Might I say - I think you've all gone mad?
Firstly, my VBF and Godson run 10k and raise over £600 for my chosen charities of the North Devon Hospice and the new Chemo Unit at NDDH.
Then VBF's husband runs 26.2 miles in the London Marathon yesterday. He had a sign on his back 'In celebration of Jane'.......raising over £1400 so far and counting - for Cancer Research UK.
And then, two good friends Erica & Khadine, are jumping out of a plane, 15000ft up - sky-diving - and calling it 'Jump-for-Jane' - to raise money for the new Chemo Unit at NDDH....click on: Jump-for-Jane. Now the North Devon Journal - our local rag - have picked up on this and are doing an article on us, plus photo! Oooo-er missus - we'll be famous at last!
But I am humbled.
Seriously.
You see - I didn't choose to do anything courageous or brave.
I was simply given the disease, offered the treatment, and got on with it.
I had to.
Didn't I?
Well - I suppose I could've said no - but this isn't EastEnders or Holby City - it's real life.
And that's what I've been aiming for.
A bit more life.
Whilst the treatments for the Triple-Negative cancer I have, are complete, there is now a period of recovery...and a long period of 'wait and see'. We know this sub-type of cancer is notorious at returning within the first two years after treatment, and onwards up to five years after. However, after five years - my chances are as good as anybody else with breast cancer.
So whilst I think you are all mad doing amazing charitable things - and madder still all my wonderful friends old & new and my family for sponsoring these fantastic feats - I am secretly very proud and relieved. Because I may need all these services again one day...and you will all know you did your very best to help me.
So Thank you.
Thank you from the heart of my bottom (!)
You are ALL incredible.
My appointment with the Radiotherapy Oncologist went well last week. The site of the treatment looks good - and he was happy that I had had all my treatment with no major side effects. I'm still massively tired - like an old fogey - no actually most of the old fogeys I know at the moment - are fitter than me! But very stiff in the mornings, achy, flu-like, joint ache etc. It is being investigated - something rheumatoid perhaps? - and I mustn't grumble. More than likely post chemo though & not post radio. And maybe it's early days yet? Perhaps that's why I cant get signed back on to work for at least another 6 months? Perhaps these medical professionals DO actually know what they're talking about? And perhaps I'm just being impatient....
We've taken the house off the market for the time-being. Apart from the first place we put an offer on, we just can't find anywhere as lovely as we're in now. Gary put it quite succinctly - 'there's so much of you here - I'd be sad to leave it'. So, at that - I've come up with a long-term plan, that Gary can get his head around, and we sit tight. So it might be 100 ways with beans and pasta for the next few years......and I'm not saying we won't go down this route ever again - but for now - we stay.
And I'm glad.
Getting the house ready each time for a viewing was physically exhausting.
And mentally sad.
For me...
For Gary....
And for my lovely Lily.....
Yes my darling daughter - you can have ALL your toys back now
All over the place
Ah...such fun!
Such fun!
Monday, 23 April 2012
Sunday, 8 April 2012
What a week!
Indeed.
What a week!
And where to begin.
The Gang of Three embarked on a mini UK tour last Saturday.
Our primary objective was to support, watch, and 'gee-on' my VBF Julie, and my Godson Matthew, as they ran a 10k challenge race in Derby. Julie announced on Christmas Eve, that she'd started training for this run on the day I started chemo. She wanted to do something she really hated - running - while I was doing something really horrible - chemo. It was her way of supporting me.
I vowed on that day, Christmas Eve, that I would be there, watching her run.
Alive.
And well.
