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Please Support Chris as we battle Cancer together

  • Update: 21 July 2022

      29 August 2022
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    Update: 21 July to 16 August 2022

    Chris is transferred via ambulance from Waikato Hospital to Medical Ward, Rotorua. He had his 1st Chemo Injection on 26 July since having his last shot in April and he coped quite well considering all that he's had to endure these past 3 awful months.

    He was finally moved from the Medical Ward on the 27 July to Rehab where he remained until he was discharged on the 16 August, much to his utter delight🤗

    Arriving home at 5.30pm via ambulance to a welcoming party of 5 including our local GP who stopped when he saw the ambulance pull in.

    Since being home, it has been a very slow process and Chris is still unable to walk or stand unaided and climbing the 3 stairs we have in our home is possible but again very, very slowly. We cannot risk him falling or breaking the good bones he has. Multiple Myeloma attacks the bones and blood, so we are always careful.

    He only has 10% movement in his arm at the moment and the hope is that in time it will improve and the nerves will eventually strengthen.

    The Chemo he is having weekly, plus the Radiation Treatment he had, hopefully will keep the Tumors in his vertebrae from growing or multiplying.

    We still have a long road to hoe, but together we will battle through like we've been doing.

    And as always, from Our Hearts To Yours, we Thank each and every one of you for your Love and Support💜💜

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  • Update: 12 July 2022

      29 August 2022
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    Update: 12 July to 20 July 2022

    Chris has an appointment with his Surgeon today and so as not to be rushing from Murupara to Manukau we travelled to Auckland the day before. Getting into the car that morning was when Chris had his first fall and it all went downhill from there😪

    Dr Dao ordered an x-ray of Chris arm to check that it was still healing well and there were no additional issues other than what he was already experiencing. Chris had his 2nd fall when they attempted to move him from the wheelchair to a seat in front of the x-ray machine.

    Dr Dao was pleased with how his arm was recovering but concerned about the falls he'd had and his inability to stand or walk. From Manukau Dr Dao arranged to have Chris admitted to Rotorua Hospital and for a full MRI, brain to feet to be done on our arrival. The following day we left Auckland bound for Rotorua and arrived at 1pm. We remained in A & E till 9.30pm when he was finally taken to a room in the Medical Ward. Unfortunately they were not able to do the MRI till the following morning and the results were given to us that evening.

    Tumors were found at the top of his vertebrae and were pinching his spinal cord which is why he was unable to stand or walk and also the reason for his falls.

    The following day he was transferred by ambulance to Waikato Hospital to begin 5 days of Radiation Treatment😪

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  • Update: 07 June 2022

      26 August 2022

    We'd been home since 3rd June and it hasn't been as smooth sailing as we had hoped. Chris had been suffering with back pain and initially we thought it was because of the muscle taken out of his back and put into building up the area where the tumor had been removed.

    We had regular home visits from our local GP Dr Conlon and he ordered an x-ray to pin point the back pain that was getting increasingly worse.

    In this time we headed to Hamilton on the 7th June to have a Nerve Conduction done to find out how much alive nerve he had in the operated arm.

    I also noticed how unsteady he was becoming while standing or walking and we put it down to being in hospital for over a month and the major operation he had had only a month earlier.

    On the 14th June we headed to an appointment with his Surgeon Dr Dao at Super Clinic in Manukau. The plastic surgeon who also saw him was pleased with how his arm was healing, so much so that he arranged for the stitches to be removed that day.

    Our next visit to the Super Clinic will be on the 12th July.

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  • Update: 08 June 2022

      26 August 2022
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    Home Sweet Home❤

    With a beautiful meal from wonderful neighbors and Whanau. Thank You both, Anita & Ronald Barry❤❤

    He loves your soup Nita and it's the most he's eaten since we got home, thank you so, so much❤

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  • Update: 1st June 2022

      26 August 2022
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    Kia ora Whanau❤

    Well it's been 1 hell of a month and 2 days and my beloved❤ Chris Brandish❤ gets his marching orders from Middlemore Hospital today🎉

    Our journey is far from over, but at least he has past the worst of it, for now😪

    At his last MRI & CT Scan the Surgeons caught a bit of his stomach during the scan and after another CT Scan on his stomach it was confirmed that he has 2 Tumors in his Pancreas💔

    We seem to take 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

    We will deal with these as we've been doing for the last 3 years, Together and 1 Day At A Time❤

    To all of you who have rung, messaged, texted and facetimed either myself or Chris.....

    Your Love, Kindness and Support has not gone unnoticed and we would like to extend to each of you our heartfelt Thanks & Gratitude. I will not forget your Support🙏 you have all played a vital part in carrying me through each day of our nightmare😪

    I Thank You All so, so much❤❤

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  • Update: 25 May 2022

      26 August 2022
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    Update: 25 May 2022

    Last night, Chris had this procedure done and I videoed it so he could watch it later.

