Yesterday we were left with a number of questions.
Was Poppa going to be able to hold on?
Was Junior going to be okay during the flight?
What tie should I wear tomorrow?
A nervous night was spent with as many fingers crossed as possible, finger cramps set in disturbing sleep – and that was just me.
The answers to the questions above are contained in the photo below:
Since the last update a lot has happened.
The local branch of shipping company Maersk reached out to Palliverse after reading the NZ Herald article from Sunday. Their can do attitude was much appreciated by us all. Thank you very much.
Thanks also to everyone who has made suggestions, offered advice and wished us well for this mission. It is heartening that people are taking time out of their busy lives to try to help their fellow man. Be proud of yourselves.
Poppa has become extremely fatigued over the past three days which is a big concern to the hospice team and the family. There’s a possibility that time may be shortening, as Poppa’s condition continues to deteriorate.
There has been some good news – Junior has been improving everyday and has been in touch with his specialist again. His risk of further eye injury is now estimated to be low, and because of the uncertain situation that Poppa is in the decision has been made for Junior and other family members to board the earliest flight to Auckland tomorrow.
Poppa has been informed of the travel plans and is looking forward to seeing Junior tomorrow. Poppa is trying his best to hold on.
Fingers and everything else remain crossed. Prayers are being said by many people on both sides of the Tasman.
Good luck Poppa and Junior – I sincerely hope that you can have your reunion.
Join next week’s #PallANZ tweetchat on the topic of “Living Well with Chronic Illness”, the theme of Australia’s National Palliative Care Week (#NPCW16). Anyone with experience of living with life-limiting chronic illness, having a loved one with chronic illness, or working with people with chronic illness, is encouraged to participate. You don’t have to be Australian, and Twitter newbies are welcome!
Ed: Have you been thinking about whether an advance care plan is something you should get around to doing? Perhaps you’re unsure about why it matters? Here, drawing on his caring experience and expertise as a registered Justice of the Peace, Palliverse Contributor Glen Davis muses about the relevance of advance care plans for us all.
If you live in Victoria and would like to know more about advance care plans, The McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer is hosting a community Q&A panel on advance care planning for patients living with serious illnesses at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne tomorrow – Thursday 19 May from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. You can still register for this public forum aimed at providing patients, carers and community members a better understanding of how advance care planning can support better decision-making at the end-of-life.
@AnnaLCollins
We have the option to make plans that guide or direct the decisions made about our health care in the event we are unable in future to make those decisions for ourselves.
Notice this is an option and not an obligation. You do not have to make a plan and it is an offence for somebody to force you to.
First, a few terms. “Advance Care Planning” is the process of consultation, research and decision about what health care decisions are important to you. “Advance Care Directive” is the document recording your decisions.
Photo by Britt Reints, used via creative commons
Driving to work on Saturday morning I listened to RNZ National’s Kim Hill interviewing celebrated Australian novelist Cory Taylor. Cory talked about the experiences that led to her writing her last book, Dying: a Memoir (Text Publishing), while dying of metastatic melanoma with brain metastases. Topics discussed include Euthanasia, Palliative Care, and writing about dying.
Hi everyone,
Apologies for the late update, I’ve been clinically busy while working the weekend.
We – Palliverse and the family of “Poppa” and “Junior” are still trying to find a way to make their reunion happen.
With the family’s permission here is a photo from yesterday morning’s ward round:
“Aloha” from Saturday morning from two guys who are fashion-forward? Poppa is trying to hold on for Junior.
The link to Poppa and Junior’s Story was shared through the social media by myself, the Palliverse community and the family.
I was pleasantly surprised that the link to the post appeared as a headline on Friday 13th May’s edition of the #hpmglobal paper.li – Thank you very much Jim Cleary!
I was informed by the family that one of NZ’s national papers had contact them and they were interviewed last night.
This resulted in the following story appearing this morning:
Snapshot of from the New Zealand Herald website – Click here to read the full story.
I’m checking out a few more traditional media leads in order to spread the word further.
I’m also trying to contact sailing clubs as suggested by others’ helpful comments.
Fingers are still crossed.
Update 18/05/16 1700 NZT:
Poppa is still holding on, but is getting mighty fatigued.
Junior is on the mend which is good to hear.
Since the NZ Herald on Sunday story we have received a number of helpful emails.
Apparently another NZ newspaper has shown interest in running our story.
I’ve emailed a number of NZ radio shows, an Australian newspaper, and whatever else that myself and other people can think of. I’ve started writing a letter to Santa Claus, the tooth fairy and others in the Pantheon.
