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My Hysterectomy Broke Me
This isn’t the kind of post I’m used to writing. Despite trying to be honest about my experience I’ve always tried to find the positive in it too. Even in terms of having cancer itself I’ve been thankful it has given my girls a chance to really know their grandparents, that I have become more fearless in my pursuits and such. But, if I have come to learn anything in life, it is that the right path is oftentimes the harder one to walk and this completely rings true of that. This path, having cancer, is the hardest path I have ever walked and its beginning was particularly traumatic for…
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But It’ll Never Happen to Me
Today is a crazy day for me! My story is in three national papers currently. Little old me, thanks to this blog and my post of my pills that went utterly viral and is still being posted on to this day. I want to thank everyone who shared that post because it led to the lovely Hannah Smith finding me and going through my blog, Hannah heard my story from the beginning and was keen to help me get my story out there, and for that I am so thankful. So, thank you Hannah – if you are reading this – you are really a heroine to me. Thank you…
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A Little Craft Project: Ribboned Notice Board
My eldest daughter has gotten into taking photos (she got her very own camera for Christmas), putting things up in her room etc and so I decided to make her a ribboned notice board so that she could put little keepsakes up safely, but not have to worry about a four year old (and a curious 18 month old) and pins. I googled around and was shocked at the prices, and decided I would make her one myself. Like all good projects, this one began with a call to my Mum and Dad who have stored every picture frame they have ever owned only to discover they had the perfect…
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Etsy Shop Spotlight: Under The Rowan Trees
I have spent many an hour scouring the internet for cute little journaling accessories and the like. It’s kind of my thing, I get a real thrill out of a nice journal. I love to decorate the pages and bring them to life. My Sister, Sophie, has a bit of a similar thing about journals as me too, so for Christmas it should come as no surprise we agreed on swapping journal based gifts, with me putting together a fun journal kit for her; thus you can imagine my delight when I found a little shop on Etsy who specialise in quirky stationary and crafty type bits. Huzzah! Under The…
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I am Ferocious
Last night, a character on a TV show I’ve been loving said they didn’t want to sit in the chemo chair and be weak. I couldn’t help it, this totally caught my attention. Seven cycles in the chemo chair taught me many things, but it also taught me that it takes more than just guts to sit in that chair.
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An Unexpected Update
We got an unexpected call from my oncology team, Friday evening to give us some news that niether of us were expecting. My scan had shown many small blood clots in my pelvis and lungs, and I needed to begin treatment, fast.
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Recipe: One Pot Smoked Haddock Risotto
It was on a date with my then gorgeous new boyfriend at Bank in London that I first had smoked haddock risotto and I just loved it. They served it with a poached egg which was entirely divine and if I could manage to poach an egg myself I’d serve mine with one too (I know, I know, but for some reason I just cannot get my head around poaching eggs, they always go wrong). I loved it so much I went looking online for recipes and discovered one on the BBC Good Food website.
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The Final Cycle Update
Here it is, the final update for primary chemotherapy that really began in early July 2018 and finished on the 4th of January 2019. Before it began I knew it would be hard but it turns out nothing prepares you for chemo. We barely began and had to stop for me to have a colostomy. From then on we rolled with the punches. Stent changes and virus’ cost me good weeks and the pain from flares was like nothing I had ever known.
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Stay Cervix Savvy
It’s great to see so many people posting about smear testing and how important it is, but having been diagnosed in between smears, I want to remind you all to stay cervix savvy always.
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I believe in Magic
I’ve been in the hospice about two weeks now. As a result, most of the staff know me well. I’ve been cared for by them, nursed by them, supported by them and carried along by them too. It’s been a real up and down ride between crying that I’ve wanted to go home, to see my kids and be with my family, to be amongst my comfort, my world; and of knowing that I couldn’t currently be in a better place, the help I need just a buzz away and my two girls saved the trauma of their mummy in excruciating pain.
