THE COLES CONNECTION
Volume 5, Issue 12
News For the Residents of Coles Crossing
December 2011
Thanks for your Blood!
We flew across the pond eight years ago and landed on our feet here in Coles Crossing. After eight wonderful years in the neighborhood, we thought life couldn’t get any better. Until we needed blood that is. At a routine appointment in March, my husband Mike was told by his doctor he looked pale and was asked to have his blood work checked. Within a week and a biopsy, we had confirmed results of Leukemia. We were floored by the news but more shocked to find out Mike would be spending a month in a Protective Environment at MD Anderson. Well, why would we be this close to the most reputable hospital on the planet for cancer treatment and research, and not make the 40 minute journey. So we did. The downside however, was who would look after our 7 year old daughter, two Labrador Retrievers and one tropical fish? Our fears were answered by the stream of neighbors with open arms and hearts. We were choked and speechless by all that they did for us. At the end of the month we came home to a procession of yellow ribbons on mail boxes, trees and gates. Two weeks later I took Mike to MDA with a severe headache. He was diagnosed within days with a Glio Blastoma brain tumor. His MDA doctors were as surprised as we were. The danger of the surgery post chemotherapy drugs and neutropenia blood numbers was high but Mike sailed through it. Meanwhile, our wonderful Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
neighbors handled everything at home. As soon as Mike recovered, his Leukemia professor recommended 4-5 more chemotherapy treatments. He described Leukemia like a boxing match. First you knock down your opponent but you don’t wait for him to get back up angry and fierce; you keep knocking him down until he doesn’t rear his ugly head again. Each time, Mike would require blood and platelet transfusions. One Friday there was a shortage and Mike was asked to come home, be careful all weekend and only come in if there was an emergency for blood transfusion. On the Sunday afternoon he bit his tongue and that was eventful enough. This was when Shannon Hascall decided to coordinate a blood drive in Mike’s honor. On October 11th, lots of our neighbors turned up to donate blood and it was a great success! How can life get any better? Cancer-free for one but the experience could have been much worse without this support. We could not be more thankful, grateful and appreciative of our neighbors in Coles Crossing……and especially to Shannon for organizing the blood-drive. Maxine, Mike & Megan Aitkenhead Ceilidh, Rosie and Kipper too! (More Pictures on Page 8) Coles Crossing - The Coles Connection - December 2011
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