Happy 2024!

Annual leave has rapidly slipped from my grasp and I’m preparing today to head back to work (this involves: ironing, cleaning shoes, checking emails and finding my ID tag). I have a new batch of Grads starting tomorrow – so it’s a very exciting time! I’ve had a lovely 3 weeks off with a low key family Christmas and a quiet New Year’s Eve with friends. We’ve had some crazy weather here: rain, humidity, cold weather and now hot weather (with humidity) – but it seems many parts of Australia have had something similar.

As 2023 drew to a close, many commented to us we’d be glad to see the end of 2023: “Bet you’re glad…what a dreadful year…2024 will be better…” you get the drift. As the new year approached, the three of us reflected that actually 2023 was pretty good all things considered!

Some good things that happened in 2023:

No pain for Rod – Rod’s immunotherapy treatment commenced in January last year and it’s been a game changer. He’s not had any pain or vomiting, no days off work, he’s back to his healthy weight and is just basically back to his normal self. After 8 years of on and off unexplainable symptoms the treatment is really improving his (and our) quality of life.

Couples Counselling –  Another game changer. We entered this as friends and parents wanting to improve our communication skills and left as connected partners, with a greater consideration for each other’s formative years and how those years had impacted our reactions to each other. It was an eye opener and we highly recommend this to anyone who might need a little refresh in their relationships.

Phillip’s 80^th – This was a lovely family event with warmth and joy, bringing together extended family and friends. It was great for Mum and Dad to feel the love as they’d had quite a disrupted year due to the Rochester floods. I think it was the pivotal moment for Rod and I to realise that we actually like each other quite a bit, so the day after the party we decided to give our relationship another go.

Thailand – Say no more – you probably read my blog. We loved every minute. 5 stars – highly recommend.

Kids – Jess and Hamish are always a highlight of our lives. They are kind and funny and clever and we love them dearly.

Enough of 2023, you know how things went after August.

This month in Meladrama Land everything has continued to go smoothly. Officially nothing to report on the CT scan, bloods are fine, treatment went off last week without a hitch (at half speed, with a couple of boring pre-meds: loratadine and Panadol) and no side-effects. I am 4 down with 9 to go.

Rod and I have mapped out treatments between now and the end of the year so we can work on a date to book flights to Turkiye (our first stop) – so that is super exciting and now my (oops, our…) travel planning project has commenced. Some travel insurance frustrations (because no-one wants to insure 2 x stage 4 cancer patients) – the one that will cover us, won’t cover us for cancer-related issues, but will cover off on all other travel-related issues, delays, lost baggage and potential injuries. It’s a risk V reward situation which we’ve weighed up.

My NZ bike challenge is fast approaching and I’ve been riding my bike as often as I can during the past 3 weeks AND I’ve even ridden up a hill! Amazing. We have booked flights and leave Melbourne on February 28 and return March 7 (just in time for treatment number 6!). Our fundraising is steadily increasing and I have redirected funds that were sent to the general Melanoma Patients of Australia page and back to my own. Our team has raised $2300 through online donations so far – thank you to those who have donated. I really really appreciate it.

Our other fundraising has included:

Silly Socks – $1800 (thanks to Michelle F, Dad and Trudi who have also been selling socks for me!)

Cycology Bike Gear – if it all sells – $1000

Bunnings BBQ – $800 (thanks to Rod, Michelle K, Pip, Hamish, Hayley, Maddi and Greg for working yesterday in the heat and humidity!)

Wine Fundraiser – to be commenced

MPA sets the target of $3000 per person, which is $9000 for our team. It’s a big challenge (more challenging than the bike ride!) but we’re getting closer and closer. Hopefully we sell lots of wine to our healthcare colleagues and their families in the next few weeks…

I’ve dropped the link in below for those of you still wanting to donate online; honestly, any amount is fine!

https://melanoma-patients-australia-nz-cycle-challenge.raisely.com/belinda-dunbar

That’ll do for this month. Thank you for your continued messages of love and support and just generally checking in with me.

Much love,

Bel