Received by Palliverse today was an email from one of the major shipping companies with a desire to “try to make it happen.” I have passed on the details to the family to make direct contact.
This is the most promising lead so far.
Fingers crossed to the power of 10! Say your prayers folks.
Ed: We are fortunate to be able to share another piece from Elizabeth Caplice (@hrasvelgveritas). Elizabeth’s writings are an inspiration to all of our team and I’m sure many more people out in the palliverse. It is difficult to genuinely experience a journey you haven’t taken, but Elizabeth’s reflections allow us a moving insight into how it feels to take those steps. On behalf of us all I would like to thank Elizabeth for her reflections on her journey, for her writing and for her self.
I’ve written before here about my time with cancer, and i am starting what i am considering a new part of my path. my body is beginning to tire in a way it hasn’t been in the past. the chemotherapy – relatively gentle – is taking a toll on my body that is harsh and starting to cause me to question my own desire to continue treatment, and i know my liver is no longer managing either the treatment it is receiving now, or the almost two years of treatment, particularly well.
i have been terminally ill for some time, under one definition or another, but the sort of treatment i am seeking now, and the way my body feels now, is changing. i know that i am getting ready to move from my oncology team to my palliative care team, and that i am preparing to begin the process of dying.
Hi everyone,
Situation:
Poppa is my patient. Grandson “Junior” in Sydney unable to fly back to Auckland because of eye injury. Tearful conversation via internet this morning. Two men heartbroken at the thought that they will never be able to hug each other again.
Background:
Poppa very unwell and worsening rapidly, admitted this morning for hospice care.
Family have tried Cruise lines, Courier companies, travel agents to no avail so far.
Assessment:
Re-uniting Poppa with Junior would provide the greatest comfort.
Recommendation:
Spread the word through all available palliative care networks to see if we can #getjnrbak!
It might have to be via sea because of Junior’s eye injury.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Let’s see if we can provide another example of a real world translation from our Palliative Care virtual community of practice.
Cheers,
James
UPDATE 11/05/16 1700 NZT:
Junior’s medical details were obtained with his permission.
Sean Coleman from Air Ambulance NZ has been very helpful, again – Shipping companies contacted – minimum of 4 day trip by ship.
Freighter Travel company contacted.
Suggestions: Make-a-Wish foundation could be approached?
Anyone know any super-rich people with a spare super-yacht?
UPDATE 12/05/16 1100 NZT:
Cruise ship company contacted.
No commercial flight options available. Low cabin pressure private jet would cost at least $30000+ one way.
The search continues, people have been leaving suggestions in the comments section, thanks.
UPDATE 12/05/16 1700 NZT:
I made contact with P&O Cruises and they did not have anything available this year.
Junior’s family are also exploring freighter ship options apparently there is a Brisbane to Auckland ship sailing next week. Hamish from Freighter Travel also told me about the same possibility, he was very helpful.
Poppa remains very unwell.
Fingers crossed.
UPDATE 13/05/16 1400 NZT:
No news on the travel front, but Poppa woke up and was comfortable today!
Fingers double crossed that its the start of a trend.
Ed. Whether it’s the high pitched melody from Tom Petty’s classic; the mellow acoustics of John Mayer’s cover; or that scene from Jerry Maguire – just the idea of free falling can evoke a variety of emotions and sensations in us all.
Here we thank Karen Williamson, a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist from Auckland, for sharing her experience of and reflections on The Zen of Freefall.
This week I jumped out of a plane. From 13,000 feet, I fell for 45 seconds at about 195 kilometres per hour towards the earth before the parachute deployed. And it occurred to me, as I was about to tip out of that small aircraft (with, I’m pleased to say, a skydive master strapped to my back), that maybe, just maybe, this is what it’s like to die. Maybe that is why it’s called terminal velocity.
Hi Giovanni!
Tell us about yourself . What are you doing in Australia?
Hello, my name is Giovanni Galvis. I was born in Caracas-Venezuela. I studied Medicine in Bogota-Colombia. After my graduation I decided to go to Europe. I have always been fascinated with the history and architecture and of course the good level in research and clinical medicine there. I spent some time in Germany but in 2007 I moved to Sweden where I did research in the beginning and then started my specialty in Clinical Oncology. I am doing a placement at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre attending the department of Pain and Palliative Care, the breast clinic and the melanoma clinic.
What is your impression of palliative care and cancer care in Australia? Is it different from that in Sweden? How? Continue reading
palliverse.com 