So I didn't blog on my 1 year anniversary of having brain surgery! I had every intention of publishing a post that talked about what a milestone this was, how the last year has been, how I feel, what has changed and what has stayed the same but I just never got around to it. Work had been ridiculously busy and I couldn't muster up the energy to type up something. I'm now on school holidays and have a few hours to spare here or there!
So here it goes! 13 months ago there would have been two significant events that I would have thought of if you mentioned September the 11th. On that day in 2005 I hopped on a plane at the tender age of 18 to go and volunteer overseas for 6 months and also on that day in 2001 the horrible tragedy of the World Trade Center occurred. I now have 3 major events to link with that date. September 11, 2013 is when I underwent brain surgery.
387 days later I'm still here! I'm still breathing & singing and doing a few other things.
Since my 1 year anniversary I have had another MRI. It was the first MRI that didn't bring me to tears. Now that in itself folks is another milestone! I have also had an appointment with a Dr. from one of my rehab clinics and that was the last time I need to see her. I'll be seeing my Neurosurgeon in about a month and am praying it is all good news. Anxious as usual!
Last night I saw a show on TV called Brain Hospital: Saving Lives. I only saw half of it but it is basically a show that documents peoples journeys before and after brain surgery. I saw, literally, how they most probably cut through my skull, held my skin back and some other yucky stuff! Apart from those gruesome visuals, watching that show was, in a weird way, a gentle and positive reminder that I'm not alone in this part of the journey. I don't mean alone as in I have no friends and family there for me I mean that I was reminded that there are others who can genuinely empathise for me and I can empathise for them. I'm thinking of you fellow brain tumour bloggers! There's a big difference between sympathy and empathy.
I took the photo below at Brighton Beach this evening. It's a shame photos can't quite capture emotions.
Psalm 103:12
Thanks for reading!
Hey Cass- I’ve just read your post on reaching the one year post op stage and I am so happy for you and also had to comment because you are being so brave with the MRI. I hope that it all goes well at the next appointment with your Neurosurgeon too- we’ve got to keep the positive energy flowing and the faith. That programme that you mentioned I think we had something similar here in the UK filmed in around 2009- it made for very interesting viewing, I am so in awe of the men and women that go to work every day, fighting to make people well again and to treat those and bring relief. I had a bit of a ‘woah’ reaction to it all also and it made me think I was glad that I did not ask too many questions about the ‘how’ prior to surgery. When I watch anything to do with brain surgery now I am still thinking from the viewpoint of someone who hasn’t had brain surgery and then I think- Goodness I’ve actually done that too, it really does remind me how amazing the human body can be and how it takes care of you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture too!
Gem xx