These views were from the ward I was in moments after I was brought up from the Recovery Unit following my surgery.
I have been lucky in my life to have seen some wonderful scenic views in some wonderful places in the world when I have been backpacking or cycling......but believe me none of them had the same impact as these views ...
Because of the risks involved with the surgery due to my multiple heart conditions I really did not expect to survive the operation. The requirements for the treatment of my multiple cancers are the complete opposite to what is needed to control my heart conditions.
Everything had been spelled out to me by all the various medical departments involved regarding the risks involved in proceeding with the procedure as well as the certain outcome by not having it done ...
I really did not have a choice but I was certain that I would not get through the surgery so to wake up and see the above views had a real impact on me. Going in to the operating theatre I felt that they were my last conscious moments of my life.
It was very difficult trying to hold all my emotions together but I did manage it. I wanted to at least leave this life relaxed and under control. The euphoria I felt when looking out of the ward window elevated the view to the best and most stunning view I had ever experienced.
So where do we go from here?
Well we won't know for a few weeks how successful the surgery actually was. The Surgeon who did the procedure has a reputation for being the best in the south west of the country for this type of operation but we need to wait for the results from the lab from some of the material that was removed......
If it still shows the possibility of cancer remaining then I will need to have follow up radiotherapy of some kind to try and eradicate it. However this is all just part of what is going on as I still have the other two cancers that need to be dealt with and I am only part of the way through the treatment for those.
I was told when I was first diagnosed back in November last year that there is no actual cure and as such my cancers are terminal. Remission is what we can hope for and trust that it will be a long one.
I have been told that there is only a 20 per cent chance of surviving beyond two years from the date of first diagnosis. I am very determined that I will be part of that 20 per cent group !!
