Apologies and Sad News

Dear all,

This is my first post on my father's blog. He has asked me to write to you all to update you with what's been going on for the last few months. As you have no doubt noticed, there has not been an update to the blog for a number of months; sadly this is because shortly after his father's death, Dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour. After a lot of trips to various hospitals he has been increasingly unwell and now struggles with the most simple things whilst remaining completely fine mentally so that he can't walk or talk some days, and he struggles to read and type, but he wants to be able to do everything and he can't. Obviously he is finding things very hard, but we remain optimistic about the future. In the last two weeks he has had a biopsy and although the results have come back as inconclusive, the samples have been sent to London for further examination. It is thought that he has a small tumour, but it is surround by lots of inflammed tissue which can be reduced by steriods, but that further treatment is required to get rid of the source of the problem; he is seeing a haemotologist on Monday to consider treatment options such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Unfortunately, during the biopsy there was a small amount of bleeding which has meant that he has lost all sense of balance and so is now struggling even more to be mobile.

Dad and I would both like to apologise for not updating the blog sooner in the year and we aim to work together to get as much written as we can both of Harry's journey and of Dad's own journey through this illness.

I thank you once again for taking an interest in our family's history,

Catherine
(Bill's middle child)

30 comments:

Unknown said...

You father and your family will be in my prayers, Catherine. Please extend to him my thanks for his contributions on this blog.

God bless,

C Crino said...

Just a few days ago I thought that I do miss his posts. He'll be in my prayers.

Anonymous said...

Dear Catherine,

I have followed your father's blog with great interest for over a year now. I'm a Modern German PhD student at the University of Tennessee here in the United States. Your father's work has been wonderful to read and a true historical gem. I pray for both of you as well as the entire family that he will have a speedy recovery.

God Bless,
Robert Rennie

Maryland said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you Bill, and with your family. I am saddened to hear of your struggle though I am certain you are approaching this difficult time with strength and some humor. You've touched so many us with your blog which brought us not only a personal story of the war, but also a perspective we can apply to our own struggles. Please know that your audience cares and we wish you well.

Parkylondon said...

The longer the gap in postings got the more I was concerned about what was going on.

Please, pass on this fellow blogger's heart felt best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

We would like you both to know that his writing on this blog is treasured and is a superb body of work. We thank you for it.

With the very best of kindest regards

Paul

Kenneth Urban said...

Catherine, thank you so much for the update. Please make sure that Bill knows he is in our thoughts. I wish you and your family strength as you go through this struggle.

Kenneth

R.M. Smith said...

Best wishes. Be well.

Bryce said...

All my best wishes to Bill and everyone in your family during this difficult time. I do hope he has a speedy recovery, and I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

Deniz Bevan said...

My prayers are with you and your family. Hope that the further treatments work out well.

Rebecca said...

Our thoughts are with you and your family. We wish Bill all the strength to win this battle.

walkingstick said...

Sad news indeed! Thank you for letting us know. Wishing Bill all the best.

smlg.ca said...

Thank you for the update. Sending you positive thoughts from Canada.

Sean

Unknown said...

Your father, and all of you, will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Nanny (Shirley) said...

My prayers are with Bill and his family, his blog has been a real insight to the many effects of war. Please let him know he is in our thoughts and wish him and the family all the best.

John said...

your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Aimie said...

Thank you for keeping us updated. My thoughts are with you and youe family. It is great you trying to keep the blog going in this trying time
youe number 1 fan aimie from woonsocket ri

Suzann said...

Please tell Bill we all miss his posts. My heart goes out to you and your family. Bill is in my prayers. Thank you so much for letting us know what happened.

I have been following his blog since the beginning. And really looked forward to each new edition.
Peace Bill

Serge said...

Thank you so much for the update Catherine. This is very sad news. Our thoughts are with Bill and all his family as he fights his way back to health.

Serge in Canada.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Catherine for taking the time to let us know what is going on - I´m sure you and your family have so many other things to worry about. Sending thoughts and prayers to you all and thank you for the work you have taken up on your father´s behalf,

Anonymous said...

I am a survivor of a brain tumour. Stay strong. My prayers and wishes are with you and your family.

David in Canada

Jane said...

I was so sorry to read about Bill's ill health. My good wishes to him for a full recovery and to all your family.

Anonymous said...

Very sad to hear this. I wish Bill all the best.

Linda Gartz said...

Dear Catherine,
I am so sorry to hear about your dad's health. I first heard of his blog in a writing group two years ago-- recommended to me because I am writing about my family history. I wrote your dad -- I think last December about creating his blog. He was so kind and generous with advice, although I believe he was helping his own father at the time. Please give him my kind regards and best wishes for a good outcome to this terrible diagnosis. These last two weeks, I've been posting about WWI and have been thinking about your dad -- wanting to tell him about the posts. www.familyarchaeologist.com. He may not be up for seeing it himself but I wanted him to know how grateful I am for his advice.

Dieter Finzen said...

My best whishes! Please be well soon!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear this. Very best wishes to you all.

Janell Pfoertner said...

Bill & Catherine,
I opened your website today, hoping for a new posting, since it has been idle for 5 months. To my great surprise and sorrow, I read of Bill's illness.
My thoughts and best wishes are with you during this difficult time.
Janell

Bryan Alexander said...

How awful! All best wishes for better health from another fan.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Bill and Catherine,

I have been thinking and praying about/for you as I had feared you were taking your dad's death very hard; now it is clear what has been happening. All who have learned to love your grandfather - and you - are holding best thoughts and will do anything we can for you.

Catherine, a special gratitude for sharing this with us - and Bill - during what has to be a tough time for you. Thank you for continuing the story...

With loving prayers,

Linda H-F,
near San Francisco, California, USA

Tom Maher-Kirkwood MO USA said...

Please tell your Dad that his good work has been appreciated by so many people.
What more can I write?
Just - Peace to him - and to your family.

Mamari said...

Hi there, have just visited ytour blog for the first time in many many months, and I am very sorry both to hear of your grand-dad's death and also of your dad's illness. Your family is in my prayers. With fond thoughts from new Zealand...M Stephens