Today would have been Andy’s birthday.

I don’t want to wallow in sadness because that’s not what Andy would have wanted. Instead I want to highlight a few things that he influenced. So today, if you find yourself thinking about Andy, think about these things:

Carol Jarvis’ solo album is on pre-order at Amazon and you can order it here. Carol plays trombone wonderfully, and from a brief conversation with her I know that Andy changed instruments in a brass band so that she could take over, and encouraged and mentored her. She is donating the profits to MacMillan Cancer Support.

Stuart Pendred has been one of Andy’s mates since childhood. He’s now a hugely accomplished singer (yes, you are Stu…) and will be the baritone soloist at a performance of Brahms’ A German Requiem on Saturday 20th March 2010 at St Paul’s, Onslow Square, London. Find out more here.

Stu is also involved in running for Andy’s Angels who will be running again in 2010 in aid of the Bone Cancer Research Trust. The first race they’re hoping to compete in is the Oxford Town & Gown 10k on 16th May 2010. Find out more about entry here. I believe that the team are hoping to compete in more races during the year.

The BCRT was a cause that Andy was devoted to, partly because so little is known about Bone Cancer. At the time of writing over £5,400 has been committed in donations towards the £10,000 target that he had set himself to raise. If you want to donate or sponsor the runners, please do so here.

My own family, MrsG-T, MiniG-T, MicroG-T and even BabeG-T had all met Andy and all were touched by the great example that he showed of dealing with life and its ups and downs.

And finally, think about Andy’s amazing family – his wife, three daughters, son, sister, brother-in-law and nephew. They’ve handled the changes in the last couple of years with tremendous dignity, great humour and been unfailingly lovely. As a family we’ve hugely enjoyed spending time with them all.

Guys, I think you’re all great. Thanks for being a great tribute to our shared memory of Andy Greig.

Happy birthday Pal!

Over the last year I’ve found that I’m a lot less anxious to buy new equipment and it’s not just because our normal three-bedroom terraced house is surprisingly full.

I think it’s partly because I have pieces of equipment that I either don’t use, or don’t use to anything like their capacity. My iPhone 3G is probably the one thing that I really use to something approaching it’s functional abilities!

So, my decision, my new year resolution if you will, is to use the stuff I have in a more efficient way. and to get rid of things that I can’t or won’t use. I need to include the whole house including the loft and the garage.

I have too many computers, too many audio systems, too many printers, too many books and too many magazines. And that’s just the stuff that I know I have!

The plan is to rationalise, to work out what I want to achieve in our home, and then configure the equipment that I have to make it happen. The rest of the stuff will be disappearing, hopefully not into landfill but somewhere where someone else can make use of it.

If you know that you can use some of my stuff for a useful purpose, please contact me here. Write and let me know what you would use the thing(s) for, how much you can afford to pay and I’ll send the goods to you. Any proceeds are going to Andy’s Angels, so please try to at least cover the cost of mailing.

To kick things off I have a blue and white Mac G3 tower with a built-in ZIP drive, and an HP Laserjet 4L printer with some spare cartridges. I’ll work out a better way of posting items up for grabs in the near future!

I’d also like to share with the readers of this blog where the stuff went and how it’s being used now, if that’s OK with the recipients.

It’ll be interesting to see where all my excess stuff ends up and what it ends up doing.

The results of the last tests were not particularly positive and the Professor was ready to put Andy onto a course of Interferon.

However, the local Health Authority have refused to fund this drug (despite it being comparitively cheap) and, although at least one person has offered to fund it privately, this would appear to bar Andy from any free treatment in future. Doesn’t that sort of thing just make you throw your hands up in sheer frustration?

Anyway, here’s the latest update from Andy:

“Out of the blue on Monday I was called to be offered a place on a drugs trial. So tomorrow it’s back to the [hospital] for a day of testing: blood, heart psychological and a CT scan. If I pass the tests then I get in and the trial starts next Wednesday. I’ll spend Wednesday and Thursday inside and come home at lunchtime on Friday. That’s while they do 2 x 12 hour observations and blood testing and a final 3-4 hours on the Friday. Then the rest is at home. It’s tablet-based so no extra needles or drips. Then I have to attend a weekly clinic for more blood tests for the first 6 weeks, then 3 weekly. I’m scanned after 6 – 8 weeks and if there’s any change in the tumours for the better then it continues. If there’s no change then that’s the end of the trial for me.
The trial is to determine the effect of an existing, approved tumour-busting drug, Tarceva (Erlotinib) when taken with a new, unlicensed drug so far called OSI-906. Bottom line is that I get access to a course of Tarceva that I wouldn’t normally get access to (in the same vein as the Interferon thing). With any luck the Tarceva alone will stop or reduce the tumours I have. With more luck the new drug will do the same.
So, I’m asking that you start your prayer thing for me, firstly for tomorrow, that I pass the tests and am accepted onto the trial. Then, after that, for my safety during the trial and that the drugs will have a significant effect on my tumours.
This is suddenly a light at the end of the tunnel and I so much want it to go well and actually work.“
Please continue to pray for Andy and his wife and family who are coping incredibly well through this whole situation. I know that your care, even in just finding an odd few seconds in your day to remember them to God, is very much appreciated.

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 ]

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!

Also, please pray for his hair to grow back as ginger dreadlocks. This is a special prayer request from Stuart…

• 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.