Douglas' Bankie

Hello friends and family.

Many of us have agreed to keep Douglas' blog up and running as a good way to communicate with all who knew Douglas and to let everyone know news from Wilmien, Oliver and Ella and also from the rest of the Lederles and all his friends.

On Saturday the 29th of March Wilmien, Oliver, Ella and many of Douglas' friends took the bench (or bankie) that Douglas' friends had made in his honour, up to the saddle or saaltjie in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. Most of us went up in vehicles on the winding tracks leading up to the spot chosen by his friends and some joined us on their mountain bikes.

The weather was perfect and we had a few glimpses of a pair of Verreaux's or Black Eagles flying around the mountain. We dug the needed foundation for the bench and mixed some concrete and with many a chirp and a laugh we set the bench in its now permanent spot. There was of course the due champagne and a few beers to celebrate the occasion and of course the usual banter of what and how to go about mixing cement, more rocks needed, dont paint against the grain, more to the left and another 101 advisory tips from the group of 'builders' helping to set the bench in place.

I have posted a few pictures of the day and also of the view one has from the bench looking toward Table Mountain.

As many of you are aware, Douglas had a great interest in the Cape Leopard Trust run by Quinton Martins and beacuse of this passion he had for this rare and misunderstood predator, we are planning to adopt one of the Cape Leopards in the Cape Leopard Trust's monitoring projects in the Cederberg or the Swartberg areas in living memory of Douglas. There has been a post in the latest newsletter on the website mentioning Douglas' involvement in the project from it's inception. Check out www.capeleopard.org.za and go to 'Latest News'.

I met with Guy Sampson over the weekend so we could get the ball rolling in terms of adopting one of the leopard in the area. We will be setting up an account, trustees for the Douglas Lederle Memorial Fund, etc. and will then use this blog site to let everyone know the details of where we are in terms of the project and how much money we have put together. The entire project will cost R30 000.00 which will cover capturing a leopard, vets fees, a tracking collar and a few other costs involved. We have decided to go for a young male and as sponsors we will be able to name the leopard - so please forward ideas either to myself at greg.lederle@molori.co.za or to Guy at guy@wsp.co.za - this is for names, more information or any questions that you may have regarding this idea.

If you are one of the sponsors involved in Douglas' Leopard, one is able to arrange - in advance of course - to go in to the area where the leopard is, in order to track the animal. This could be an awesome outing for a group to head into one of the most beautiful parts of the country to track such an awesome animal and to be doing it in the memory of someone that meant so much to us, and to whome nature was so important.

And so it is that I will sign off on behalf of Wilmien, Oliver and Ella and the rest of the Lederle clan and looking forward to hearing news from you all that you have been to Douglas' bankie and spent some time admiring a place that meant so much to him and to all those who new him (- dont forget to take a Milk Stout Beer or 2 up with you!!!).

Watch this space for further news...

Greg

Douglas Lederle 10/07/1971 - 20/02/2008

Dear friends, family and loved ones

It is with great sadness that we all bid our beloved Douglas fairwell after his courageous battle with cancer. Douglas passed away late on Wednesday evening, the 20th of February.

His passing came as a great relief to those around him at the time and he died nestled in the arms of his mother, his brothers, Riana and of course Wilmien.

On Wednesday morning, Douglas asked to be helped to make him as comfortable as possible in order to help him make his passing. Many of his friends were able to come and say their fairwells. He spoke to his children in the way that a father in his position only could. Right to the end Douglas remained an absolute gentleman and still had his sharp wit and humour till the very end.

Douglas has left a legacy behind that all who knew him strive towards, and he lived his life in a manner that is unreachable by any words that could be spoken or written.

Douglas will be missed as a father, as a husband, as a son, as a brother but mostly he will be missed as a friend, as this he was to all who knew him.

Hamba Kahle our brother, son, husband, father and friend. There will not be a day that passes that you will not be in all our thoughts. We will love you forever and ever.

We will be celebrating Douglas' life at the Moeder Kerk in Stellenbosch on Thursday the 28th of February at 2pm and another service in Bloemfontein at the St. Andrews School Chapel on Friday the 7th of March at 3pm. A park bench in Douglas' memory will be put up in the Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch by his friends and another will be placed at the Stellenbosch Golf Club by his golfing friends.

Thank you all for the support that Douglas received from all of you. He loved you all dearly!

Current Standing

Hi , here is an update now that the op results have come through and the drain from the lung op have been removed. Despite earlier believing that the lungs were clear it now appears not and that in actual fact the cancer has spread even further and is more widespread in the lungs than was earlier believed. In actual fact my diagnosis is now that of adenoma Lung Cancer and no longer primary unknown. Tests from swabs taken inside the lung show the bad guys but good news is that that which was drained from outside the lung is clean. So the first six cycles of chemo although they slowed the cancer and appeared to be working did not in actual fact work and the shit has manifested itself in the lungs which will explain the shortness of breath and tired sensations being experienced.

