Results tagged “Kenilworth” from Birmingham Mail - I Will Survive

It has been a very busy week of aromatherapy and yoga at my house, osteopath and physio treatment, running my course on Tuesday and finally, a scan on Friday at Coventry. I am exhausted just reading this list, so it is time to indulge myself in what I enjoy most - live entertainment. My husband John, my friend Wendy and I all went after my scan, to see "Quidam" the latest Cirque du Soleil show at the NIA. I never fail to be amazed at the skill and precision of these wonderful entertainers and I love walking over the bridges at Brindley Place and seeing the trees lit up with twinkling blue lights. Although it was March, we sat outside a restaurant where the air was warm, thanks to the gas heaters, and enjoyed a drink together before going home. This was the best way to forget the scan and hospital visit. Keeping busy always helps me to stop worrying about the results.

The weekend was upon us, but I was sad. For the first Mothering Sunday ever I was not able to spend it with my boys. Jonathan who always takes me out for a meal was in Canada and my oldest son, Justin couldn't make it .Always one to make the best of a bad situation I arranged to take Justin and my grandchildren out for lunch on Saturday instead. When I opened my door and saw my small grandsons standing in the porch eagerly waiting to give me a card and bouquet of flowers I realised the date is unimportant, as every time I share time with my family, it is special.

On Mothering Sunday my doorbell rang and there was the florist with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a balloon from Jonathan and Jaimie in Canada who had remembered, even though Mothering Sunday is celebrated on a different day there. Although there are so many miles between us, they made my day.

I went to church and all the ladies were given a posy of daffodils which was a lovely gesture and I then went to put some roses on my own Mom's grave. It is a day of very mixed emotions for those of us who have lost our Moms and I remembered all the wonderful Mothering Sundays I had shared and how I missed her.

5 o'clock that evening I was waving goodbye to John as I was on my way to London to attend a Macmillan course and I met up at Euston with my friend Maureen who tutored with me on our very first course in the Midlands.We were staying at the Jury's Inn in Islington and on the night headed for the nearest restaurant in this amazingly busy area of London. After putting the world to rights with much laughter, we went back to the hotel for hopefully a good night's sleep to prepare us for the course the next day.

Unfortunately there had been a double murder just down the road, so police sirens were going ten to the dozen making sleep impossible. Well it was a very different Mothering Sunday to what I am used to but as my Mom used to say "nothing in life lasts dear!" but do you know I really enjoyed it.

The course day was busy and we were learning to teach a completely different course tailor made for cancer patients. It was both exhausting and rewarding and at the end of the day I collapsed on the train seconds before it moved from the platform. I was amazed to learn that it now takes just 1hr 15mins to get from London Euston to Birmingham International.

All too soon the day of reckoning had arrived... time to see Professor Poole for the results of my scan. I met a lady from my course there. John says wherever we go I always know someone and I think he is right. The scan showed I still have cancer in my lymph nodes but nowhere else. Unfortunately the radiographer hadn't compared them to my last scan to see if they had grown, so Professor Poole said he would do that and write to me in 2 weeks and if all was well then he would see me again in 3 months. So I don't know if it is good or bad news till I get his letter, but I am going to be positive and believe all is well.

That afternoon I met 2 old friends from the BBC in Kenilworth and we all went into the church in Abbey Fields to say thank you and then we went off to do a spot of "ladies who lunch" in the warm Spring sunshine. Once again the memories of my hospital visit were replaced by happy moments with good friends and I truly believe that this is all contributing to my survival with cancer.