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A Power Within Available via here
http://susiehemingway.com/books/
Fifty Poems of Love by Susie Hemingway.
Wishing You A Very Happy New Year
Wishing all that visit my blog "A Very Happy And Peaceful New Year" It is tough for me to say goodbye to 2009, as it has been more comfortable than the past two years for Hamada with no chemotherapy during this year and I hate to wish the days away, but we must look forward with strength and hope to a new year Thank you all for your most generous and comforting comments and good wishes throughout the year. We had a wonderful Christmas with our family staying with son Jo and Laura in the Chilterns and visiting friends and family. Hamada was most content and enjoyed very much this festive time. Now safely home again we shall look forward to 2010 wishing all those facing their own personal battles, hope, courage and a peaceful time.
Available To Purchase Here.
“A Power Within – Poems Of Love†Anthology of fifty poems selling world-wide and available to purchase here.
http://susiehemingway.com/books/
Proceeds to Multiple Myeloma.
“A Power Within – Poems Of Love.
Fifty poems of Love now available to purchase: Link Here
http://susiehemingway.com/books All prices include P&P
A Power Within Now Available to Purchase On-Line
Link here http://susiehemingway.com/books/ to purchase this richly designed poetry anthology filled with Poems of Love in diary form. More than one hundred pages telling ‘our story’
How Exciting.
Later this month my poems are to be published in a book called “A Power Within†It is pleasing to see more than fifty of these poems of love, all together in this beautiful book with it’s rich coloured cover-not I might add, the beautiful photo I leave here for your delight today-and 105 pages, which would look beautiful adorning any coffee table. I am thrilled with the result of the proof and with the superb layout done by Matt Rutherford of www.mattrutherford.com thank you Matt. More news on the release date will be here later this month.
~Sunset Photo courtesy of Colin Brown – All Rights Reserved~
It Shines For You – Susie Hemingway
Silver shimmering crest of light
that shines and glistens on special nights
but only seen by those who love,
for those who notice this moon above
fluorescing glow of softest light
that shines on waves in rolling flight,
this secret candescent light that holds
a special place in lover’s souls,
when the flotsam of life is tearing at you
lift your head and see this view.
When life’s foreboding ways do seek
to sometime knock you off your feet
take your dreams and shake them loose
never stumble for you will see
this shining luminosity of moonlight free,
for on these magic nights of love
that glow for lovers from above
especially for those entwined souls
for secrets between them never told
tilt your head to gaze above
to see this gemlike moon of love…
This poem is dedicated to Sally and Maurice. October 2009
Copyright @ Susie Hemingway 2009
Photo courtesy of Sally Leeves
As Days Pass – Living with Multiple Myeloma
As friendships and knowledge builds with other Myeloma sufferers, it is easy to understand that this Cancer unfolds so differently for each patient. With a huge variation in symptoms, it appears such a diverse disease that seems to stumble on the weakest organs making it’s own unique way of attack. For some MM sufferers the damage unfolds with lower back trouble or in long limb fractures or breaks. I know that a neck fracture was the first sign for a friend that something terrible was wrong and then much later a diagnosis of MM was made. How differently this disease shows it’s signs in each patient.
For Hamada it was kidney failure that came out of the blue with no signal at all that anything was amiss, just an unusual feeling of tiredness. For sure it is so important to get an early diagnosis before the myeloma does serious damage to vital organs but how many of us get regular blood CBC’s? very few I would imagine in the UK. Unless like Hamada who did contract work at times and needed good health checks for insurance travelling abroad etc. In many cases this disease could and does go unnoticed for many months, so the damage is already done. Although Hamada succumbed to MM he was in one way, very lucky to have had an early diagnosis as we believe that having had a blood test only six months before the very one that picked-up his kidney failure, certainly played a great part in getting him to this now, three years six months point. Early diagnosis I believe, is paramount and vital, we all know that the damage done by Myeloma cannot be reversed but it can be brought under control. Still with good care it is important to stress, many patients are now living long and productive lives.
Hamada was immediately prescribed a vast array of maintenance drugs from day one. Including some to protect as much as possible, his bones and the lining of his stomach and gut etc. It is so important to keep regularly to the times of taking these drugs and injections, not missing out or delaying in the filling of prescription etc. Good continuous management of drug awareness, taking as much care with infections, avoiding places and people with colds or worse still flu.
Diet is vital to the success of a longer life. Good tasty meals that contain a good variety, covering all vitamins and minerals and for some little and often is the rule. In the case of Kidney damage, eliminating salt and potassium and increasing liquid intake to a reasonable two litre per day amount, has helped Hamada greatly. I know that there are many MM sufferers who still enjoy a glass of wine, and why not? But if the kidneys are affected not really a wise move, the rule always being, water is best. Hamada now has 15% kidney function when at diagnosis he had only 6%. A great improvement that has kept him from dialysis.
The very difficult part is that Hamada’s Para Protein-an important marker and indicator in the activity of the cancer- is rising once again, and the decision will have to be made shortly, with regards to the next chemotherapy regime for him, possibly Velcade. Whether he is really strong enough to try again with more chemotherapy and if this is the right drug of choice at a time, when he is enjoying a quiet but steady pace of life, is a most difficult decision to arrive at. The damage from this drug would certainly be detrimental to parts of his poor quality blood, which although not getting much worse, is not improving either but could bring down the para-protein and such, help to eliminate further damage to his bones and organs.
