Persistence Pays

On a day in which continuous fierce swirling gusts of wind whipped sudden squally bouts of rain across the glistening garden, window panes, and paving stones occasionally bejewelled by sparkling sunshine bouncing light from neighbouring roof tiles, I attempted to follow up the lack of information from the urology department of Southampton General Hospital.

Once again the number I had been given for post procedure problems was not answering. On Tuesday I had been told that an appointment date for a telephone interview with the consultant who had carried out my procedure on 21st August would be forthcoming. Attempting to follow up on this today I was kept holding with no answer.

Coincidentally at lunchtime I received a call from Abbie at PALS who had followed up the issues about my discharge on 24th with four relevant departments securing apologies and advice about contacting security to obtain porterage. I took the opportunity to explain to her my current problems with obtaining any sort of response from the unit this week. She confirmed that there had been no telephone appointment date placed on the system and will follow this up for me. I won’t stop trying to secure an answer to the number which once again doesn’t seem to be staffed.

Eventually I telephoned the ward number where I was told by an administrator that the decision meeting usually takes eight weeks from the analysis and was given the consultant secretary telephone number. That was answered with a recorded message. I left one in response. My voice has gone up a few decibels.

I started reading ‘The People’s Act of Love’ by James Meek.

By mid-afternoon the rain had ceased and the sun seemed in the ascendancy, but the wind was still fierce enough to propel me round

the garden in my rather appropriate T-shirt.

The corner of the patio containing the revamped galvanised containers; the recycled blue topped table having replaced the wickerwork chair on the West Bed; and the decking all bear evidence of Jackie’s recent planting;

the aforementioned table can be seen at the edge of the first of these Brick Path pictures, while

the Gazebo Path and the area around the old well include the recently planted urn.

The last gallery of the Palm Bed, the Dragon Bed, the crinum lilies, and the stumpery all demonstrate tidied up areas.

Later I received a call from Nick Lewis, lead nurse in the urology department. The decision making meeting actually took place on Friday. It is confirmed that I now have no cancer in the bladder, but the BCG vaccine option will still go ahead in order to reduce the possibility of a recurrence. I will receive an appointment date within a couple of days.

This evening we dined on succulent roast breast of lamb; boiled new potatoes, crisp Yorkshire pudding; crunchy carrots; firm Brussels sprouts; meaty gravy, and mint sauce, with which I finished the garnacha.

85 comments

    1. Thanks very much, Merril. It was quite a coincidence that I was wearing it and that the weather was warm enough

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  10. Congratulations on finally obtaining a definitive answer, Derrick. I am glad to hear that you are cancer-free. I must say that you look great!
    The first sentence testifies both to the beauty of the English language and your elegant mastery of it.

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  12. Congratulations, Derrick! 🙏🏻😊 Your persistence certainly paid off, it’s unfortunate that the people at the hospital aren’t as persistent as you are. The garden looks beautiful, and I wish that I had as much hair as you do, sir! 😂🤭👍🏻

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  13. They are really giving you the runaround Derrick . Thank goodness for PALS. My husband has that same T-shirt- he brought it from the Hawk Conservancy in Andover.

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  15. OMG! It looks like your medical system is as complicated as ours. 8 weeks sounds like an awfully long time to wait to treat cancer – if you did still have it. I feel for those who may have had to wait and it’s to late for them. I love your shirt 🙂 and the garden. It’s raining here as I type and it’s blowing a gale. Watching from the back door, I see avocado flowers and leaves disappearing over the back fence. 🙁 Not as bad as last year. This time I covered the fruit trees with bird netting and it has help some. Another mouthwatering evening meal, Jackie. 🙂

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  16. That is good news there is no cancer left in the bladder, and that they will continue with the BCG vaccine.

    Another theme on your T-shirt I have seen here is “Romaine calm and carrot on” 🙂

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    1. Thank you very much, Rosaliene. I haven’t heard the results of the blood test yet, but the symptoms are lessening

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  20. Congratulations! Your persistence has been admirable as well as necessary. I wonder if any remaining symptoms might have been caused by the catheter. I recall having pain after a catheter many years ago. The pathways look lovely!

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  22. Derrick, you are cancer-free! I’m *thrilled* to read this news. I’m sorry you’ve had such poor communication with the powers that be, or lack of communication period. It adds to the stress of an already-loaded situation. I hope this is a turning point for you. It’s nice to see you smiling and in a fabulous t-shirt no less.

    My compliments to Jackie for adding beautiful details to an already extraordinary garden. I’m glad the winds (and life in general) aren’t keeping either of you down. xo

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  24. Your good news is great and makes me so happy! (I’m celebrating! 🙂 )
    Your balance of patience and persistence seem to have paid off. I’m glad.
    Your writing poetic, your photos fabulous! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your update AND for sharing your garden! I pretty sure I saw a parliament of owls. 🙂
    (((HUGS))) ❤️❤️

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  25. I love your poetic opening lines until you got the end of the paragraph where you are still trying to get medical results. You’re wearing the correct shirt to help deal with medical bureaucracy and the lack of proper care. In NY the only way to reach most facilities is through an online service such as my chart. They never respond to phone calls. This is unfortunate for the elderly as many of them do not know how to navigate computers.

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    1. Thank you very much, Sherry. On principle I always wait in the queue for a person, ignoring the directions to go on line

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  30. I love your shirt! Not always easy to do when you keep running into run around!
    I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis. My brother who is seven years older than me had bladder cancer a few years ago. He went through the treatments and is now in remission and doing well. Keep persistent, my friend.

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  31. Everything just goes well together here.
    From the amazing writing to the brightness on your face and to the appropriate T-shirt and the last but not least, to the amazing news about the Cancer.
    Congratulations Derrick.

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  34. Southampton Hospital had a good reputation back in the late 1990s/early 2000s when my late father lived in Ringwood, and often had to visit there in his declining years. Seems that services at the hospital have also declined since then! Still, pleased to hear the good news that you eventually received.

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    1. Thank you very much, Geoff. The medical staff live up to their reputation. It is systems and administration that are problematic

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  35. The NHS needs « Donna » an AI system which is absolutely brilliant and even understands my husband’s very English accented French. Of, the French health service has joined up writing so it’s both quicker and easier to receive results.

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