The sea calls!

Motor Vessel PRESIDENT, photographed near Sibenik, Croatia, on August 18th, 2013.

July 23rd 2011. As of today I am the proud owner of a valid boat license to operate a Motor Yacht

(Germans call it SBF-See).

I have already reported about the activities for the acquisition of the Sportbootfuehrerschein on here. What possibilities does the ownership of the SBF-See offer me now?

Outside of the three - or rather twelve sea mile zone it would probably be wise to own the Sporthochseeschifferschein ( SHS-Schein). There is no checking of licenses though. What really counts here is being responsible. The boat or rather the yacht (you could use both terms) of course has to be seaworthy in the territory.

There are four international categories for the appraisement of the seaworthiness:

• boats of the category D are only allowed to use save waters with a maximum wave height of 0.3 meters
• boats of the category C are made to be used on coastal waters, large bays, river mouths, lakes and rivers, with a maximum wave height of 2 meters.
• boats of the category B are sea-adapted outside of coastal waters with a max. wave height of 4 meters.
• boats of the category A are open sea adapted with wave heights of over 4 meters, but not during extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes etc.

So you are allowed to steer the big boats with the SBF-See and the right experience. Although only for private, but not commercial purposes.

I was also advised that legally a yacht also counts as a motorboat when its driven with a machine.

I am looking forward to the upcoming time and I am making plans.

Time hop: July 29th 2016. I am in the Kuechwald Clinic in Chemnitz.

I have High-Risk MDS RAEB II. During the day, when there are no examinations, I inform myself about the illness and methods of treatment by searching the internet and reading field reports of concerned persons. During the night I have nightmares.

At a certain stage (which I hit already) MDS is a fast growing and deadly decease. Luckily, modern medicine can change the course of the disease, slow it down and reduce the risk of death to a couple years. In the event of finding the right contributor for a stem cell transplantation and success of the transplantation, there even is a chance of being healed. That was the straw I was holding onto.

Ward Round on July, 27th 2016.

The treating doctors Dr. Zolnowski and Dr. Herbst advised me, that we have to start chemo soon in order to repel the abnormal cells. I argued. The illness probably develops very slow in my case. I have been feeling that something was wrong for 7 or 8 years. I had brought the print out of a large hemogram which was done by my primary care provider in December 2012. It showed that the tendency (low erythrocytes, thrombocytes and leucocytes) was already visible. Back then, I blew off the apprehension of my primary care provider and the request to go see a specialist. Instead, I changed my diet to a healthier one. There has to be a natural way of fixing this. Did I mention before that I dislike going to the doctor?

I told the two doctors during ward round that for now I have other plans. From August 13th 2016 through the 27th I want to go on vacation with my wife and two other couples. Tuscany, Italy, then sailing through the northern Adriatic sea and the gulf of Venice. A Chemotherapy just does not fit in this concept at the moment. "Your health is more important" Dr. Zolnowski argued. "My quality of life is more important to me" I replied. Mrs. Dr. Herbst showed some sympathy. She loves to sail too.

The doctors debated. I was good to go. They wanted to cocker me up with some erythrocyte transfusions first. For my vacation they were going to give me some antibiotics and other pills. I have to take them on a regular base. They also advised me to be careful of injuries and avoid crowds and just take it slow. And I had to promise to return to the hospital on august 29th, so literally as soon as I get back from vacation.

I won this fight :)

It goes to the South! Tuscany and Venice, in August 2016.

Our lodging I.

Our lodging II.

Excursion to Pisa, Italy.

Florence, Italy.

Still life with hat.

This Elan Impression 45 will be our home for the next eight days.

Course is up. Destination: Venice, Italy.

We conquer Venice by sea. In front of us is Piazza San Marco.

Observe the avoidance rules.

A water taxi.

Here is a cheap place for a bathing station.

Anchor holds!

I am the best :-)

How will it go on...?

Today is Tuesday the 10th of January 2017 (15 days to stem cell transplantation).

I feel better from day to day, but I am still miles away from feeling like a healthy person. Shaky legs, a high need of sleep and I can barely concentrate. Every morning I go to the hematology clinic to receive my infusion. My blood picture has to be monitored, so they are taking some blood today as well. In the past 4 weeks I have lost 20kg, so I went from 94kg to about 74kg. I have to get my strength back, store some reserves for the upcoming time. The good thing is: I have gotten my appetite back. I decide to cook myself starting tomorrow. I’m sending my wife, who is on a business trip, a grocery list via Whats App (I cannot go myself because I’m not allowed to be in crowds) . I’m a Gourmet and good food makes me happy. In two ways: the preparation of it and eating it. I am looking forward to tomorrow.

I have cancer. A special kind. The blood forming stem cells in my bone marrow are infested. To be precise: On July 29th 2016 I was diagnosed with high risk - MDS RAEB II.
Without the help of modern medicine an absolute deadly illness. As long as I am able to, I will continuously write in my Recovery Diary. In case my condition gets worse, you may have to wait for a sequel for a couple of days.
With this Recovery Diary I want to not only write about my progress (or regress). Most importantly, I want to reassure those who are in a similar situation. No matter if it is yourself, a member of your family or a friend who is affected.

Continued, Part 6: Club Nautique - The wireless mouse on the operating table.

You can find the previous articles here:

• Part 1: In the isolation ward of the hematology/oncology. - What's actually happening in my body?
• Part 2: "By the Wind" - Celebrate a birthday in the hospital.
• Part 3: The 72 Hours Rule - Finally Home.
• Part 4: Tests, anticipation and the valley of dark shadows.