Week 34 – Thursday
We’ve had a number of emails and telephone messages checking that we are safe. And we are.
Ben called very quickly after 9 am when he picked up news of a power surge and became concerned it was a terrorist attack, as he wrote in his blog. He was at home as he hadn’t yet started for work. We rang Phil who was on his way to the tube station and he returned home. We were relieved to hear that Sofia was safe. She was in the Central Line tunnel near Liverpool Street station when it happened, but fortunately that was not the tube line the incident occurred on.
We then checked events as they unfolded on the news channels. I couldn’t leave it alone all morning even though the news was slow to emerge and became repetitive. I think it must have been a shock reaction which millions have us experienced in response to events.
I am getting used to my heightened emotional responses these days, so my tears of sadness for the pain and suffering inflicted on individuals and families through death and injury did not surprise me this time. I let the feelings flow as I watched the scenes of destruction. What did startle me was the growing feelings of vulnerability and apprehension I felt as the morning went on. This hatred and violence aimed at ordinary people on the street is frightening.
Carol pointed out that I have a massive attack going on inside me regularly and today there was a massive attack taking place outside me too. The reverberations felt overwhelming and immobilising. I didn’t feel safe.
When I later went out in the car I felt very nervous and made sure I was driving very carefully and safely. During my journey I saw a man dart through the traffic to cross the road and almost get hit by an oncoming truck. As I saw the truck approach I was already expecting to see the man struck down in the street. Both driver and pedestrian shrugged off the non-incident and went about their business. I was left contemplating how I was prepared for more disaster.
At work, calls for counselling help were non-existent – the fewest calls I have seen on any day I have worked there. We are guessing that people are still in shock generally and that we will see an increase for requests over the next few days as people struggle to cope with the impact.
On a less sombre note, there was an excellent article in the Sun newspaper today on Hepatitis C featuring interviews with Gemma, Neil, Liana, Nick and Nimrod (whom I don’t personally know). The article was balanced and informative – free of the sleaze stigma that we see in other media reports.
And I look forward to reading news coverage of the FaceIt Campaign exhibition in Nottingham. Having my photo portrait 9 feet tall displayed there doesn’t phase me this time around, following my experience in Leicester Square earlier in the year.
July 8th, 2005 at 4:24 pm
Delighted to hear you are ok, Ron. I’ve written up the Nottingham event in my blog, and I’m sure you’ll be visiting it soon.
The forum seems extremely popular – I discussed with several people who arefinding it invaluable.
July 8th, 2005 at 8:37 pm
Hi Ron
Glad all yours OK, mine too. I too was glued to the news and I too got through quite a few handkerchiefs. I noticed that I cried most at the positive and uplifting statements about courage and mutual support, and at messages about reaching out to all Londoners of all faiths, including Islam, to assert friendship and not blaming all Moslems for the actions of a tiny minority. Interesting what you say about the attack within and without.
Jeremy
July 8th, 2005 at 9:45 pm
Quote “Carol pointed out that I have a massive attack going on inside me regularly and today there was a massive attack taking place outside me too. The reverberations felt overwhelming and immobilising. I didn’t feel safe.”
Thanks Carol for that excellent insight. I often feel like that and wondered why. I am hoping it will help to know why I feel so exposed and vulnerable at times.
However, I have to say that, at other times when I have a controlled
riba-rage response it gives me a real edge which I quite like. People take me very seriously and not many people would mess me with me.
So, its the swings and roundabouts of treatment. Never all bad, never all good.
Pleased you are all safe.
Paul.
July 9th, 2005 at 1:31 pm
Ron,
So happy to hear that you and your family and safe. I don’t know how to react to such purposeful harm of innocent people…. continue to be shocked and appalled.
Sue
July 11th, 2005 at 2:06 am
I’m very glad to hear you and yours are safe and sound. I had to work but saw alot of coverage before I left for work. It affected me much the same was as the attack in America did. Stunned shock and many many tears. When 9/11 happened I was in my first month of treatment of the combo Peg/riba and I was sick in bed that day but watched the horror over and over, unable to turn it off.
Keeping all the injured and families of the dead in my thoughts and prayers.
July 12th, 2005 at 1:23 am
hi ron, im glad to here you are safe. this world has started to turn a terrible corner, i think. im not usually a pessimist. i normally can find hope or reason in things- even my status- but mindless slaughter tears that fabric away. i dont feel safe in darwin, let alone how you must all be feeling in london and birmingham.
please let there be peace on earth
still hopeful
tom
July 14th, 2005 at 2:41 am
Ron:
I actually sought to post to Week 35, but for some reason the blog errored out.
I am preparing for Week 28’s injection (this coming Sunday) and can identify with the occasional listlessness. Still, like you, I remember all those who are having a far worse time than I have encountered. Great to hear you and yours are well. I am still wondering: Did you do a mid-treatment viral load? In the states, we do a 24-week viral load and my came back “negative” for HCV. Still have scores of shots left, but am feeling good about continuing with the treatment.
Grace and peace,
Buzz