Mum's Big Op!!

I have had an emotional couple of days, on Thursday we were informed that my mum will be admitted to Queens Hospital for a major operation.  This Operation, needed to be done in three stages, first stage they removed part of the leg bone which has a cancer tumour in it.  The next stage they needed to remove pins and bars from previous operations, and then re-pin it.  The third stage is a complete hip replacement operation.  Mum was very frightened, as were we all, we new this was a big operation that was very uncertain.  My mother has been a great fighter with her illness, Bone Cancer, an a complete inspiration with what she has gone from to date already.  Living with someone who has this disease is hard as you need to live your life normal as if its not going on, yet knowing that it is and certain things need to be considered.  It brings very scary times, as I was only 13 when she was diagnosed.  I remember  the day my mother told me it was Cancer, I was standing in the corner to two work tops joining, I was jumping up and swinging at the time I heard the door go.  My parents came into the kitchen and I sensed they had some bad news, I asked to be told as I was not a little girl any more, I said I was old enough to deal with whatever it was and be supported.  Silence met my words, and I just announced  "its cancer isn't it", my mum then said quite simply "yes" and that's when my little world collapsed. I spent many years helping out during these times of sickness, I helped my mum up out of bed to vomit, holding her hair back, I confronted my tomato phobia which back then I had, and made her bacon and tomato sandwich's (she lived on this during her chemo days).  I was there when her hair fell out, I was there for hospital trips for appointments and for emergencies, I saw this illness destroy, my mother and I watched her rebuild her life.  I saw her mobility get restricted, and reactions good and bad to medicines, it really has been a emotional roller coaster and that was just my side of it.

I believe this is what made me grow up faster, along with my previous loss, my younger brother, felt I left a lot of people my age behind and did not really part take in the adolescent silly fun they all got involved in.  This may have been a blessing, as at least I didn't get involved in drugs and teenage pregnancy, as that would have really changed my life and I am happy to keep my life lessons.

So Friday my mother was in theatre from 2pm all the way up till 8pm, with us all on tender hooks, my father was a recluse during this time and I distracted myself with research for my future.  I tried to remember the fact that worrying was not going to change the out come and that I just had to have faith and trust in it all turning out ok.  They confirmed last night she was doing good and in the recovery HDU ward, and today she has been moved back to the normal ward.

I am visiting tomorrow, as my father and aunt did the two slots today, Lee was doing all day training and an exam which is why I was not there.  I now hope to help optimize her nutrition and help her recovery further.