Alan had been on treatment & responded well but cancer had began to emerge. He was one of the unfortunate ones as he didn't discover he had contracted the hep c virus until his late 50's. His career of glass furnace bricklayer took him all over the world. Working hard & playing harder. I guess in a life sense he was very fortunate travelling so extensively, blessed with the gift of humour & ability to paint great art yet events were conspiring against him.
He immediately set about contacting the hep c trust & in turn, put me on to them. We met & I told him as much as I knew about hep c.
The line was drawn in the sand & his battle began, he did treatment & it hit him hard. When he'd finished he looked the picture of health, thankfully it is that image of him I am left with, as that was the last time I would see him. I had my own battles to fight.
Then a couple of months ago I heard the news of his terminal liver cancer. I called him up not knowing what the situation was. His son answered, I said " how is he ," he's here, came the reply, do you want a word with him,"
yes please.
Alan came on the line, alright Rabbit, he says, alright,Pongo, I reply. We then have a good chat & laugh, famous for his whit & sense of humour, even dying guys still have their humour, some say it's one of the last things you lose before death.
He had wanted to leave his body to hep c research but was told it couldn't happen. I asked if he felt strongly about this,
he said " I'd like to be of some use to the cause,"
Leave it with me, Ill see what I can do.
I called the hep c trust, Kings college mine & his local hepatitis clinic. I basically drew to the conclusion that because they can now grow the virus in lab conditions using his body to observe the virus was of little use at this point, also I had to consider his familes feelings, what would it mean regarding a funeral if there was no body. So I arrived home last night from my monthly visit to the hospital & said to my son " I'm gonna call Alan & explain why his last wish was not viable & help him find closure in this.
I also thought I'd get at least one more giggle with him. At the end of our last phone call I'd said as I hung up " love you " ?
The script was simple & was to go something like this," Hello ?," "eye, eye Rabbit, " so when I was hanging up last time did you hear anything about me loving you,"
"eye sounded a bit tricky to me," "
I know it was a bit strong wasn't it". Sadly that conversation never took place. I called him up & he was gone.
Turns out he'd made one last valiant attempt with a 2nd 48 weeks treatment since I'd last seen him.
So there you have it, there's a lessen in there & by penning this tribute to him, he has helped the cause, he was a fine artist & I'm going to see how the family feel about an exhibition, that would be a great way for him to leave his mark.
I'll sign off with Alan's last words to me at the end of that call last month,
"You have a good life Rabbit & remember to have yourself a little Fun".
Knockin' on Heavens Door, Bob Dylan
Played at his funeral
Knocking on Heavens door http://youtu.be/cJpB_AEZf6U
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