John Dabell
@johndabell.bsky.social
Incurable optimist living with incurable cancer. Hopepunk, Grit Spreader & Force Multiplier. The difference between a warrior and a worrier is a couple of vowels.
Recovery is slow and I'm sort of living in a lockdown again as I'm too vulnerable for public places and being around people. This David Shrigley card sums up my day-to-day pretty well!
November 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Recovery is slow and I'm sort of living in a lockdown again as I'm too vulnerable for public places and being around people. This David Shrigley card sums up my day-to-day pretty well!
Update: had an X-ray & my right lung is still leaking air, so the chest drain has to stay in. Signed my consent forms for the RIG tube procedure next week. Thank you for supporting us. It makes every bit of difference as we navigate this rough patch. gofund.me/822b3760d
November 26, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Update: had an X-ray & my right lung is still leaking air, so the chest drain has to stay in. Signed my consent forms for the RIG tube procedure next week. Thank you for supporting us. It makes every bit of difference as we navigate this rough patch. gofund.me/822b3760d
When you are in a hole, you awaken the life force that is sisu:
IN: “I can’t do this”
OUT: Sisu
IN: “This is too much”
OUT: Sisu
IN: “Why me?”
OUT: Sisu
When you think you can not go on, you can. This Finnish engine keeps you moving.
IN: “I can’t do this”
OUT: Sisu
IN: “This is too much”
OUT: Sisu
IN: “Why me?”
OUT: Sisu
When you think you can not go on, you can. This Finnish engine keeps you moving.
November 25, 2025 at 9:32 AM
When you are in a hole, you awaken the life force that is sisu:
IN: “I can’t do this”
OUT: Sisu
IN: “This is too much”
OUT: Sisu
IN: “Why me?”
OUT: Sisu
When you think you can not go on, you can. This Finnish engine keeps you moving.
IN: “I can’t do this”
OUT: Sisu
IN: “This is too much”
OUT: Sisu
IN: “Why me?”
OUT: Sisu
When you think you can not go on, you can. This Finnish engine keeps you moving.
Off to feed the ducks and geese peas, kibbled maize, red dari, and wheat. Strictly no bread! I've got a 2 hour feed through my nose when I get back.
November 23, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Off to feed the ducks and geese peas, kibbled maize, red dari, and wheat. Strictly no bread! I've got a 2 hour feed through my nose when I get back.
If you are in a house of pain, then you might as well play it! Pretty shattered again today but it's hour by hour with ups and downs.
November 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
If you are in a house of pain, then you might as well play it! Pretty shattered again today but it's hour by hour with ups and downs.
It's hard to believe that a few weeks ago, I was in Critical Care on a ventilator with my heart, kidneys & liver failing. Now, I've just managed a litter pick. I had to stop after one bag as I'm not strong enough yet, but at least I've done something to help keep the area tidier.
November 22, 2025 at 1:14 PM
It's hard to believe that a few weeks ago, I was in Critical Care on a ventilator with my heart, kidneys & liver failing. Now, I've just managed a litter pick. I had to stop after one bag as I'm not strong enough yet, but at least I've done something to help keep the area tidier.
Porridge oats and lettuce for the ducks this morning. Survival is the name of the game for all of us. Walked a tad further today, so that's an improvement.
November 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Porridge oats and lettuce for the ducks this morning. Survival is the name of the game for all of us. Walked a tad further today, so that's an improvement.
Hospital visit update: my lung is still healing and so the drain stays in for another week. Immunotherapy treatment has also been paused. My chest, feeding and weight loss all need to get better first. It’s overwhelming, but I’m holding on to the belief that my body can still fight fiercely and...
November 19, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Hospital visit update: my lung is still healing and so the drain stays in for another week. Immunotherapy treatment has also been paused. My chest, feeding and weight loss all need to get better first. It’s overwhelming, but I’m holding on to the belief that my body can still fight fiercely and...
It's all good in the wood. The best part of my day is getting outdoors. It's colder now, and I have no meat on my bones but that fresh air is medicine. Thank you for all the support I'm receiving. If I don't reply to a message, don't think I'm being rude. I do read everything.
November 18, 2025 at 2:07 PM
It's all good in the wood. The best part of my day is getting outdoors. It's colder now, and I have no meat on my bones but that fresh air is medicine. Thank you for all the support I'm receiving. If I don't reply to a message, don't think I'm being rude. I do read everything.
I'm not yet strong enough to take Hetty for a walk as she would pull on my torn lung. So, this is a posed picture instead! My wife now has the reins! I can play Pooh-sticks though!
November 17, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I'm not yet strong enough to take Hetty for a walk as she would pull on my torn lung. So, this is a posed picture instead! My wife now has the reins! I can play Pooh-sticks though!
