Feeling the fear of the two C’s, but still very lucky.

[Timtam56]

Good morning all from Covid ridden Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

I have not posted or been here much lately, as I’ve been busy trying to train my little puppy to wee and poop outside.🐶🐾🧼🧹🧻

So today I’ve woken up to stage 4 lock down here. Meaning we are only allowed to leave our house for four reasons: shopping for food and essential items, care and caregiving, daily exercise and work. Also, there has been a curfew placed on us, from 8pm till 5am, and we are to wear masks when we are out of the house, meaning even when we are in the car. Our cases are up to 600 to 700 new cases per day.

So. What does this mean for me with stage 4 cancer? All I can do is be careful.

I expect many of you on this board know what this is like. I have read your posts over this time, and have always felt for you, but also felt so far removed.

Not anymore.

One of our hospitals, where a lot of people with Covid are residing, and some of our health workers are getting it and are also on respirators, is attached by many walking bridges and (over the road from) my cancer hospital. Peter McCallum cancer centre! ☹️🙃🧐😷🤒

What a situation. I’m so scared. Not just for myself. But also for the nurses and doctors, but for the whole situation. It’s getting worse than the first time in my opinion.

I feel like all of us, meaning all of you here my friends, need to be very aware of y/ourselves, and others around us. I’m being really careful, and not going out at all but for walks with my little saviour; my little angel, Stevie, seen here in the photograph taken yesterday on our walk. I’ve never had my very own little fur buddy before. I was not allowed a dog when I was young, and I was promised a horse by my father when I was a tea aged, and it never came to fruition. I’ve never known the unconditional love of a fur baby, and I’m so so thankful. I cannot tell you all the joy it gives me. But then I think it is evidenced in the photo.

I hope all of you have some thing that makes you smile in all of this.🌻❤️🌞

[MacroMom]

Stevie is adorable! There is nothing the the unconditional love for and of a pet to bring out a smile, so glad you have him during this time. COVID is raging here too, in many places worse than back in March and April. As difficult as a stage 4 lockdown must be, I envy you having a government with the sense and responsibility to make and enforce those hard decisions.

My son just adopted a sweet cat named Pigeon that definitely makes it more fun to stay home. Enjoy your time with Stevie and stay safe - nice to hear from you again!

Patty

[Timtam56 in reply to MacroMom]

Thanks Patty.

Take care. 🌞

[Tam-56]

Timtam it is so good to hear from you. I am glad you are safe with your precious Stevie. What breed of pup is he?

Our Covid numbers in USA are rising as well. I wear a mask and gloves when I need to go out and next week I will be traveling to hospital for scan.

I am nervous about going to public place... just don’t know what to expect but I am sure Hospital staff will take precautions. It is about 1 1/2 hours car ride. I usually take public transportation but don’t feel it is safe so I will rent a car.

Unfortunately, in some areas of the US mask wearing has become political. Some people refuse to wear a mask in public ....that Covid in a hoax. The southern states who refused to close in the beginning now have had to close down indoor dining and other public gathering places such as gyms, churches and libraries. So many people are sick and a hurricane is due to hit the southeastern coast tomorrow. Hard times here too.

Stay safe and enjoy your little one.

Maura

[Timtam56 in reply to Tam-56]

She’s a Moodle Maura. Maltese x toy poodle. So smart and loving.

Oh the whole..... “ I don’t believe in covid debate!” I’m so tired of conspiracy theorists. It’s so frightening that they don’t see the sense and the value of science!

Wishing you safety and ease with your hospital scan visit.

[Shelby4now]

Timtam

Stevie is adorable. Please stay safe and enjoy your fur buddy

Shelby

[Red71]

Stevie is awfully cute! I know there have been a lot of animal adoptions during out quarantine, so it’s been good for cats and dogs even if it’s not so good for us!

My grandchildren are what keep me sane during this time, especially my 7 year old (only) granddaughter. I have been teaching her to sew. I do have a dog as well, an 8 year old black Labrador who keeps watch over the neighborhood. My neighbor and I wish he could talk because he would tell us everybody’s business! All the kids stop to see him.

Stay safe yourself! Elaine

[Beryl71]

I've just come out of sheilding in UK. But I have a garden and hobbies. I have been ok, fine meditation and other self help courses helped. I was x-rayed just before lockdown, scanned during lockdown and given my results by phone during lockdown! At the time I didn't think life could get worse. My only outings have been for blood tests. But I got through. Yes it's a tough time for all but if the restrictions are severe hopefully they can calm things down. I'm not planning on changing my life much even now, maybe one or two outdoor excursions, and my family can come and see me now.

At least you have your little furry friend. Good luck!

[Hidden]

What a gorgeous little thing Stevie is.

Don’t worry, you will get through this time. I quite enjoyed the peace of lockdown and going back to basics. Unfortunately my beautiful cat passed away 2 weeks into lockdown. We miss him dearly, but have lovely memories.

Take care of yourself and Stevie

Clare x

[Hidden]

Hi Chris,

Stevie is a precious little fur baby! I agree that the unconditional love that a pet gives is wonderful. Our pets do not judge or criticise us. All they want to do is love and please us. They are happy to welcome us home from work at the end of the day. My cat meows at the top of his lungs when my husband gets home from work. He waits for him by the back door and will let me know when he is home! He doesn't act so excited when I get home from work though!