Julie also dedicated her efforts to raise money for the North Devon Hospice, while Matt raised money for the new Chemo Unit at the North Devon Hospital. A massive ThankYou to those who have sponsored them......to date Jules has raised over £400 and Matt over £200. And to round off their incredible achievements - hubby Marc is running in this year's London 26mile marathon, in aid of Cancer Research. He says it was me who inspired him (he must be as mad as me!).....so get sponsoring on http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MarcDarlingVLM
So, back to Julie. We travelled from sunny Devon to freezing Market Harborough in Leicestershire. It was great to see them, although youngest son Tom, was swanning it in New York, USA. A pre-race bulk-up meal of pasta and an early night. We had a 6am start.........oh boy! Arriving at our hometown, Derby for 8.15am we assembled at DCFC's Pride Park Stadium. And it was cold. Freezing. But really exciting. Julie was nervous. Matt was calm. Cool as a cucumber...not only was it April 1st....April Fool's Day...it was also Matt's 20th Birthday. More and more people arrived. Runners of all description. Club runners, fancy dress runners, charity runners, determined runners. In the end, over 4000 runners lined up, to run the gruelling 10kilometers. We hugged, shouted and clapped as Julie and Matt passed. "Do it for me" I screamed. And to make things even more special - the original 'girl-gang', Julie, Sharon, Me, Kate & Andrea - were all there. It was truly amazing. We piled back into Pride Park, hot drink (and an enormous hot-dog for Lily!) and the first 'professional' runners were already arriving back! And it didn't seem too long until we heard the name 'Matthew Darling' as my fabulous Godson sprinted - yes sprinted - around the stadium to huge applause & cheering from our bench, in an impressive 1hour 6mins 42secs. We eventually sat down to await Julie's arrival - and we were amazed that it came only minutes later at 1hour 14mins 2secs. Julie Darling. My beautiful friend, dressed in pink, pushed herself to the limit, running all the way round the stadium. We all leaped from our seats and went to the perimeter. We shouted, and clapped, and screamed. Euphoric.
I cried.
I cried as I hugged a sweaty Matt, who had been released from the signing out zone.
I cried because all my special mates were there.
And as a flush-faced, vision in pink appeared, I hugged and cried with my very best friend - because both our ordeals were over.
And I'm proud.
So very proud of them Darlings.
Back to Market Harborough.
Celebration time.
Champagne, steak, beer, wine, G&T's, single malts.....all in there....
Next morning - headaches for some! (me excluded!)
And very stiff legs for others! (me excluded again!)
Next stop - Chester.
A flying 24hour visit to Paul, Ana & the two little ones. While we only saw the girls for an hour (Emergency flight to Mexico for them as Ana's father had taken ill) - we had a good time with Paul - catching up. I rested lots while Gary, Lily & Paul ventured out & about. A couple of lovely meals, a good nights sleep & we were back on the road. We made a stop in Long Eaton to visit Mrs Bouquet - Val - Gary's late father's girlfriend, and then onto some other good friends in Arnold.
Another catch-up, good night's sleep and off to our final destination - Aunty Jean's.
A superb lunch - as usual - followed by lots of lovely family chat.
And that was that...back on the road...to sunny Devon.
And I'm knackered. In a major way.
'Don't do too much' every one says. Well I have. I've done 'far too much'. But it was well worth it!
And I'm in pain.
I've been in pain for weeks. (Not just after doing 'far too much')
It's a sort of joint/muscular pain. Mainly affecting my arms (particularly my right side - opposite side to the tumour site), my neck, shoulders and hands. the joints in my hands hurt terribly. And I don't know what it is. But looking at the facts - I only stopped chemo 8 weeks ago - and that will stay in my body for at least 6 months. And I only finished radiotherapy 2 weeks ago - this can come with debilitating side effects.
So, luckily, I have an appointment with one of my oncologists on Thursday and can discuss with him.
That's why I'm supposed to rest, me thinks.
Rest, rest, rest.
How dull.
Give me another UK tour anytime.
Look out Long Eaton mob (Steve, Lee, Mick & Ian). You're next on the hit list!
What a week, aahhhhh, what a week!
And of course, Happy Easter!!
What a week!
And where to begin.
The Gang of Three embarked on a mini UK tour last Saturday.
Our primary objective was to support, watch, and 'gee-on' my VBF Julie, and my Godson Matthew, as they ran a 10k challenge race in Derby. Julie announced on Christmas Eve, that she'd started training for this run on the day I started chemo. She wanted to do something she really hated - running - while I was doing something really horrible - chemo. It was her way of supporting me.
I vowed on that day, Christmas Eve, that I would be there, watching her run.
Alive.
And well.
