Where to start...
We went out last night. We asked Raja the taxi driver to take us somewhere for dinner. So he picked us up in his little car, slinging my wheelchair on the roof and off we went.
Now, the hotel is down a side street. I was still really tired yesterday so didn't want to go too far. It was very quiet and so we were convinced that Bangalore was closed for Sunday.
How wrong we were..
Bangalore is a hustling bustling city full of Western shops and sparkling lights. We drove past a Costa and a Card Factory! Krispy Kreme donuts and all the usuals like Mc Donalds and Kentucky.
I know people had told me that Bangalore was a modern city but I wasn't expecting a Card Factory..
8pm on a Sunday night it was alive. People were out shopping in the copious amounts of shops selling their goods and youngsters were milling around chatting.
The cars are still bumper to bumper and drivers are tooting their horns.
I'd love to be able to walk around but the pavements look as though they'd be at home in war torn Beirut and Bangalore makes no concessions for disabled people.
So we arrive at this building and Raja points "up there".
My face must have visibly dropped because he quickly tells me that there's a lift.
Yeah right! After you've gone up a very steep set of 8 steps.
To my horror they bring out some wooden hand made contraption that turns the steps in to a very steep slope. Very steep...
I'm looking at my parents with sheer terror on my face because I know a million people are going to come swarming in to try and get me up this make shift ramp.
They're shouting at each other and gesturing and I want to curl up and die...
But, they do it and I make it in to the lift in one piece and wheel in to - a mexican restaurant that sells Fish and Chips. Only in Bangalore..
So Monday I went back to the hospital to see their pulmonary Dr to make sure my lungs are up to the Bone Marrow Transplant.
We all march in and take a seat.
The Dr looks at me, a young fella and says,
" So, you're here to see if you are fit enough to have surgery for your Mitral Stenosis"
Err, no. I'm not and I ask if there is a problem with my echo or ECG. My heart sinks and I'm a bit confused. I'm not thinking, shit! I've got a problem with my heart, I'm calculating and wondering how much this is all going to cost!
He says let me check all your notes and he is surprised the Cardiologist hasn't told me. Not as surprised as me!
He looks a bit perplexed that he is left to deliver such devastating news.
He looks at the notes and says,
" I'm so sorry, I saw MS and thought it meant Mitral Stenosis"
Laugh? It was so funny, bless him!
So the upshot is, I'm fit enough to start the regime!!
On Tues 27th August I'm going for an MRI at 11 of brain and spine. I'm glad of this because in the UK they'll only do brain for some reason.
At 1pm I'm being admitted overnight for my first 2 doses of chemo. I think I will then start on the injections that stimulate the production of stem cells...
I'll update once I'm out of hospital tomorrow.
After surgery for my Mitral Stenosis!!!
We went out last night. We asked Raja the taxi driver to take us somewhere for dinner. So he picked us up in his little car, slinging my wheelchair on the roof and off we went.
Now, the hotel is down a side street. I was still really tired yesterday so didn't want to go too far. It was very quiet and so we were convinced that Bangalore was closed for Sunday.
How wrong we were..
Bangalore is a hustling bustling city full of Western shops and sparkling lights. We drove past a Costa and a Card Factory! Krispy Kreme donuts and all the usuals like Mc Donalds and Kentucky.
I know people had told me that Bangalore was a modern city but I wasn't expecting a Card Factory..
8pm on a Sunday night it was alive. People were out shopping in the copious amounts of shops selling their goods and youngsters were milling around chatting.
The cars are still bumper to bumper and drivers are tooting their horns.
I'd love to be able to walk around but the pavements look as though they'd be at home in war torn Beirut and Bangalore makes no concessions for disabled people.
So we arrive at this building and Raja points "up there".
My face must have visibly dropped because he quickly tells me that there's a lift.
Yeah right! After you've gone up a very steep set of 8 steps.
To my horror they bring out some wooden hand made contraption that turns the steps in to a very steep slope. Very steep...
I'm looking at my parents with sheer terror on my face because I know a million people are going to come swarming in to try and get me up this make shift ramp.
They're shouting at each other and gesturing and I want to curl up and die...
But, they do it and I make it in to the lift in one piece and wheel in to - a mexican restaurant that sells Fish and Chips. Only in Bangalore..
So Monday I went back to the hospital to see their pulmonary Dr to make sure my lungs are up to the Bone Marrow Transplant.
We all march in and take a seat.
The Dr looks at me, a young fella and says,
" So, you're here to see if you are fit enough to have surgery for your Mitral Stenosis"
Err, no. I'm not and I ask if there is a problem with my echo or ECG. My heart sinks and I'm a bit confused. I'm not thinking, shit! I've got a problem with my heart, I'm calculating and wondering how much this is all going to cost!
He says let me check all your notes and he is surprised the Cardiologist hasn't told me. Not as surprised as me!
He looks a bit perplexed that he is left to deliver such devastating news.
He looks at the notes and says,
" I'm so sorry, I saw MS and thought it meant Mitral Stenosis"
Laugh? It was so funny, bless him!
So the upshot is, I'm fit enough to start the regime!!
On Tues 27th August I'm going for an MRI at 11 of brain and spine. I'm glad of this because in the UK they'll only do brain for some reason.
At 1pm I'm being admitted overnight for my first 2 doses of chemo. I think I will then start on the injections that stimulate the production of stem cells...
I'll update once I'm out of hospital tomorrow.
After surgery for my Mitral Stenosis!!!
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