Life Changing Moments

Today I passed another milestone on my way to returning to a full and normal life!!!


Two years ago I was dead! I was on life support having had pancreatitis and a duodenum ulcer that had burst with such force, it blew a hole in my stomach, bowel and duodenum. The surgeon told my sister he would do his best but to say goodbye. The last rites were given.  I had a 5 hour operation. But HA!! They had not counted on the stubborness within me and I wasn't going anywhere. I of course knew nothing of the drama going on around me until I came out of the induced coma a month later. 

                                                                 criticalgamers.com


Being ill is easy. You lie there, morphined to the hilt. The world spins by without you having to do anything. But the road to recovery is hell. Rehabilitation is double hell. To learn to eat, walk, talk, write again. Each minute step taken towards recovery is HUGE. I was in hospital for 5 months, had 2 further operations and a number of smaller "proceedures". Last year I had another major op which went wrong and it has taken another year to begin to recover from that. 


But....there have been huge milestones, full of joy, that have been passed!  I can talk (and how!), I can walk - not long distances, not far, but far enough to please both me and my little dog! I can eat (again, "and how"!) gone are the feeding tubes, gone is the pureed crap. Back are the baked potatoes, steak, chocolate......!!  For two years I've had nursing at home. (God bless the NHS). Because of the wounds on my stomach I was unable to have a bath. In February, the nurses deemed the wound healed enough for me to have one.  I cannot express in words the feelings I had stepping into that bath, filled to the brim with warm, bubbly water, and submerging myself into it!! 3 months on I still get a thrill out of having a bath!! I will never take a bath for granted again.

                                                                   caring4uevents.co.uk


I have also been unable to drive. Firstly because of the wounds, secondly because of all the anaesthetic and thirdly because I have simply been too ill to concentrate on it. This has left me stranded in the village - unable to go to the shops or see friends. (I am 17 miles in each direction from the nearest big shopping town). I have been blessed by having had the unbelievable support and kindness of neighbours and friends who have driven me for the last two years.  Today I drove........whoooooooooooop!! I employed the services of a lady in the village who runs a driving school and off we set. Oh the joy of the freedom of it!! I used to be queen of speed but I have to say I was nervous at 30mph - I am hoping that with more practice that will change.

                                                                          guardian.co.uk


I still have more mountains to climb, but today proved that little by little I AM going to once more conquer the world...........here I come!!!!!!!