I'm sorry to hear of how you have been affected by further lockdown restrictions. I hope that the coronavirus can get back under control again. It seems like we might be facing a similar situation in the UK, with parts of the country back in lockdown again following an increase in cases. I'm hoping that things start to improve soon.

Take care,

Sophie

[Timtam56 in reply to Hidden]

Yes. I’ve heard from a friend in London that you might be back at it again with Covid. I wish you luck with it too all too Sophie. It’s a monster of a thing.

[Rhwright12]

Cute new little fur baby!

Be safe out there! I go out often but I’m a face mask/hand sanitizing Crazy person! 😂🤣😂 I go through a mini Bath and Body works hand sanitizer a week. And I have a belt clip for it. And I just scored some KN95 masks. They’re like N95 but made in China. I don’t care I just want to be safe....😀

[AvidBooklover]

Stevie is adorable! Stay safe! My friend, Sally, lives in Melbourne and thus I was alerted to the lockdown. Her Instagram posts of lockdown with three small children are funny, but I know beyond the humor, this is so challenging. It is so hard to believe the worldwide impact of Covid!

[hdhonda]

Your baby is just adorable. We have a ten year old mixed breed that we love dearly. He sleeps with us every night. Take care. Keep wearing those masks and using the hand washing. Stay safe. Blessings, Hannah

[Timtam56]

Thank you everyone.

Yes. I am very lucky to have her. She’s keeping me sane and always makes me smile.

Take care everyone.

[mariootsi]

Very smart for your officials to institute strong lockdowns. I wish that the many states in the US with out of control covid numbers would do the same.

Take care and be careful. That's really all any of us can do!

[Aquadog]

I read about Melbourne's Covid-19 situation in the news and honestly, I wish my government would do the same thing. I'm in Texas and the numbers are terrifying, but people STILL won't believe it's real. Baffling!

I love your puppy. Adorable!

Take good care and be safe

Susan

[LotusAFlower]

Oh yes your baby is adorable. It’s the kind of love that just keeps on giving. ❤️❤️❤️❤️Ok so happy for you !

Please be safe .Here in California after our initial lock down it has become so intense due to the reopening phases ... people just weren’t wearing masks or maintaining social distancing. My daughter is an ER nurse .. they are working so hard. We had an experience great ER doc commit suicide ... heartbreaking . We have wildfires to contain and so many firefighters in quarantine too. It’s a mess ... 💔💔💔

[Timtam56 in reply to LotusAFlower]

This is really horrific LotusAFlower.

You poor things. I didn’t know all that. It’s not that different all around the world is it? We had those terrible fires earlier this year, which I was caught up in on a holiday that I didn’t get to have. And the poor people who got caught up in have had to now go into this. Being August..... it’s not long now until summer comes around again. We are not getting enough rain to feel relaxed about losing more bushland and wild life!

And there are people everywhere (And the country we live in doesn’t seem to make a difference does it?) who are not confining themselves when they have Covid and therefore spreading the disease. Illegally crossing borders. Not believing that this is serious. I just don’t get it.

Sorry to be all doom and gloom. Really. I’m thankful when the sun shines, when I hear my daughters voice and she’s happy and okay, and when my little puppy makes me smile. (Or she totally makes me belly laugh). These things are the important things.

Go well.😷❤️

[13plus]

Hi Timtam, it’s so sad to see that Australia’s numbers jumped up again and for such stupid reasons. Now my mum can’t have anyone visit her in the home again. It’s good they are doing it, and hopefully enough people comply to get it back under control quickly. Have faith that you will be safe going to the cancer center. I’m sure they are taking great precautions.

We have it so much worse here in the US, it’s quite depressing.

Love that you got yourself a dog. There’s nothing better than that unconditional love they give you! Enjoy

[Timtam56 in reply to 13plus]

Where is your mum 13Plus? In Australia?

[13plus in reply to Timtam56]

She’s n Lorne near family.

[PJBinMI]

Oh, I understand the joy of dog and cat pets! The only times I've been without were when I lived in dorms. I don't know if this is typical, but here in SW MIchigan in the "upper" Midwest of the US, the hospitals in the health system I use have taken major steps to sequester those with covid. The units where people with that are being cared for as inpatients are sealed off from the rest of the hospital, with locked doors so nobody can go in by accident. Those who are staffing those units, including non medical folks, do not go into other parts of the hospital, and everything is being cleaned often and patients are in isolation, even from close family. I have blood work and scans done in different areas of the hospital and have felt safe. I had to have a covid 19 test three days before a heart catheterization about 10 days ago, and they have been doing those outside, with patients needing appts and coming into the test area in their cars. I felt very safe doing, that, too. That test showed no covid, and they heart cath went without a hitch, other than a delay in order to get fluids into me as I had signs of dehydration. Neither my husband nor I have felt uneasy about getting to our patient appts, having tests, etc. I worry more about the medical staff than myself since they are there so many hours every day.

[PJBinMI]

This is off topic a tad, but the first two 20 year survivors with mbc I heard of were both in Australia, around 15 years ago. A good reflection on your health care there!

[RLN-overcomer]

Sister/warrior I am so happy you have your cute little dog to keep you company. GOD bless you.