The next few updates about Andy may be sporadic as the G-T family are currently en route to France for a couple of weeks in the sun. Hopefully.
Anyway, Andy goes back into hospital in Oxford tomorrow for the next stage of chemotherapy.
Specific prayer points this time are;
• a single room to be available for the duration.
• the cannulas to be easy to insert and remain viable for the week. Andy has to have one in each hand this time. Keeps the weight balanced for typing… 
• for the drugs and fluids to flow effectively and quickly
• for Sara and the rest of the family as they all support each other.
Thanks again for your prayerful support. I know it’s greatly appreciated!
Whoops – I’m a bit tardy with this update I’ve realised!
Andy got home on Friday morning after a relatively smooth week of treatment.
His last comment to me was that he was going to have a relaxing weekend and wasn’t feeling particularly energetic! Surprise…
This week he’ll be at home with the family. Back into hospital next week.
As an aside, I’ll be out of the country from next Sunday for a couple of weeks and may be unable to update this blog. If anyone else who knows Andy would like to write some updates on here, contact me in the comments section.
As well as praying for Andy (who should be getting home tomorrow if things continue to go well), could you please read the message below from my buddy Dave. If your heart/spirit is moved to do so, please pray:
Yesterday I was in Aberdeen (…and went to…) ARI Childrens hospital on a visit. That was a really sad visit to see my friend’s sister in law and nephew. The little boy is in a very bad way with this sudden onset of very serious epilepsy. It’s actually life threatening and if they can’t stabilise him he’ll have to be transferred to Edinburgh or Glasgow by chopper. Please pray for little Christopher and Annette [ his mum – who’s just got the awful task of standing around watching and waiting. I really felt for her ]
If you’ve been reading this blog for any time at all, or you know me outside of the blogging world, you’ll know that I am a petrol-head. Cars are, and have been for as long as I can remember, my passion. I know stupid facts about ordinary cars and I still devour a range of car magazines when I can.
However, in recent years print magazines have become comparatively expensive (I bought three novels in Asda for 75% of the price of one car magazine) and so my reading has been reluctantly reduced.
Now, some of the guys behind Evo have launched a car website – Drivers-Republic – which is an online magazine about cars. And it’s really good! The photographs are of high quality, they’ve integrated video and there are plenty of forums and information about cars.
I can only assume that it’s funded by the ads as it’s still free to read. If you love cars, get over there, click on the ads and buy some stuff, and enjoy the read.
Things seem to be going fairly smoothly so far. When Andy arrived in hospital they allocated him to a 4-bed ward, but his helpful nurse managed to get him into a sideroom (with extra windows!).
He’s asked for us to pray that the treatment will continue to run smoothly this week. Apparently if all goes well he will be eligible for parole (err, release) on Friday morning at 02:30.
Pray also for Sara if she has to be driving around to collect him at that time of the morning!
Andy’s blood levels have improved enough for the next course of treatment to take place, so he will travel back to Oxford tomorrow (Tuesday). Please see Andy Update #9 for the details of this treatment and the necessary prayer points.
Also, please pray for his hair to grow back as ginger dreadlocks. This is a special prayer request from Stuart… 
Well, this week hasn’t gone at all as expected.
Got a message from Andy last night telling me that he was on his way home from hospital.
Apparently his blood tests showed a low level of neutrophils and so he has to take things easy while his blood gets its levels sorted out.
Please pray for Sara and the children as they wait on him hand and foot…
This week Andy’s cancer is being treated with two drugs as follows:
- Flush – 30 minutes
- Drug 1 – 4 hours
- Hydration – 12 hour bag
- Drug 2 – 4 hour bag
- Hydration – 12 hour bag
- Drug 1 – 4 hours
- Hydration – 12 hour bag
- Drug 2 – 4 hour bag
- Hydration – 12 hour bag
Andy has asked the Professor if the 12 hour bags can be compressed into 8 hour periods, which overall saves 12 hours in the whole process.
The Prof has basically said that if Andy is clearing the drugs adequately he’ll consider it. During the previous cycle he allowed the final bag to be done this way.
The first hydration will have to remain at 12 hours as they use this for assessment.
Cancer cell being attacked by the immune system
After a week at home with the family, Andy goes back into hospital in Oxford this morning for the next stage in his chemotherapy and would obviously value your continued prayers.
This is another day of strong drugs, followed by a few days of getting his levels back to an acceptable level, and he’s hoping to be home again on Friday.
I asked Andy today about specific prayer points for this visit, and he sent these:
1. calmness/peace/peace of mind for me AND Sara
2. that my veins behave themselves and there’s no messing about when they cannulate
3. that said cannula remains viable throughout the treatment
4. that I clear both the drugs in a timely fashion without complications
5. that I get to come home as quickly as possible
6. that the drugs are absolutely as effective as possible and kill off this b****stard disease
7. that post-chemo side-effects are minimal and not too painful
8. that the kids don’t worry too much about me
9. that Sara is safe on her journeys to and from the hospital
10. that all our supporters have the strength to carry on supporting us as brilliantly as they have so far…..
Thanks for supporting Andy through this process. I know your prayers are valued highly!
Remember that Andy’s blog is here and his business website is here.
Please also pray for two of Jo’s friends, one who has been diagnosed with Breast cancer and is having a lumpectomy on Monday, and the other who is waiting for results of tests for possible/probable leukemia.
It is with some happiness that I can tell you Andy is on his way home!
Glucose levels reduced to a high-ish level within the normal range, and once the blood tests came back he was free to go.
Thanks again for praying this week – I know that Andy has really appreciated knowing that there are people supporting him.
He now has a week at home before going back in for the next set of drugs. Please do keep praying for him and the wider family.
Also do check his own blog out at http://grumpyoldgit.org