"The past year, especially since Boxing Day, 2016, has been a hard year to get through at times, yet thanks to the support, strength and prayers of Sheila, family and all my friends I have managed. I left the old year with three cancers in my body and now have one less. Although both my remaining cancers are terminable, they are nevertheless manageable and afford me a quality of life for which I am eternally grateful.
I had my routine blood taken at the clinic yesterday to determine if I needed my routine blood transfusion today; I didn't. In fact, the doctor on the cancer ward indicated that my blood and platelets were currently higher and more favourable than they'd ever been. I had an inkling they were good as I have felt much better this past week than I have felt for well over a year. I was warned however to stay away from all crowded areas and not to mix in the company of more than three or four people due to the fact that I can attract all bugs and illnesses at the drop of a hat because I have no effective immune system working as my neutrophils are way down and dangerously low. This effect is the natural consequence of my medical condition, as well as being the most dangerous that I will have to live with until I die.
Still; overall, my life is extremely good at the moment. I am looking forward to a visit from my son and his partner in a month from Australia, and after (health permitting), Sheila and I will spend nine days holiday in the Cornwall area. Before then I hope to have had a special scan by Bradford Hospital to assess how positive my recent bout of chemotherapy has proved in reducing the size of the cancer nodes in my body.Throughout this entire episode of dealing with various cancers since 2012, my wife Sheila has truly been my rock and most stalwart companion.
Isn't strange how often in life one starts off a relationship with someone who happens to be nothing at all like them in either trait or personality and yet they become the best of buddies, lifelong friends, soul mates, lovers and even man and wife. I must confess that as a 'horse' in the Chinese Astrological Calendar based on the twelve animals, I have always been partial to the 'monkey'. Yes, Sheila was born in the year of the monkey. What I never realised though, was that they were such damn good cooks into the bargain. It's the best of all worlds for any man; like sleeping with Halle Berry and eating with Mary Berry!" William Forde: July 6th, 2017.