This is now the final leg of this
long journey and all I can say, “We can rebuild her. We have the technology. We can make her better than she was
before: better, stronger, faster.”
I’m not sure I’m stronger or
faster but I have definitely been rebuilt in the words of the bionic woman!
On my way home, driving down a
country lane, a warning light appeared on the car informing me that there was a
malfunction with the steering wheel. I couldn’t believe it given the car had literally
just come out of the garage after a MOT and service. It was also quite scary
when the steering wheel refused to turn. So, I found the nearest layby and
stopped the car, at which point everything died. I had 12% battery life on my
telephone and could not remember for the life of me who I had recovery with. I
knew I had renewed it whilst going through Chemo but could I remember the name,
no. Not to mention the fact I was conscious not to drain the battery whilst
searching for the details given I would have to call the company once I found
their details! Fortunately, I found the details and called them but now I
needed a toilet and you know how it is when you can’t distract yourself, well I
had nothing to distract myself with. I even considered going in the layby but
when I got out of the car it was too cold and exposed, that I couldn’t. Every
car that went by me beeped because I had no hazards on as all of the electrics had
died. So, I waited, and I waited, getting colder and colder. Recovery arrived
at 11pm and it took the gentleman half an hour to load the car onto the truck.
It was 1pm when I arrived home freezing cold. I then had to get myself down to
the garage by 8am because I needed the car to collect the kids who were both
travelling to me prior to the surgery. The car was fixed some £400 later, another
expense I didn’t need especially with no income coming in. The day after I
spent all day at the hospital undergoing various scans but whilst at hospital I
was told I had to wait for a blood thinning injection prior to surgery which
meant I overstayed the time on the pay and display ticket receiving a parking
charge notice of £70. Again, would it not make more sense to pay on exit rather
than a pay and display system in a hospital, granted most hospital appointments
are rarely on time!
The surgery itself went well. I
was closely monitored, every hour the first night and then every 2 hours the
following night and then every 4 hours after that. I cannot praise the nursing
staff on ward 11 at High Wycombe enough for their patience and support. The
consultant and the nursing staff were all brilliant and I had all the dressings
removed 2 days ago. I was now allowed to use stairs and have a bath. My
daughter had come over for a week and helped with food and washing which was
great but there’s nothing like being able to sit in a bath and washing
yourself. There is also nothing like a good night’s sleep in a bed and not a
sofa. So, the last 2 nights have been in bed and I have actually slept despite
the fact I have to sleep on my back with my knees bent. I am a little more
mobile but given my stomach has been cut from one end to the other it is going
to take time before I can do anything normal given we use our core muscles for
many things.
Overall, I do feel like I have
been rebuilt over the years, what with metal plates in my jaw from when I broke
it in Thailand, metal screws in my knee from a football injury and now a new
breast from my own fat and finally a flat stomach and new belly button. What
more could a woman of my age want! Anyhow, the battle continues both physically
and mentally to deal with the everyday challenges and consequences of being
diagnosed with breast cancer.
