KELVIN & VIVIEN

Our meeting has been confirmed and I have just received a fantastic email with lots of information about Kelvin, it seems he is coming to visit with his wife Vivien, I've had a good deal, in the end I get to people for the price of one. I am feeling excited but at the same time a bit nervous, we don't know each other and we'll be talking about very personal stuff, I really hope all goes right and we all get on well with each other!

This is a copy of Kelvin's lovely email:

"Good afternoon Susana,

Vivien and I are really looking forward to meeting you, this will truly be a first for us. Apart from theatre going and gigs etc we are not at all involved in the arts and meeting you will be like looking through a window into a different world.

Prior to our meeting at 11.30 am on Thursday I thought it might be useful to give you a bit of personal background on myself and Vivien on our journey through Hepatitis C from diagnosis in Feb 2010 to today.

Name: Kelvin Marshall.

Age: Body 62, Head 22.

Work History: Senior Manager at B&Q and Sainsbury Homebase Head Offices until retirement in 2000 (age 48).

Post 2000: 10 years in Andalucía renovating an old farmhouse uninhabited for 30 years until diagnosed with Hepatitis C while travelling throughout SE Asia in Feb 2010.

Gloucester Hospital 2010 -2012: Back in the UK under the care of Gloucester Hospital where I went through 2 separate treatments to get rid of the virus. First in July 2010 which made me very ill and which the virus didn't respond to, so I was taken off the drugs about 10/11 weeks into a 48 week programme. The second and more aggressive treatment was another 48 week programme started in July 2011 which resulted in my being rushed into hospital after 20 days to be stabilised as my body (particularly my liver) was not able to withstand the rigours of that particular treatment.

Birmingham Hospital 2012: As a result of my deteriorating liver condition which was now showing the early onset of cancer, I was referred to the Specialist liver unit at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Birmingham where I was put through their liver transplant assessment programme. I finished the assessment on December 5th 2012, my case was reviewed by the surgeons on Dec 7th and I was called that afternoon to be informed I was now on the waiting list for a new liver (no guarantees).

Liver Transplants Dec 8 & Dec 11 2012: I was called the very next day Dec 8th and told to get to the hospital urgently as they had found a compatible liver, so with no time to worry or stew over it Vivien and I got to the hospital by early afternoon and I was in surgery by 6pm. Unbeknown to me this first liver failed after 36 hours and I was put on life support while the surgeons desperately tried to locate another compatible liver, for which the time window was only 72 hours before it became too late. Fortunately for us they did find one and I was operated on again on Dec 11th.

Significant moment of meaning: This date has become my 'significant moment of meaning'. I have never personally felt any stigma attached to having this pernicious virus, I believe I contracted it while travelling throughout Persia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India throughout mid 70's, either as a result of my risky lifestyle (drug experimentation)or donating blood to some hospitals in those countries. It appears the virus then lay dormant in my body for 30 + years before jumping up to bite me big time on the ass in Bali in Feb 2010. NB when I met Vivien in 1976 and we started having children, I put down childish things (drugs) and have been drug free now for over 30 years, not that I was ever an addict.

I am a very positive guy and have always been super confident that having this disease is just a blip in my unfolding life story and have always felt super confident that I will beat this disease return to 'normal'. But I didn't think it would take 5 years or take me quite so close to 'not making it'.

That is why I regard Dec 11th 2012 as my significant moment of meaning. Because when I finally came round and was able to find some focus through the post op drug haze, I was confronted by my own mortality and became even more determined not to go to my eventual grave with any regrets. I also vowed that if there was ever anything I could do to help or support anyone else with this disease,then I would do it, hence meeting you on Thursday thanks to Natalie.

We hope this helps you work out any questions you may have before we meet, and if there is time, of course we would love to look at some of your work. However, this would be purely for our own personal interest, because neither of us feel we'll be able to help you artistically with whatever piece of work pops into your head to 'articulate' this unique experience. So please consider us putty in your capable hands.

PS To help you recognise us on the day, we'll be the fab, groovy, windswept and interesting old farts holding hands and looking lost!

PPS I am now on my 3rd treatment, I'll take my last pills on Sunday Nov 2nd, then I will have to return to Birmingham after 2,4,8,12 & 24 weeks for blood tests to make sure the virus hasn't returned. Then, as a transplant patient I will return regularly (bi-annually/annually) for life to monitor my liver condition and the efficacy of the anti-rejection drug I'm now on for the rest of my life.

Regards

Kelvin and Vivien"