Hi



Tomorrow is my two-year anniversary since diagnosis with melanoma IV and
being given a prognosis of a six month survival time of which circa 50%
would be quality time. I was given a remote probability of survival of one
year, but with an expectation of being extremely unwell by then.



Amazingly - two years on - I am alive today and still have quality of life.
My existence is not without daily apprehension, false alarms and a strong
and constant need for moderation of both moods and stress levels - but
somehow I am here and I am so glad to be here - two years seems so
impossibly long and yet it has passed so impossibly quickly.



We plan a Christmas in France at a ski chalet - the family plus two
boyfriends - the first time that has happened. Over the last few
months/weeks I have found myself increasingly fretting at the risk that I
would be too unwell to get there - a feeling that my walk/struggle up that
exponential curve of life is getting closer to the up-bit and that any
day/hour now/soon that terrible pain I had 18 months ago would return and
could debilitate me within hours. My concern has been not really for myself,
but the chaos that would cause a family's Christmas holiday - well we fly on
Monday - so it looks like I am going to make it after all!



Below I have cut and paste our Christmas message to family friends - but for
you - my virtual allies in this battle against the beast, I add an extra
message or two



One of HOPE - any one of us - or indeed all of us - could blow those
statistics to smithereens - each of us living to 85 with melanoma stave IV
under control :-)



And I hear almost daily of new advances and possible discoveries for
melanoma - I sense they are getting so close - maybe weeks or months but I
doubt decades!



One of learning - I am reminded of the contributory factors leading up to my
affliction - workload stress, poor diet and a life being shrouded from joy
of life by the daily pressures to provide for a growing family and to meet
the expectations of others - and gloom and drag of daily commuting travel of
nearly three hours



I believe in following the advice of a trusted oncological team - taking the
medicines, chemo, immunology etc.



But as you know I also believe in giving our animal bodies the best chance -
the most natural of foods and drinks - avoidance of abuse by smoking or
excessive drinking etc. Not Budwig or Gerson - to me they inflict too great
a loss of quality of life - but instead allowing the body to seek out/select
those foods colours/tastes/aromas it wishes/needs from a selection that our
animal bodies are designed for - not prepacked or highly refined foods -
but natural foods in as natural state as possible. I often need to remind
myself to take time - or to ensure that daily pressures do not mean that my
diet becomes very narrow and by definition liable to be deficient



I also believe in nurturing the spirit - this is indeed an area which is so
hard for those of us with the beast. Allowing oneself to be 'touched' deeply
and allowing that tear of joy to slide down one's cheek - is so important.
Such Graceful tears I have experienced when helping others, when attending a
school carol concert or when attending a church service. I believe that by
helping others and reaching out - indeed opening our spirit to others we
nurture that inner spirit itself. So my message is to go enjoy that
Christmas carol concert as best you can, do not fret about the decorations
or the presents but instead buy a comedy video or even better go out and
find someone in genuine need and give them a hand in some hidden or special
way, maybe attend a church carol service, but whatever - allow oneself to
find peace and joy during this magical season - a season that often becomes
too busy attending to pretty trivia.



Wishing you all a joyful Christmas and Healing and happiness in the New Year



Ian



Ian, Dorothy, Lorna, Samantha & Charlotte



Wishing you a Happy Christmas 2005,

and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2006



It is with great pleasure that we send you our best wishes for Christmas and
the New Year.



2005 began with challenging prospects for Ian, having already far exceeded
normal longevities for melanomaIV cancer! But at Christmas 2005, we are all
delighted with Ian's survival and continued quality of life. As 2006
approaches, we are so grateful for this priceless opportunity for him to
continue to play a part in the development of the family.



Dorothy resumed work in January and has managed to balance dedication to her
family, to Ian and to the school. A remarkable achievement!



Lorna, after backpacking Egypt, is now progressing from being a very active
Edinburgh University student of Sports & Recreation Management towards a
career in event management. Leading her sisters towards a chosen career path
with an independent and determined spirit, she is now actively seeking a
sandwich assignment for next Summer in the face of stiff competition.



Samantha, in evolving her career aspirations, hit Hawaii last Summer helping
to save indigenous species. She has started to carve herself contacts in the
area of conservation of species and filming for television broadcasting. At
Bristol University she is seeking to use her dual degree of Psychology and
Zoology to enable her to gain an exciting and rewarding future.



Charlotte flew the nest to Sardinia before becoming a colourful and
adventurous art foundation student at Falmouth College gaining experience of
both university living and an active student life, including a trip to
Berlin 'on artistic grounds'. Charlotte is soon to choose between an
artistic adventure and a psychology degree.



2005 has not just been medications but has also included much fun with a
holidays in both Spain and ski-ing at a friend's chalet in Les Gets, France.
At home, sailing and our splash-pool has been a source of pleasure during
the Summer months and the diverse distribution of daughters has made for
varied trips across Britain.



It is with pleasure and pride that Dorothy and I see our girls develop and
move towards the thrust and challenges of modern day society. It is with
gratitude that we thank you for your care and support during 2005. As we
move towards 2006, it is a source of comfort to know that the girls and
ourselves have such supportive family and friends. Sending you our very
warmest Christmas wishes.












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