    The doctors thought they had drained all the excess fluid out of his back, but 300mls later.....

    I spent most of the time cringing and looking away and I'm still unable to watch the full video now. But we're hoping tonight's procedure helps with his recovery, so we can go home.

    Chris is not a happy patient right now and we're still working toward him coming out for afew hours a day, and hopefully we can do that today🙏 and I am able to return him the same day, that'll be a biggie.

    To those who have visited, left messages, texted and called him or myself❤.......

    Thank You All So, So Much, just know that he reads all your messages and if he doesn't reply it's only because he's still trying to master using his left hand.

    You have no idea what your Support does for his Spirit😪

    And for my Heart❤💔😪

    Our Love to you All❤❤

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  • Update: 24 May 2022

      26 August 2022
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    Update: 24 May 2022

    Chris Hemoglobin levels are still too low and yesterday he had a Ultrasound on his kidneys to rule out anything more serious and get a thorough reading.

    Today he got the results of that Ultrasound, hence the need for a 3 and a half hour blood transfusion this afternoon.

    I've asked his doctors if I can bring Chris out for a couple of hours a day, but with his red blood cells being low, unhappy kidneys, loss of appetite and the latest "swollen feet & legs" we can only hope for a better day tomorrow and that the weather will be nice enough to escape these hospital walls, for even just a little while as long as his body behaves☺️

    ❤❤❤

    He's a bit tired after the transfusion earlier, but we'll have a better pic tomorrow.

    Goodnight from Us to you All❤

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  • Update: 20 May 2022

      26 August 2022

    Update: 20 May 2022

    From Meri Higgins Brandish

    Chris Brandish

    Unfortunately, what we had hoped for for today was not to be😪

    Chris Hemoglobin level is very low and this afternoon he had to have 2 fluid drips and 2 blood transfusions to bring his red blood cells up to a good level.

    By the end of the evening, although he was quite tired, his colour had gone from pale white to a rosey red which was pleasing to see after waiting several hours for the transfusions to finish☺️ and seeing him look sicker than ever today.

    We hope tomorrow will bring more favorable results when they test his kidneys & bladder.

    ❤❤

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  • Update: 19 May 2022

      26 August 2022
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    Final Update for today: 19 May 2022

    From Meri Higgins Brandish

    Chris went into Theatre about 9am and was back in his Room at 3 30pm. So much for surgery taking about an hour or so, but as long as they've done a good job, that's all that matters👍🏼

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  • Update: 19 May 2022

      1 July 2022
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    A quick update:

    This morning Chris will be going back into Theatre to have his arm tidied up now that the 2 drains are out and they'll be removing dead skin around the operated & infected areas.

    They'll also be looking at the Surgery that was done on his back, as there's still alot of excess fluid coming from there. But this will be a small procedure and basically a clean and tidy up.

    Hopefully, this morning's Op won't take 16 hours like the first 1 did🙄 and his arm and back can finally start to heal properly and as it should🙏

    We'd like to thank all of you who have texted, messaged, phoned and visited in the last 18 days that we've been here, we will be forever grateful to each and every one of you😪❤😪❤

    From Our Hearts To Yours,

    Thank You All❤❤

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  • Update: 17 May 2022

      1 July 2022
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    Updated: 17 May 2022

    Chris has had the tube in his arm removed which leaves 1 tube in his back draining excess fluid. That 1 will be removed some time early next week.

    The dressings and bandages have been removed so photographs can be taken of his arm before his visit to the Nerve Clinic at Auckland Central on Thursday.

    He still dosen't have full function of his arm and the hope on Thursday is that the Specialists at Auckland Hospital will be able to find out why.

    Till then we continue to make the very best of every day together and we're hoping even more, that home is not too much further away.

    Speaking of home, we honestly couldn't be here without the stress and worry on our shoulders being lifted if it weren't for Ron, Nita and their boys who are taking good care of our home & beloved animals.

    Thank you so, so much Whanau, we are so indebted to you all, we Love you's and we'll never forget what you's are doing for Chris and myself❤❤❤❤❤

    From Our Hearts To Yours,

    Thank You All❤❤

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  • Update: 13 May 2022

      1 July 2022
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    It's been a while, but it's also been quite a stressful couple of weeks for Chris and myself as well, so here's a quick Update thus far:

    After Chris 16 hour Surgery he spent a couple of days in ICU before being transferred to a Ward, and has remained in critical care since last week to today.

