by meganne 23 May 2017

I finally started up my computer last night and tried to write this message but I got a bit waylaid writing to other Cuties in need, all the while my laptop just kept shutting down for no good reason, so I finally gave up and went to bed. Thinking I'd try again after a sleep, I figure it was probably something I was doing wrong as I had had a hugely stressful, emotionally draining, day and I was so very exhausted.

Firstly I want to thank all my Cute family who sent me so many wishes of support. Your words and prayers carried me through my darkest days and scariest nights and gave me the greatest strength and comfort.

Most especially I thank my dear friend, Jerri, who kept in constant contact with me via Facebook Messenger as at each setback I would hear my phone ping and see Jerri's smiling face cheering me on. There are no words to express the love I feel for my dear Canadian friend, THANK YOU.

Yesterday , 14 days out from surgery, Ray drove me to the GP for aftercare follow up. Now when I say this so lightly, I had to walk down 15 stairs to get to the garage, then hoist myself up into his SUV, it took quite a bit of wrangling getting my (new knee) leg into the car without being able bend it the required amount, especially since both of us had temporary amnesia and didn't think to move the seat back as far as it could go to make the process a lot easier. LOL!!!

So I'm talking to the GP and he's asking me all about my scary Atrial Fibrillation event, (heart rate 170 beats per minute instead of 64) and he suddenly realises it's time for the staples to come out of my knee. Now I've had over 23 procedures and more needles and stitches than hot dinners, so I should be REALLY used to it, right?
Nope.
One look at the 30 plus staples in my knee saw me reduced to a quivering jelly. Some of them hurt like crazy because my leg was so swollen but they are OUT! Yaye! Now I’m just nervous about bending the knee and the wound opening up. (Come on girl, Snap out of it!!! Sheesh talk about any excuse to avoid doing the physio. )

But on to the most distressing part of this long winded post.

After leaving the GP and in desperate need of a coffee, we headed off towards my friend, Rada’s home, some 40 minutes drive away. You see, the day I ended up in ICU I received a phone call from my very distressed friend telling me she had breast cancer. After talking for nearly an hour it came down to the facts that she had found a lump, she had a mammogram, she had an ultrasound and her STUPID GP told her it was DEFINITELY cancer, which sent her into a spiral of uncontrolled panic, fear and worry. It took all my persuasive powers to finally convince her that, WITHOUT the results of a biopsy, no one could say it is DEFINITELY ANYTHING. It made me so terribly annoyed to be stuck in hospital when she obviously needed me and I spent the next several days texting and calling her to comfort her and talk her through the required steps of having the biopsy done, which she did.

So we arrive at Rada’s to collect her and her hubby and take them the hour’s drive to John Hunter Hospital so I could accompany her to see her (prospective) Oncology Surgeon to get the results of the biopsy. Now, while it was positive for cancer, the Oncologist was really upbeat and positive as there was so many “Favourable points” (his words) to the results.
He was/is convinced that it will only require a small, less intrusive Lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy, and that should result in complete removal of the small cancer cell, which is so close to the surface as to be able to see it. Also, it is Stage 2 and it is non aggressive.
All the while he was speaking to us and with each positive piece of information he imparted, my heart was doing a happy dance and we left there with Rada in a much better, more positive, frame of mind knowing that the whole process should be taken care of a lot more quickly and easily than many other breast cancers.

Still, it IS cancer, and still scary. The procedures need to be followed, ALL BEING WELL………………
Lumpectomy, Sentinel Lymph Node removal, pathological biopsy of all materials then radiation, possibly followed by hormone treatment therapy with Tamoxifen.

So my friends, trying to keep the Devil’s Advocate, FEAR, at bay I humbly ask could all you wonderful prayer warriors PLEASE say a prayer for Rada, for a straight forward removal of the cancer and an all clear before the end of this year.

Her only daughter lives in Switzerland and her son lives at the top end of Australia, 1,000's of kilometres away, so Ray and I, her faith and my friends are all she has to help get her through this.

If any Cuties could see it in their hearts to send her an FSL Angel or even a message, please PM me and I will give you her address.

I can’t thank you all enough for the love and support you all give so freely.
While ever there are Cuties in the world, it holds promise of better things to come. Thank you all so very much.
Hugs and roses, Meg

PS, after my 8 hour adventure, climbing in and out of the SUV, walking for miles through the hospital grounds and feeling so stressed and worried for my friend, I actually slept for 6 hours straight, without pain killers. :-)