Is There Life after Diagnosis/Chemotherapy Part 1

This is for everyone who wonders what life may hold for them after diagnosis and/or chemotherapy. This is some of what I did since diagnosis.

1n 1999, as well as those two wonderful holidays, we had also been very busy raising money with table top sales and painting/selling glasswork. In 1997 we had hosted two girls aged 11 for one month. They came from the region affected by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident (in Belarus, formerly Russia) and were with us for rest, good food and some fun. We didn’t speak Russian and they didn’t speak English but we had a great time. For a first visit a charity (Chernobyl Children Lifeline) paid their airfare, but for a 2nd visit it was for the host family to raise the money. And so in 1999 we were busy doing everything we could to raise money for their airfare and organise trips out and about for the month they were with us. However, the time was getting nearer and nearer for their visit and I was feeling more unwell but obviously I didn’t want to cancel their trip as life in Belarus is very hard with little money and of course the girls were looking forward to it. We went ahead with the visit and I coped, but my visit to the haematologist was 2 days before they were due to fly home. He had told me not to worry about my mother’s CLL and so I didn’t. I left my 2 guests with a friend and went to the hospital alone and got my diagnosis. I was told I had probably had CLL for a few years before it was picked up on the blood test). My husband commuted to work and was 2 hours away and I had to pick up my girls and there was no time to collect my thoughts. I was so shocked. The following day there was a party for all of the children in our group and so we danced and partied and the diagnosis was put on hold until they had flown home the next day. I only mention this, because feeling unwell in 1999 and yet still managing to do so much was encouraging.

Watch and wait (and worry) came next. Maybe I should mention here that I like to enter competitions. My first big win being the holiday to Australia. However, another long white envelope arrived in 2000. This time we had won a week in Austria . Of course we were so excited and packed our walking boots and in September arrived in Kitzbuhl. I would be fibbing if I said I was full of energy, but of course my holiday log reminds me that I couldn’t get out of bed the first morning because I felt unwell. However, we did a trip down the salt mines, and a trip to the glacier at Gross Glockner (fabulous). We also took the chair lifts up the mountains and walked and walked. The views were spectacular. I found if I could amble along flatish surfaces I was fine. We had many hot chocolate drinks with cream on time and of course, apple studel. All the hotel expenses were paid for us and it was wonderful to sit in the hotel in the evening knowing that it was all free!! I probably pushed myself to the limit but I reckoned I could rest up when I got home. What a trip.

On to 2001. In January my neice was getting married in Antigua and my sister offered to treat my other sister and me to the trip! What did we do? We went of course and the 3 of us had a fabulous time. As usual the first day of the holiday found me in bed feeling unwell, but by then I learned to pace myself more and lie down if I need to. The wedding was wonderful, overlooking the sea and under a bower of flowers. And quality time with my sisters and my brother (the bride's father). Antigua - well, what can I say? White beaches, blue sea and and great company.

Still in 2001....In April my other sister, asked me if I would like to go to Lourdes in France as she would like to treat me. I am not a catholic but I have a faith in God and so we flew to Toulouse and then took the train to Lourdes. I can't explain Lourdes to anyone who has not been. It is such a very special place and we spent much time there. We also took a bus trip to Cauteret in the mountains, and then the ski lift to the top. Awesome. We stayed in a french bed and breakfast and ate in the local cafes. We walked in the countryside outside of Lourdes town and took the funicular railway up another mountain and walked back down.