Circular letter 2 (februari 2002)

Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 20:19:46 +0100 To:  From: dulfer@xs4all.nl Subject: circular letter 2 Dear friends, Greetings from Amersfoort. Due to Lucie’s health problems (explained below) our second circular letter can only be sent now. Let me first briefly describe the health situation of both of us. Gerard: From our first circular letter you may remember that on the 11th of January - after a blood check - I was unexpectedly called to enter hospital with a serious form of multiple myeloma (Kahler’s disease). The same day I was given a first blood treatment (plasmaferese). After several investigations I was admitted to a new chemotherapy treatment programme consisting of several parts spread over a period of 5-6 months. It includes a phase during which stem cells from my blood are collected and reintroduced after a final, drastic chemotherapy treatment. The new element of the programme is the use of the (additional) drug thalidomide. The first chemotherapy treatment was from 23 to 26 January. I underwent this first treatment without much trouble and could return home on Saturday evening 26 January. However, on Tuesday 29 January I had to be taken to hospital again, because I was suffering from a serious form of non-functioning bowels (paralytic illeus). The problem seems to have been caused by the combination of follow-up drugs I had to take after the first treatment. The recovery process was cumbersome and very slow. I could only return home recently, on the 21st of February. Because my physical condition went down considerably (I lost 12 kg body weight!), the next chemotherapy treatment has been postponed for about two weeks to allow me to regain some strength. On the positive side, blood tests have shown that the first treatment had the effect the doctors (and we) hoped for.  Lucie: As you may remember, Lucie stayed in the surgical unit of the same hospital in the period 8-15 January, because she suffered from a very serious inflammation of the colon. When the inflammation seemed under control she was allowed to go home. An appointment was made for further, internal investigations (sigmoidoscopy) in the third week of February. However, in the beginning of February she started having problems with her colon again and had to be readmitted to hospital on the 11th. The next day she underwent a surgical operation to make a temporary (?) artificial outlet for her colon (stoma). Samples were taken from the inflamed parts of her colon. It turns out the underlying cause is a serious form of cancer. Later this week we hope to receive more information about possible treatment. Yesterday (23 February), Lucie came home as well as.  So we are now both at home for recovery and preparing ourselves for our next treatment. As you will understand these events have drastically changed our lives and the ideas and plans that we had for our pension period. The list of activities we had planned individually, together, and with our children and grandchildren, looks very different now and much shorter. The last two months with all its unexpected events and complications have taught us to look ahead several days only. We try to live by-the-day. We enjoy the moments that we are together and the visits of members of our family. We ‘count our blessings’.  We are very grateful for the many letters, postcards and emails that we receive from family and friends in The Netherlands and elsewhere. So many signs of love and friendship from all around the world. We sincerely apologise for not being able to respond to each of you personally. The sheer multitude of your reactions to our first mail in combination with our limited physical strength, make it necessary to resort to the impersonal use of a circular letter. Please be assured that we are very thankful for your personal messages. We are encouraged and strengthened by knowing that your thoughts and prayers are with us. Warm greetings and love, Gerard and Lucie -------------------------------------------------- Gerard en Lucie Dulfer - Luijendijk Sint Andriesstraat 18 3811 HT Amersfoort The Netherlands  Tel. + 31 33 479 99 50 Email: dulfer@xs4all.nl