Julie also dedicated her efforts to raise money for the North Devon Hospice, while Matt raised money for the new Chemo Unit at the North Devon Hospital. A massive ThankYou to those who have sponsored them......to date Jules has raised over £400 and Matt over £200. And to round off their incredible achievements - hubby Marc is running in this year's London 26mile marathon, in aid of Cancer Research. He says it was me who inspired him (he must be as mad as me!).....so get sponsoring on http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MarcDarlingVLM
So, back to Julie. We travelled from sunny Devon to freezing Market Harborough in Leicestershire. It was great to see them, although youngest son Tom, was swanning it in New York, USA. A pre-race bulk-up meal of pasta and an early night. We had a 6am start.........oh boy! Arriving at our hometown, Derby for 8.15am we assembled at DCFC's Pride Park Stadium. And it was cold. Freezing. But really exciting. Julie was nervous. Matt was calm. Cool as a cucumber...not only was it April 1st....April Fool's Day...it was also Matt's 20th Birthday. More and more people arrived. Runners of all description. Club runners, fancy dress runners, charity runners, determined runners. In the end, over 4000 runners lined up, to run the gruelling 10kilometers. We hugged, shouted and clapped as Julie and Matt passed. "Do it for me" I screamed. And to make things even more special - the original 'girl-gang', Julie, Sharon, Me, Kate & Andrea - were all there. It was truly amazing. We piled back into Pride Park, hot drink (and an enormous hot-dog for Lily!) and the first 'professional' runners were already arriving back! And it didn't seem too long until we heard the name 'Matthew Darling' as my fabulous Godson sprinted - yes sprinted - around the stadium to huge applause & cheering from our bench, in an impressive 1hour 6mins 42secs. We eventually sat down to await Julie's arrival - and we were amazed that it came only minutes later at 1hour 14mins 2secs. Julie Darling. My beautiful friend, dressed in pink, pushed herself to the limit, running all the way round the stadium. We all leaped from our seats and went to the perimeter. We shouted, and clapped, and screamed. Euphoric.
I cried.
I cried as I hugged a sweaty Matt, who had been released from the signing out zone.
I cried because all my special mates were there.
And as a flush-faced, vision in pink appeared, I hugged and cried with my very best friend - because both our ordeals were over.
And I'm proud.
So very proud of them Darlings.
Back to Market Harborough.
Celebration time.
Champagne, steak, beer, wine, G&T's, single malts.....all in there....
Next morning - headaches for some! (me excluded!)
And very stiff legs for others! (me excluded again!)
Next stop - Chester.
A flying 24hour visit to Paul, Ana & the two little ones. While we only saw the girls for an hour (Emergency flight to Mexico for them as Ana's father had taken ill) - we had a good time with Paul - catching up. I rested lots while Gary, Lily & Paul ventured out & about. A couple of lovely meals, a good nights sleep & we were back on the road. We made a stop in Long Eaton to visit Mrs Bouquet - Val - Gary's late father's girlfriend, and then onto some other good friends in Arnold.
Another catch-up, good night's sleep and off to our final destination - Aunty Jean's.
A superb lunch - as usual - followed by lots of lovely family chat.
And that was that...back on the road...to sunny Devon.
And I'm knackered. In a major way.
'Don't do too much' every one says. Well I have. I've done 'far too much'. But it was well worth it!
And I'm in pain.
I've been in pain for weeks. (Not just after doing 'far too much')
It's a sort of joint/muscular pain. Mainly affecting my arms (particularly my right side - opposite side to the tumour site), my neck, shoulders and hands. the joints in my hands hurt terribly. And I don't know what it is. But looking at the facts - I only stopped chemo 8 weeks ago - and that will stay in my body for at least 6 months. And I only finished radiotherapy 2 weeks ago - this can come with debilitating side effects.
So, luckily, I have an appointment with one of my oncologists on Thursday and can discuss with him.
That's why I'm supposed to rest, me thinks.
Rest, rest, rest.
How dull.
Give me another UK tour anytime.
Look out Long Eaton mob (Steve, Lee, Mick & Ian). You're next on the hit list!
What a week, aahhhhh, what a week!
And of course, Happy Easter!!
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