But good news is that it has not spread to any other places or organs and there is light at the end of the tunnel. This comes in the form of a clinical study or trial which I have just qualified for. This entails the course of another chemo which does not have any of the bad side effects. The treatments I had was first line or preferred in the treatment of what I have. This other treatment called ALIMTA is on the market and may be a future firstline of defense against lung cancer but due to costs many medical aids refuse to endorse and pay for it. My trial will be for the use of this together with a biological drug which may or may not be administered. I say this as I will take it not knowing if it is the real thing or a placebo ! At the end of the day though I get to get the new chemo which I believe is the best way forward in terms of combating this thing. The other drug is called ZACTIMA. So today wed 30 Jan I went for all the scans in order to see where we are before proceeding with the study. Nice thing is that due to it being a study regular and more frequent scans and checks are done so the feedback is more thorough so we should get an early indicator of where this thing is going.

All in all it is a very stressfull, daunting and intimidating time. A walk up some stairs now leaves me absolutely poked. Both Wilmien and I were shattered by the news as I was hoping to be hopping and skipping coming out after the lung op. As Winston said when going through hell just keep going. We are keeping our chins up and carrying on as best we can. It is difficult but we forge forward. I have faith in all around me, My Maker and the doctors that we are on the right road. Keep those thoughts and prayers coming and next time I will try pop a pic up.

Love and best wishes to you all !

Some good some bad news. The entry with just good news is yet to be posted.

tube problems

Hi Folks

Last monday scans revealed that the lungs appear clear ! That the lymph nodes have shrunk but only a minimal amount and that there was much liquid sitting under my right lung. So lets summarise - it has not spread any more and the lungs are clear - excellent. The lymph nodes are still inflamed but down minimally - not ideal but fine. So the battle will continue, but for me it is good news. I have had this unbearable pain where my liver is and right chest and for the last 10 weeks it has been unexplained so now I know and with these results a quick op was waxed. For me it was just so great to get an answer to why i had this as my imagination had gone wild. I could'nt believe how quickly it was organised with who I believe is a difficult to see lung specialist surgeon. Was for tuesday but in the end on Wednesday I went in and had 1,5 litres of fluid removed from under the right lung. A drain was put in and a biopsy was taken out from inside the the lung. I have been told that tests on what was outside (fluid was in chest cavity not in lung) and the lung biopsy could now point us in the right direction in determing the primary. The cause of the fluid could be infection, side effect of the chemo or was possibly a tumour which I have been told now did not appear so. So for a quick update I though I would share this with you quickly. This while I have my delicious drain and vac pac sticking out my right flank ! It will come out tomorrow and the results of all the test await me. Another one of those BIG days that will determine the road and treatment forward. It has been a rough 4 days with some discomfort & pain & a little bit of a fever every night. Same shit different specialists. Depp down it feels I am getting a grip on this thing.

Will update again shortly. This lung story reminded me of the tubes & bicycling days. Got my seeding for Argus - F. Will tell doc tomorrow I got to start training. Till then keep your tubes inflated !

Douglas & drain

New Year - New News !

Jan Evaluation


Christmas has come and gone, the new year is dawned and Chemo is klaar ! The last cycle # 6 which has come and gone was not as bad as #5 but still did its thing. It was probally made a little softer by being away in the awesome environment down at Maanskynbaai where a great 2 weeks was had by Wilmien, Oliver, Ella and myself.

Now it’s crunchtime with the CT scan and follow up with the doctors on Monday 21 Jan to evaluate how the treatment has gone. I am bullish and optimistic but it is none the less a anxious and daunting time with expectation of the outcome being an onerous one ! I am feeling good and strong but the Chemo has such a heavy impact on a person with there being so much else that takes shots while the cancer is being hit hard that you are left with strange pains and funny sensations which tends to make the imagination run riot. I am focusing on staying positive and ridding myself of the mutant cells and constantly thinking of remission and a return to the active and sporting ways of the past.

I have gone back to work and although feeling a little tired and lethargic from time to time am coping well. Things at home are also great with Oliver & Ella keeping me on my toes. Ella has started crawling and is standing up against everything. She is gorgeous and very much daddy’s little girl, I could eat her up ! Oliver is stubborn and precocious (big word for a boy from Bloem!) and has a mind of his own. The 2 of them make for a very entertaining mix which I love and thrive on.

The 2 weeks break we had just past Hermanus was perfect as when I had my last little top-up on 3rd Jan my blood counts were low and I was advised to steer clear of public spaces and too many people. Wilmien and I had a great time and rested well. Many thanks to the Van Hoogstratens for making the ‘boathouse’ available.

So now we head for Monday’s check-up. We hope, trust, pray, visualize, conceptualize and focus on an excellent result. Thanks for the support, mails and thoughts. It all helps.

Till then check out some picks of the holidays at the boathouse.

Here’s wishing all a great 2008, especially me !

Nkosi Gakulu, Aruvwa, totsiens !!!