This is a very short update. In my last blog post, There’s writing on the wall, I explored the uncertainty of my current situation. There was clarity, the tumour has grown back. The team were very clear with us and we knew where we stood. What we didn’t know was when surgery and chemo might start. I grabbed onto that uncertainty to avoid clarifying the situation for myself and for anyone reading my blog (I’m in no doubt most of you guessed). I’m not going to apologise for this; it feels like a normal human reaction. Push the bad news out of frame in favour of uncertainty to ease the feelings of fear, anger and sadness; to avoid crystallising the situation. If I feel I can avoid being too maudlin and self-centred I might explore these three sets of feelings in a future post.
I’ve now been back to hospital for some pre-assessment tests and have a date for my next brain surgery to try to get the tumour out of my head. I’ll be back under the knife very early next Tuesday morning and in for 5-7 days. Having certainty about the next steps, particularly so quickly, at a time when the NHS is under such strain, has really lifted my mood. It’s out of my hands, all I can do is not catch COVID, trust in the surgical team, and hope that this time we can catch all the mutant cells and get rid of them.
Picture description: A woman in a stripy black and white shirt stands in front of a zebra crossing. The lines on the shirt are between the zebra crossing lines. Picture credit: centrifuga on flickr
3 January 2024
04/01/2024 at 07:29
Thinking of you and sending live, strength and healing thoughts xoxox
04/01/2024 at 07:29
Love and live I guess I mean!
04/01/2024 at 07:57
Simon, surgery next week already, that’s really good. Even if it is hard and painful and exhausting… Very little waiting, and needing to push things away which doesn’t seem to be in character for you anyway, and takes a lot of energy. All the very best!!
08/01/2024 at 21:39
Hi Simon, been a while I’m sorry to hear the health news. Wishing you the best for the surgery outcome and recovery.
09/02/2024 at 08:32
thankAlicehope your’e well
08/01/2024 at 22:35
Sending love and strength to a man who already has these excellent qualities and many others , and prayers that he will be surrounded by hope
09/02/2024 at 08:34
thank youWendi that’s much apreciated
11/01/2024 at 14:53
I hope it’s all going according to plan, Simon! All the absolute best, you’re in my thoughts.
09/02/2024 at 08:31
thanks katrina
05/02/2024 at 10:14
Hi Simon. Thank you for providing us with such a brave account of your illness. My thoughts are with you and I send love and admiration. xx
21/02/2024 at 16:06
Simon I just caught up with your blog having been out of action for quite a chunk of last year. Sorry to hear how tough things have been. Such a brave narrative. Thank you for sharing.
Jane (Journal Club)
13/04/2024 at 17:18
Thanks Jane, much appreciated.