387 days later!

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!

Smile

Don't go to bed angry! Perhaps today is your last day on earth and I wouldn't want my last day on earth to be one where I was angry at someone or something. Now saying 'perhaps today is your last day on earth so don't be angry' is something you most probably have heard before but think about it. Honestly think about it. Over the last few months and in particular over the last few weeks, I've thought about it a lot. I think it's part of my healing process. We all watch movies and read stories where an everyday character becomes sick or injured and drops dead the next day. We may shed a tear reading the story or watching the movie but we can mostly suspend out disbelief and get on with life after we've finished reading or watching this fictional story. Yet, what if I was that character in reality? If i dropped dead tomorrow I think it would be a bit hard for some people to pretend it hadn't occurred and get on with life when it has actually happened. Well in all honesty I am partly that character who may drop dead tomorrow and so are you. My point is, no-one can control tomorrow. Not a single human being has the capacity to do this. This might be your last day on earth and not because you've done something wrong, just because.

So to lead on from this point, you may be, as I was and still am, a relatively fit person who isn't all that sure what life will bring them but is thinking about what they might like to do when they retire (hmm I've only worked in my profession for 4 years) but then life throws you a curve ball and the plot twists. My brain tumours have been a pretty big plot twist and heading into surgery and even more so coming out of it I actually realised, not just "known", I have no control on how many days I will be on this earth. Do you get that? It actually makes me quite frustrated when people say 'yeah, yeah I get it' but do they?

When I went into surgery I was trusting a group of random Dr.s and Nurses to operate on my brain. Now what does my brain control? Me! It controls my physical self. Putting my life in the hands of others felt like that they were the ones who could control what happened. I had no control over the surgery and at the same time they had no control over, let's say the weather, who was to know if a bolt of lightning would come pelting through the ceiling and take out my medical team, therefore sending us elsewhere. Does that make sense? I'm actually finding it quite hard to express and I think it may be because it actually a mixture of emotional, physical and spiritual experiences. This realisation has flooded my body. In a way I feel that it is not something that can be fully cognitively understood by reading, it needs to be experienced. We will all experience it one day or another but I think it is really important to acknowledge it starting now. Don't let it stop you making plans for your future or scare you but let it help you live life to the fullest.

I would like to clarify what I mean when I say I'm frustrated when people declare they understand that they may drop dead tomorrow, but say it as if it were a passing comment. It doesn't mean I'm angry, although if I were to look in a dictionary that is probably what frustration means, it means I want people to be thankful and enjoy each day. There are obviously times that you simply cannot enjoy or hours or whatnot but surely there is a window of opportunity each day. Harder said than done I realise but have a go.

I know this post sounds quite negative but through the negativity in it I am trying to encourage you to look for the positives in your life. I don't know what they are for you but I know what mine are and I'm trying my hardest to appreciate them more and smile.

That's enough for today.

Have a great day all.

It's time!

I'm not lying when I say the last few days have been hard. I have cried, I have been really angry a few times, I am generally scared and had a few yucky "what if" moments but I think that's all normal.

Tomorrow is the day (refer to previous posts if you're not sure what I'm talking about). It's almost 11pm and I've set my alarm for 5:30am. I'm feeling ok. I'm not feeling great, I'm definitely not excited but I WILL BE OK! Yes I say this with passion. Why? Well, today when people have said to me 'I hope it goes well' I have replied 'It WILL'. because I have been reminded of Mark 11: 24 ' Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours.' so what so you think I have been praying for and what does this verse mean for me right now? It means that all will go well. Now I'm def not the best when it comes to talking about my faith and I know many of you who may read this may not have faith in Christ but I wanted to point something out. I have heard so many times people say to me "you are so strong, you are so brave, I couldn't hold myself together like you are etc etc" but I confess that it is not my personal strength that is getting me through this time but my strength that comes from my faith in God. Without this, I would not have been able to get out of bed every day over the last few months. Don't get me wrong, there has been times when all I have wanted to do, or actually done, is shake my fist at the heavens in anger but that does me no good. I have no control over the world or what happens but I have faith in God and need to remember that God  'commanded [me] to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! [for He] is the Lord [my] God and will be there to help me wherever [I] go.' Johsua 1:9. Is that mindboggling? Does that seem just weird? Yes! Will I fail at what I am told to do? From time to time yes I will, but God's love is unfailing, honestly.

Just before I started finishing this blog I started listening to a Podcast about healing and this verse was referred to. I find it rather fitting.

3 John 1:2

Dear friend, I’m praying that all is well with you and that you enjoy good health in the same way that you prosper spiritually.

This song has helped me sleep lately. I will play it as I turn off the light shortly.I find the story behind this song so moving, perhaps you will too.

Now it's almost 12!

Night x

Oh and here's another song that has helped me... because I can share it!