Not out of the woods yet. I'm not sure I have ever been! Finding a way.
November 16, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Not out of the woods yet. I'm not sure I have ever been! Finding a way.
Today's achievement: I managed to wash and dress myself. It's not easy with a chest drain and feeding tube but I did it, in a fashion. Little wins.
November 12, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Today's achievement: I managed to wash and dress myself. It's not easy with a chest drain and feeding tube but I did it, in a fashion. Little wins.
When I received my first Stage IV cancer diagnosis, my understanding of the miracle of life hit home. My second diagnosis of Stage IV incurable widened that awareness into something far deeper and more sacred. And now, with recent events, I find myself living on a level of understanding I never...
November 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
When I received my first Stage IV cancer diagnosis, my understanding of the miracle of life hit home. My second diagnosis of Stage IV incurable widened that awareness into something far deeper and more sacred. And now, with recent events, I find myself living on a level of understanding I never...
I'm going to show folks. 2 weeks ago today, I was in ICU with a collapsed lung and multi-organ failure. Life-saving expertise, care and support from so many talented people means that today, I'm walking around my local ponds with a chest drain and feeding tube.
November 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I'm going to show folks. 2 weeks ago today, I was in ICU with a collapsed lung and multi-organ failure. Life-saving expertise, care and support from so many talented people means that today, I'm walking around my local ponds with a chest drain and feeding tube.
1 week ago I was on a ventilator & hooked up to various gubbins & now catheter is out, & I have one less chest drain. Lung not fully inflated yet & big decisions have to be made about my feeding as it is currently going through my nose & possibly permanently so. Hate being on the ward.
November 3, 2025 at 12:21 PM
1 week ago I was on a ventilator & hooked up to various gubbins & now catheter is out, & I have one less chest drain. Lung not fully inflated yet & big decisions have to be made about my feeding as it is currently going through my nose & possibly permanently so. Hate being on the ward.
I've worked hard on my mental fitness over the years and always knew that it was crucial. In hospital, this gets a severe workout as there is so much to cope with. I'm certainly being stretched at the moment and trying to maintain my discipline.
November 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I've worked hard on my mental fitness over the years and always knew that it was crucial. In hospital, this gets a severe workout as there is so much to cope with. I'm certainly being stretched at the moment and trying to maintain my discipline.
I am now off ICU and on a ward. Still a way to go yet. May have to have a permanent feed to prevent this happening again. Extremely challenging situation and tough days ahead.
October 31, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I am now off ICU and on a ward. Still a way to go yet. May have to have a permanent feed to prevent this happening again. Extremely challenging situation and tough days ahead.
I'm now in hospital with a collapsed lung which Docs are unable to drain. Without an op, the infections will kill me. Op is tomorrow am. My family and I need your love, support, shares and help more than ever. Thank you. I will update further when I can.
gofund.me/41874cbe6
gofund.me/41874cbe6
October 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM
I'm now in hospital with a collapsed lung which Docs are unable to drain. Without an op, the infections will kill me. Op is tomorrow am. My family and I need your love, support, shares and help more than ever. Thank you. I will update further when I can.
gofund.me/41874cbe6
gofund.me/41874cbe6
Mission for this week: keep producing courage, resilience, hope, and optimism on an industrial scale.
October 12, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Mission for this week: keep producing courage, resilience, hope, and optimism on an industrial scale.
Visting our bright and beautiful daughter today in Liverpool, where she is studying. It is so great to see her! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
October 11, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Visting our bright and beautiful daughter today in Liverpool, where she is studying. It is so great to see her! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
As a third of my life has been fighting two Stage IV cancers and the horrible side-effects, I often wonder how much more productive I would have been without all this. Please continue to share and support my story, thank you. gofund.me/86c8cdcca
October 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
As a third of my life has been fighting two Stage IV cancers and the horrible side-effects, I often wonder how much more productive I would have been without all this. Please continue to share and support my story, thank you. gofund.me/86c8cdcca
The best therapy comes without walls or Wi-Fi, and nothing heals, steadies, or lifts quite like fresh air. It’s the cheapest and finest luxury there is. Out here, every breath reminds you what matters.
October 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The best therapy comes without walls or Wi-Fi, and nothing heals, steadies, or lifts quite like fresh air. It’s the cheapest and finest luxury there is. Out here, every breath reminds you what matters.
Hills build legs. Struggles build souls.
October 9, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Hills build legs. Struggles build souls.
Sometimes, standing still is the best way forward. Even a statue outlasts the storm.
October 7, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Sometimes, standing still is the best way forward. Even a statue outlasts the storm.
Done! I'm now making a swift exit to walk Hetty! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
October 6, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Done! I'm now making a swift exit to walk Hetty! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