Heike, do not, for even a moment, think that you are selfish. If you get sick, both you and Simon will need looking after. If you look after yourself first, then Simon will get the care that he needs from you. If he is falling down, I would take him to the hospital to have him checked over. It may be he is dehydrated or he needs more nutrition. In any case, the doctors will be able to tell you what it is. While you are there, can you get the doctors to read Simon the riot act -- let them tell him that he is endangering his own recovery.

The not-eating and drinking is a story that I heard over and over while John was undergoing his treatment. Every time we were in the Radiation Nursing Centre, there was bound to be at least a patient there who had to be told by the doctors that unless he/she ate, there was nothing the doctors could do for him/her. Even the doctors and the dietitians were getting frustrated with the hard-headed patients on a regular basis.