Danny Kelly
@dannykellywords
Trans Europe Express (show AND pod!), H&J on @Talksport. @vftlpodcast Spurs pod via @theathleticuk. Ex-editor NME, Q. Fast and bulbous! Located: Kilkenny and the Canyons Of My Mind
As always, I thank you all for your support. Especially from bands I haven't worked with for years. Members of Dexys, the Waterboys, The Fall, Primal Scream, The Loft, The Coral and the mighty Manics, among others, have all wished me luck. Note; only great bands; I'm humbled.
I have to say this, cos it's true. The ICU nurses - half locals, half from the south Indian seaside state of Kerala - are amazing. Their diligence, compassion and humour pulled me through. I have a list of their names; I will never forget them.
One medic commented that I've "the constitution of an ox." Which made me feel very sad for an ox, alone and weedy in a field somewhere, with MY constitution...
Some of this is just terrible luck. The syndrome that had me in ICU is SO rare that nobody in ireland is an expert. My tests were sent to LONDON. Several brain scans, multiple infusions and a lumbar puncture later, I'm a bit "better". Maybe even going home (again) today..
KELLY CANCER KRONIKLES. Cos so many of you kindly asked for an update... My treatment has most definitely NOT gone to plan. SEVEN hospitalisations have turned an already tough journey into a messy stagger. I spent last week in the Intensive Care Unit. Scary stuff..
Farewell then, Jõao, and thanks. Your attitude, and actions, during the relegation run-in means that, for me at least, you're a Spurs legend forever. #warrior
Kelly cancer correspondence. Back home after another horrid spell in orspital. But I've just had the most fantastic non-medical pick-me-up. Ireland - yes Ireland- have just beaten India - yes, world champions INDIA! - at T20. Their first ever win over mighty India in any format. #wow
Kelly cancer kronikles. At the risk of causing you all compassion-fatigue, I've spent the last 8 days in hospital, once AGAIN dancing with Mr D. Another horrible, unpredicted, bump in the road. Much better today: first food for a week. I live to fight another day... ✊️💊
91 years apart. My mum, Josie, 92 in a few days, getting her first ever glimpse of her newest great grandchild, the mighty Teddy. I could cry. I DID cry. #family
Now I'm home again. Weak as a kitten, but grateful again for all of your support. I've got a long road ahead, recovering from multiple downturns, to be ready for my next op. But I am, apparently, not alone... (made that sculpture from those ECG terminals, and the visitors chair)
Internal bleeding from the shrinking tumour, and from a pair of previous unknown ulcers. Luckily that night, BOTH of Ireland's best gut surgeons were on duty. They stopped the bleeding. Couple of days ago, a nurse described their intervention as "life and death". I am lucky.
I've done the four blasts of chemo. Each one has been followed by a hospitalisation with side-effects, and worse. After the last chemo, 3 weeks ago, I began to feel worse and worse. Passing in and out of consciousness. A&E in Dublin. They stuck a camera down my throat...i
Kelly cancer communiqué. First off, forgive me for the month-long radio silence. I've not been jn great shape. I'll explain all here; not for drama, or sympathy, but cos I said from the start I'd be honest. And, yes, I've bought a blue tick; so much things to say right now...
UPDATE! Last thing, a very low temp reading sent us (middle of the night) to local A&E, 30km away. There till 5am: I'm fine. The hero here is Mrs K @AlexClark3. Her job is Literary Empress; yesterday she was chauffeur to a bag of illness. AND IT WAS HER BIRTHHDAY! What a gal!💚
Kelly chemo cornucopia, day 43. HUGE DAY. 275km round trip to have the PICCline (carries the chemo to the big vein near the heart) removed in TEN SECONDS. And here it is: been inside me for 8 weeks. I'm supposed to say "farewell, old friend". I actually say "fuck off PICCline!"
Kelly chemo countdown, day 41. BIG day: last chemo blast (for now). I come appropriately and inconspicuously dressed for vibes! Cream hoodie. MC5 shirt. And plain old lid to keep a baldy heed cosy. 🤣🤣🤣 Best wishes, vibes and prayers gratefully recieved.
Kelly chemo cavalcade, day 36. Another horrible week. But with one positive. ZaZa is Ireland's baddest cat, but from a kitten, she chose ME. Thru this horror, she is with me every moment. I'm a softie, a peace-n-luv guy: she is a ferocious battle cat, fearless and stern. We make a very good pair.💚
Kelly chemo cringing, day 31. 3rd blast done. But now comes dreaded platelet injection. Most folk do "ok"; it smashes me to a sobbing ball of pain and fear. Nurse has a plan. No other plans needed, ta 🙏. What I DO need are your prayers, wishes, vibes, itrw or on here. Wish me🤞#drugstabbingtime
RIP Barrie Tomlinson, writer, publisher, comic book legend, and keeper of the Roy Of The Rovers flame. Recently, I got to "know" him on socials. Lovely. Before I discovered music, football comics were my window on the world: which I guess makes Barrie some sort of spirit-guide. He'd laugh at that.
Kelly chemo coiffure, day 28. Further to revelation that I have a chemically-induced allover bald spot... I suddenly realise that many of my role models are slapheads... Pablo, Prof Farnsworth, Ike, MJ, Kurtz, Monty, Shaft, Homer, Don. ("hair?... no fxxking way... no fxxking way... no fxxking way")
Kelly chemo confessions, day 28. Inevitably, my mad old geezer hair is all falling out. Soon I'll be as smooth as a cue-ball. No more freak flag. Tbf, nature had already put me well down this road. And - don't shout at me - I feel it's much worse for women. 😞
Kelly chemo cavortings, day 28. Sitting in the hotel in Dublin, on way to Blast No3 of disgusting poisons. First song roaring into the sedate foyer? Geno by the mighty Dexysl. I take this as a VERY goid sign. My heart soars like a hawk...
Kelly Chemo Ravings, Day 16. Dreaded platelet injection 2moro, but today has been fine. So much so I, even wanted to play a few tunes. Guess what my drugs-ravaged body wanted to hear first??? 🤣🤣🤣 ... open.spotify.com/track/7zP0DIIO… 🤣🤣🤣 I am a cliché.
MY ass, Grant? We were fighting the exact same British empire. 👍👍👍