Page 219 - She's One Crazy Lady!

Years later, Andrew was sadly diagnosed with prostate cancer and had to have his prostate removed. I remember going to see him in hospital where he was adamant I had a look at his surgery. I didn’t really want to but he said it would help me understand that men, too, have to endure major surgery – very personal surgery. He looked so bruised and I could empathise with how he felt emotionally. I also felt slightly humbled that he wanted to share something so personal with his sister.
Over the next few days I was monitored very closely
and was to build up a lovely rapport with all the
nurses who were so skilled and caring – and fun to
be around. Everything was healing as they expected
and more drains and tubes were removed. I was very
tired but so pleased on the Friday when Margaret,
Dawn and Caroline from the Breast Team at Kettering
General came to see me. They had heard what had happened and were keen to see for themselves a). that I was OK and b). to learn from the procedures. Like everyone, they were amazed. Me too!
I also learned that I had stitches in my new belly button... yes, they gave me a new belly button!
Jimmy brought Mum over again which was lovely and I had a few more visitors from school. However, as the hours went by I realised that my positive thoughts of ’bouncing back’ were diminishing, knowing that, after twelve days, it was time to go home. Suddenly, I was leaving the safety net of always having someone around to help or to talk to. At home it would be different and was told that many patients in my position actually find the move quite scary. Don’t get me wrong, I was desperate to get home but... no-one would ever understand ‘what’ I had gone through and ‘why’ I had put myself through it. I had no regrets though. No, no regrets whatsoever – but I admit to feeling emotional when I had to say my goodbyes and thank everybody.
Marilyn came with Dave to pick me up and as they had to park in a twenty minute short stay car park it was all a bit of a rush and I hadn’t walked that far in days – my legs were again like jelly and, having had the tummy tuck and not having eaten much, my trousers, that I hadn’t worn since I went in, were falling down. I was numb in that area and couldn’t feel them slipping down!! (Usually, it’s more like having to undo the top button to make them more comfortable – now
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