One Year On

It is 12 months to the day since I was admitted to hospital to have a pesky tumour removed. Sitting in the pre operating space, surrounded by busy experts going through their routines, I felt like a child, uncertain, a bit scared, curious. My brilliant surgeon and his amazing team did all they could to keep me grounded, difficult though that is when you’re bent double having a needle placed into your spine.

9 hours later the job was done, two weeks after that, still in hospital, I found out that my tumour, localised, was at stage 2. Which, in this world, is a better thing.

Dealing with a stoma was a revelation but I knew from the outset that they planned to reverse it early. And, promise kept, they did 5 months later.

It’s been a roller coaster year since then. A daughter married, a third grandchild have been blessings as has the support of wonderful family and friends.

But now it’s time for some time out, some R&R and maybe another R – reflection. I’ve not had epiphanies or damascene moments as a result of having cancer but there’s a lot to absorb. So, one year on to the day, I’m climbing on my lovely Duke and heading south to explore Italy and the islands. I’m hoping to ride amazing roads, swim in crystal waters and, if dreams come true, see a turtle. And maybe, somewhere on the road, I’ll make sense of all this. Or accept that there’s no sense to it and it’s just what happens. I’ll keep you posted.