it's 0% !!!!

I got the email which I 've been waiting for the last couple of days. It's from the doctor whom I get the blood test done in Singapore last 2 weeks. The result showed zero percent of cancer marker detected!!! I was so much excited since the previous results for last one year after the transplant was so much difficult to get it down to zero level.

I presumed Glivec has somehow able to make whatever the result down to this level now. Thank to God. Thank to my dear doctor (his prediction has always been true), thanks to my family, friends for their continuous love and support.....

To my CML friends, whatever the hardships that we are going through, there is always a happy moment along the way...

first workshop for 2009

We will start to kick off our program this year with our workshop in Hospital Ampang this coming Saturday 28th Feb 2009. Unfortunate for me that on last minute I have to go for a meeting in Port Dickson representing my department for hospital meeting. So much upset especially we are planning to unofficially launch our society to our patients during the workshop.

Anyway, I believed the rest of my friends @ core group members can do without me around. So sad that I ll miss the exciting moment... Good luck my friends. Now we all have to work harder.

blood test and short vacation

Me, my wife and my 2 kids are going to Singapore today. I am meeting the Singapore hematologist at Singapore General Hospital for some consultation and blood test. Since I used to have blood test sent and done in Singapore all this while, this time I need to have another one sample taken 'fresh' from my vein. The result later can help in countercheck the similar test if Ampang Hospital started their own. If the value has not much difference, I don't have to have six monthly regular blood test sent to Singapore anymore. 

I took the chance to take my family along to have a short holiday....

Ooh, last night, me and my group celebrate after MaxFamily Society has been approved as a registered society.

very much awaited good news!!!!

Guess what? MaxFamily is now a registered society!!!! The letter got to me today and theofficial  registration date was 30th January. After almost 2 years waiting, amending and keep amending the documents for application, we are now a legal society. 

In another word, there s a lot more work to do.....but now I need to go to sleep first because it s late now. Tomorrow. I ll get up with a whole new spirit and enthusiasm.

thank you 14th december 2008

thank you all my friends*, who's willing to spend

spending your time

for kids who will always be in your mind

spending your effort

for something little out from your pocket

spending your smile

for aching both legs after walking more than a mile

spending your heart

for exhaustingly working so hard

spending your loves

and sharing it with us....

*my friends are those contributors, volunteers, ward doctors and staff and all the kids and parent in the ward

it all set!

Some of the books

Hampers, gifts and bags are ready

MaxFamily is visiting Pediatric Ward tomorrow! I felt so happy that the responds from the contributors were huge. We had a 'packing day' last week and now it all set.

We will be in the ward from 9.00am to about lunch time. We have a great project called "Smiling Pillow", a small craft making activity with the patients in the ward, a small idea that I am sure will turn into an exciting and fun thing do togather with the kids later. Apart from that we are bringing clown with his stuff and magic joke and Santa Claus that will surprise them with gifts.

Thanks again to contributors, my friends and volunteers.

Packing day

contributions coming in!

I have started getting contributions from friends and friends' of my friends. I know they are good friends and they really interested to give a hand. I guess everyone would love to take part but sometimes it is the lack of chance that limits them. Anyway, thanks for everyone's interest. Sure I ll put up photos of the visit when everything over.

pediatric ward visit

As like last year, we at MaxFamily are planning to do another charity visit to the Oncology Ward in Pediatric Institute (also place where I am currently working) this coming December. I did not manage to join last year since I was still in the recovery and 'confinement' period after the transplant. I knew the event was quite significant as the kids in the ward were really enjoyed our visit and the gifts that we brought for them.

I started emailing all my friend if they interested to contribute anything as we may want these unfortunate kids to be happy, as happy as we were during our past childhood times.

october workshop came again!

the birthday cake

Wow, today we had another workshop and as usual it was another great meeting for us. In conjunction with Max's birthday on 19th October, we hold a regular meeting and workshop during October every year.

As it always do, this time there were significant numbers of turn out and a third of them were new comers. They really used this workshop to learn more and ask lots of questions during the session with the doctors and I felt so glad they all did.

So guys, see you again in Jan 2009!

meeting my 'old good friend'

I went to the hospital two days ago for my regular follow up apart from getting my final monthly infusion of antibody (IgG). The blood test for CML marker molecule (bcr-abl) result from Singapore that was sent a month ago was also ready for review and I really anxious to know. This result will give me and the doctor an idea what to decide on next. Ideally, traces of CML marker molecule should not be detected after about a year after the transplant. In my case, the last 2 results within a year of my post transplant period was still positive but at the very low value.

So... the result is still positive (it is slightly lower than the previous one). The options (if the blood result still positive) were discussed during last follow up and this time around it was easier for me to understand and just follow the plan, that is to go back and take my 'old good friend' i.e. Glivec again, may be for a couple of year. It was not a hard decision though, since I had used to to it before.