Monday, September 7, 2009

What a shock !!!

What a shock yesterday when a friend told me they had been reading this blog and why had I stopped in June of last year !!!! My goodness where did that time go ???

My regular checkups came all to quickly, every 6 months I made the 90 minute journey to Valencia, hating the drive in the city centre and actually getting nervous about from the day before.Laterly I had a friend going with me, a super friend called Gay, she has been in my life for 30 years and is the most tranquil person I have ever met, so wonderful to be around. For one of these six monthly visits my car was of the road so off we went in Gays trusty old car. As we approached Gandia, out of respect for her aged but much loved and reliable car ( let's face it, hers was going and mine was not ), I suggested we leave the car there and get the train in to Valencia.

That was the start of our super days out where the visit to the oncologist and for my intravenous treatment in the day hospital became a secondary part of the day. As soon as all of that was over, we jumped into a taxi and spent the day in Valencia. We had a lovely lunch in a top floor restaurant with views of the reclaimed river bed area of Valencia and then we shopped before getting the train home. That has now become the routine for all the visits. They are now something to look forward to, a joy in fact. A time when we catch up with each other. Once again taking the positive out of everything. Even in the blackest moments there has to be a glimmer of light, that light is the positive. Grab it with both hands. We create our own reality.

During the time I have been absent so much has happened. One of those happenings has been the disbanding of the support site I was involved with. I decided to found my own and luckily my most favourite people joined me. We are only 23 members and we are scattered on almost all continents. Three years ago whilst still with the old site we had a meeting in London. 16 of us attended and it was a riot. Every second of the time together was enjoyed, every second exploited to it's fullest capacity. One of the girls in Australia could not make it so we did a Skype camera call so that she was with us for a time. Cancer brought me these wonderful people. One of the ladies from America then flew here to have a week with me. It was a time of such laughter, such pleasure. Sadly four of "my ladies" have died since then but each one of them has left her own special mark on my life and in my heart. I learnt so much from each one of them, from their dignity, their strength and there bravery.

Throughout the whole of this journey my husband, the most important figure in my life, continued to support, love and cherish me. It is important for anyone who has a life threatening illness to remember that their loved ones often suffer more than they do.

So much more to chronicle and so little time today, will be back tomorrow,