Duke of Edinburgh Award

[Sanjo]

Some Grapes may remember that a couple of years ago, a week after his 13th birthday my #2 grandon was diagnosed with inoperable cancer behind his nose and throat.
I am proud to say that yesterday he took his D.of E. Bronze expedition phase and passed. The weather was awful and his backpack must have weighed as much as he did. What a boy!!

[veggiechicken]

What a fine, courageous grandson you have, Sanjo, You have every reason to be proud of him. May he go from strength to strength.

[taff]

I bet you're bouncing with delight
good on him, and you.

[Florence Fennel]

That's wonderful news, what courage. My 13-year old granddaughter's D of E expedition is due soon. I'll tell her about your grandson.

[Sanjo]

Thanks everyone. He had his scan a couple of months ago and we had been concerned because he had been saying he didn't feel well and "it's just like before" so alarm bells rang and it was a tense time. It turned out he had been suffering from an infection and it was what was lingering that made him feel rough. He got another all clear so we could breathe a sigh of relief.
All we need to do now is get his mother (our daughter) through her scan in May which follows on from her rectal cancer which she developed while the grandson was poorly, and their other son (now 13!)through his hospital check up as there appears to be something wrong there (although hopefully not as serious).
At one stage we had #2 grandson and daughter both being treated at the same time.
Unfortunately, my sister's daughter has not been so lucky and is terminal with her cancer. Time is running out now.There is obviously a bad bad gene running through our family.
Life can be a bugger sometimes.
Cherish your loved ones, you never know what is round the corner.
All of this came out of the blue, much as it does for most people I guess.

[cardiffsteve]

Excellent for your grandson.
Sorry to hear about all the family problems.

[Sanjo]

Excellent for your grandson.
Sorry to hear about all the family problems.

Thanks Cardiff

[Patchninja]

Wonderful news about N° 2 grandson, but I'm so sorry to hear about the other ill members of your family, especially your niece. Life isn't fair, is it?

[northepaul]

Thats fantastic!! He is such a brave and couragious lad!!
So inspiring to hear this!!

[Seahorse]

What a fabulous lad!

I hope the health problems within the family go as well as can be expected. It must be very hard for all of you.

[Sanjo]

Thanks all for the good wishes. Saw my niece today. Life is obviously difficult but she carries on as normally as she can bless her.
She is currently waiting for a new trial drug as the last one was a disaster.Fingers crossed.

[cardiffsteve]

I feel sorry for you and your family.
And theres me moaning about my internet going down and some people have real problems.

[Chocolate8me]

Sanjo that's really bad news about your family, life is so unfair sometimes.

Excellent news about your grandson though, what a star he is

[kirsty b]

Lovely achievement for your Grandson, you must be so proud after all he/you all have been and are going through.

Truly sorry to hear that the outlook is worse for your niece. Life really is unfair, best wishes and prayers for you all x