Home again!

I thought I'd be home from the hospital by five-thirty . . . I was home by three-thirty.

I thought I'd come round from the general anaesthetic feeling nauseous . . . on the contrary, I was hungry for the delicious cheese sandwiches on offer.
I thought I'd arrive home feeling shaky and only fit for rest . . . instead I took Chloe out into the sun-drenched garden and sat under the trees exuding incredulous gratitude.


And what brought about this radical change in expectations?

Could it be all your much-appreciated cards and messages, your phone calls and offers of help, your loving and supportive care?

Could it also be what I can only call the indescribable kindness, efficiency and support of everyone I encountered at The Royal Marsden?


Apart from my wonderfully reassuring and helpful consultant, there was Michele, and Niamh,  and Beverly, and Toni and Lucy . . . to give just a few of the names I can remember.                                                          

The nurses even escorted me and my invaluable friend to the lift when the time came to leave, hugging me and wishing me well . . . my recovery was all thanks to them, I insisted.

So now my body has two weeks in which to recuperate.  Two weeks before the hospital needs to see me again.
Two weeks for the wound to heal, my right arm to regain strength, and for rest to be the order of the day.

Can any of you think of a word more powerful than 'gratitude', more heartfelt than 'thank you' . . .?
If so, that's exactly how I feel at the moment!

Thank you . . .

How can I possibly express my gratitude?


I look at the 'Get Well' cards and flowers which have arrived during the past week.
I look at the computer screen, and register the steady stream of supportive emails. 
Throughout the day I receive your concerned and caring 'phone calls.


Added to which there's the wonderfully generous and supportive friend who insists on taking me to the hospital appointments and bringing me home again.

'Thank you' is a totally inadequate response.

So, in return for your kindness, may I share some good news? 
You'll remember that I was going to The Royal Marsden this week to learn the results of last week's scans.

The results?  Apart from the lump in my breast that had already been diagnosed, they all proved negative.
Not only that, it was confirmed that I can go to The Royal Marsden next Thursday morning for the lump to be removed, and return home in the early evening into the care of my therapy cat.

So much to be grateful for.

And let me repeat my appreciation of the wonderfully helpful and efficient staff at the hospital.
Individually and collectively they once again did all they could to ensure that I was fully in the picture, to put my mind at rest, and to give me confidence in the operation and its outcome.

I've returned home with helpful literature, a personal contact who will be there to advise me, and an emergency 'phone number should it ever be needed,

Thank you, thank you . . . all of you.
It's almost worth the discovery of a cancerous lump to simultaneously discover the supportive kindness and generosity of one's friends, and the wonderful care offered by the NHS.

Think of me, please, on Thursday . . . I know you will.