We think the New Year 2010 will bring the answers to these decisions, Hamada has achieved so much and done so well we feel, for someone given a prognosis of only six months at outset . He continues bravely and without complaint about anything, a great lesson to us all I feel. So steadfastly we make the most of each and every day with love and the best possible care we can manage. We sincerely wish all our friends in the world of Myeloma (sadly there are many) peace and hope, a decent quality of life and the very best care possible from your providers but most of all, love and kindness from your carers .
I Carry Thee –by Susie Hemingway.
I carry thee like the heavy rain drenched leaves cover the precious plants
I carry thee like the mother with soft-fleshed babe in arms
I carry thee on heavy days, when limbs are tired but heart is willing
I carry thee.
I think for you on difficult days when drug filled mind is fuddled and quiet
I think ahead for you with heavy heart filled with anxious thoughts of decisions that must be made
I think of you when struggles to move are hard and bones make creaks and eyes are dulled
I think of you.
I watch for you, I listen to your breathing, when night has fallen and stillness comes
I watch for you with hope you never stumble or fall
I watch for you to make that kiss you love, entirely right at night
I watch for you.
I dream for you that days will pass pain free and be filled with God’s blessings
I dream for you when watching Autumn leaves fall as trees again show their tangled limbs.
I dream for you that you will see the Summer sun, rise across the pastures green once more
I carry thee….
@ Copyright 2009
Ready For The Cyber-Ball At “Willow Manor”
I have taken my beautiful “Borgo degli Ulivil†sparkling grey dancing shoes, from their satin lined box, my soft grey “YSL“ velvet evening purse from it’s silken drawstring pouch. I have fixed my long tresses, in a more elaborate style. Drenched myself in Coco Chanel and slipped into my twinkling jet encrusted long “Dior†gown. I have brought all my diamonds from the safe for this is indeed, a special occasion!
So here I am, the journey was uneventful, my elderly Rolls purred along the English countryside to our dear little airfield. The flight across the pond was smooth, fast and over in what seemed like a mere moment or two, my pilot for the evening trip is my dear friend Richard Branson.
I am at the “Willow Manor Ball†waiting now for charming Al Pacino to lead me to the dance floor for the first tango, and then whoever is able to dance with style and passion would be most welcome. Perhaps that charming Skip Simpson, I think he is taken with that pretty Cameron something or other. Or could it be my old friend Omar, he is a tad tired these days but still likes to dance and such a one for the scintillating conversation that I love, when of course he can bear to leave the poker table. We have had some wonderful games of backgammon over the years in his charming apartment overlooking the Nile near Cairo
How wonderful that I am attending the Cyber ball at “Willow Manor†Such fun we are all having, with wonderful Beluga Caviar on the daintiest of Blinis with just a glass or two of Vintage, Dom Perignon bubbles.
The orchestra is playing all the old dance numbers from many shows I can recall, my feet are yearning to dance, could that be Mr Astaire over there? I am thrilled my dance card is full to the brim! How simply wonderful the hostess looks and all these terribly handsome men over there, surrounding Marilyn Monroe. What a party this is turning out to be, here at “Willow Manorâ€
The Manor I must say looks amazing, with much crystal reflecting their acting prisms of lights on the most beautiful rich brown mahogany floors. The flunkies are everywhere with trays of the most delicious canapés. The smell of the huge vases of Lilies and Red Roses are overpowering – so reminding me of my poem “Lilies†– and that truly wonderful place years ago… but I digress, no more of that.
I am here to enjoy this evening to the full and I have noticed some admiring glances from several of the more mature men! I think I recognizes dear Paul Newman and is that not the charming young cove Johnny Depp? and can I see our dear old Richard Burton chatting away to Dame Helen Mirren, yes I’m right, just behind that marble pillar next to Eric Clapton and his friend, the handsome dark haired man from Santana. I believe they are playing later tonight. I shall look forward to that.
What a splendid array of guests, pulling dreams and memories from my mind, how charming they all are. We might have a salsa or two later, there are some very swarthy slim young men here. I heard a very beautiful redhead mention that the wicked Lord Byron is also at Willow Manor tonight! I will work my way around the room later and enquire after his health.
I can see John Lennon in deep conversation with dear Luther, ahh now will he be singing I wonder? then my evening will be complete. Umm, those lush deep tones of blues and soul, I can hear a sax playing in the ball room “ Heaven I’m in heaven†da da da la la la la… de da da dee…†when I’m out together dancing cheek to cheek.â€
We shall be going into dinner soon, I am almost overwhelmed, as our superb hostess has informed me, I am to be sitting between dear Tony Bennett and Robert Redford and opposite the young and very handsome Elvis Presley, whom I understand is to be singing later. Oh what fun we are all having !!!.
The evening is young, alas I am not, but still…it is a delight, full of dreams for everyone who attended the enchanting “Manor Ball†A flight of the imagination perhaps…..?
This beautiful grey rose in velvet box has just been presented to me from an admirer
![013%20Chrome%20Rose[1]](http://susiehemingway.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/01320Chrome20Rose1.jpg "013%20Chrome%20Rose[1]")
Thank you J. Johnson how kind you are and
thank you to the charming and beautiful hostess Willow, at YES! the “ Ball Of The Year†see:
http://www.willowmanor.blogspot.com
Update from Willow Manor 14.10.2009