    He doesn't have full movement of his arm yet and next week he'll be transferred to a Nerve Specialists Unit at Auckland Hospital to find out why.

    His spirit is up, but his appetite has not fully returned as yet.

    So every day I try to entice him with something delish & nutritious, but to no avail. Tomorrow I'll shop for something new and hope for the best.

    All in all, he's coming along slowly and we're told his wounds are healing nicely.

    A huge Thanks to all of you who have messaged or texted me, I have passed each of them onto Chris. We appreciate you all, your kind words and wishes❤

    We've been told he'll be staying here at Middlemore Hospital for another week, maybe 2, maybe 3, maybe a month, it all depends on how the healing of his arm progresses. But we will continue to hope and aim for the best possible results.

    Once he's discharged from here he'll be transferred to Rehab at Rotorua Hospital to begin treatment to strengthen his arm.

    But for now.....

    From our Hearts to Yours, We Thank You All❤❤

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  • Update as of 13th May

      13 May 2022
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    Be Warned: most of the pics are NOT for the faint hearted!!!

    It's been a while, but it's also been quite a stressful couple of weeks for Chris and myself as well, so here's a quick Update thus far:

    Chris Brandish

    After Chris 16 hour Surgery he spent a couple of days in ICU before being transferred to a Ward, and has remained in critical care since last week to today.

    He does not have full movement of his arm yet and next week he'll be transferred to Nerve Specialists Team at Auckland Hospital to find out why.

    His spirit is up, but his appetite has not fully returned as yet.

    So every day I try to entice him with something delish & nutritious, but to no avail.

    Tomorrow I'll shop for something new and hope for the best.

    All in all, he's coming along slowly and his wounds are healing nicely we're told.

    A huge Thanks to all of you who have messaged or texted me, I have passed each of them onto Chris. We appreciate you all, your kind words & wishes❤

    From our Hearts to Yours, Thank You All❤❤

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  • The Tumor has finally been removed

      6 May 2022
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    On Wednesday 04 May 2022 at 8am Chris went into the Operating Theatre at Middlemore Hospital to finally have the Tumor on his arm removed, an elbow replacement, skin graft and plastic surgery to cover the wound.

    16 very stressful hours later and he is finally rid of the Tumor, and it was a doozey too.

    Thank goodness it's gone🙏 and he is still with me/us today💞💞

    He's recovering in ICU right now and getting the best care from his nurse Amy, and as much rest as possible.

    We would like to Thank & Acknowledge the Surgeons, Nurses & Staff who were involved in successfully removing the Tumor and saving Chris arm & ultimately, his Life.

    Thank you to everyone who texted or messaged me during this stressful time, your words of Love and Support helped me get through 16 hours of utter hell and I will forever be grateful to each of you❤

    From our hearts to yours,

    We Thank You All💕💕

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  • And so it begins....

      2 May 2022

    Today (Monday 2 May) Chris is at Middlemore Hospital to begin the process, starting with a CT Scan and later this afternoon an MRI.

    He'll be admitted today and tomorrow he will have the procedure to tie off the veins that go to his Tumor, this will help to prevent too much blood loss during his operation. Although this is expected, he will have transfusions throughout the operation.

    On Wednesday at 7am he'll head to Theatre where they expect it to be an all dayer. I'll do another update when Chris comes out of Theatre❤

    Chris and I would like to THANK our Family, Friends and Friends we haven't met for your kind words, Love & Support, we will forever be sincerely grateful to each and every one of you❤❤

    From Our Hearts To Yours,

    Thank You All So Very Much❤❤

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  • The Tumor is due to be operated on and hopefully removed successfully and without complications

      24 April 2022

    This time next week (Sunday) we'll be heading to Middlemore to start the procedure of removing this Cancer Lump the following day, starting with an MRI. And I'm not looking forward to that painful procedure either.

    The removal of the lump is scheduled for next Wednesday 4th May, and hoping all goes well then too, because I'll be having an artificial elbow put in, and flesh taken out of my back and put into the elbow with skin graft from my thigh and put over it all.

    So we're pretty nervous about it but we know it needs to happen.

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  • Tumor continues to grow😪

      23 April 2022
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    Chris has knocked his lump a couple of times, breaking the skin which has caused it to bleed profusely. Once under control I was able to doctor it with good band aid strips.

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  • The Tumor is slowly increasing in size😥

      11 April 2022
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    Thank you all for your Donations & Sharing our Page, we are so very grateful to each and every one of you.

    We have decided to monitor the Tumor by measuring it once or twice a week and recording it's progress by taking pics. It is slowly increasing in size and the hope is that it doesn't break through the skin, or we'll be in real trouble if this happens.

    Please continue to Support us by Sharing our Page to your Friends. Thank you all so very much.

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