … over the phone as we are having one final test run of the new motor home before heading south for 7 weeks. A couple of nights at the lovely Port Jackson, Coromandel …

Not to much to report given it was a phone consult and based on a blood test. CEA levels are up slightly to 16. Plan is to have a scan on our return in early Dec and plan next treatment steps from there.

Given there will be no health updates for a while if I get motivated I’ll post some travel updates from the South Island … we have the ferry booked for Oct 15th.

Having completed 2 cycles of the tablets I have had a scan and oncologist appointment … the news was positive with evidence of the treatment being effective in managing the remaining tumours in the liver.

We have been given the green light to have an extended trip around the South Island so the planning for that can begin in earnest.

Thanks again to all those that continue to faithfully pray for me and the family it is both humbling and really appreciated.

I have completed a round of tablets … they are a 2 week on 1 week off cycle. I experienced no noticeable side effects while taking the tablets which is a blessing.

The blood test following the first round was mixed, the CEA marker was up to 13 from 6.6 … apparently a change in treatments can sometimes cause a spike so it is not necessarily an indication that things are getting worse. The other liver function results were better.

So I have started another round of tablets and have a scan scheduled in 3 weeks to see what’s really going on.