h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My sister got out of hospital on Thursday

Alright, she's still on a cocktail of anti-biotics but now she can take them orally, she's also started on insulin. When they said her lungs etc were full of fluid - they weren't joking, she's some 2 stone ..... yes, 2 stone lighter now thanks to all the fluid tablets the hospital pumped into her.

Anyhow, she's not out of the woods yet and I have to take her to a vascular surgeon in 2 weeks to see if her foot can be saved.

So, Thursday evening I'm ringing round the key players in the family up-dating them on the situation and I ring my elderly cousin .... now she has always been close with the family - her mum was my mum's eldest sister and her dad was my dad's uncle. So she is quite elderly, but she lived 2 doors from my mum and helped us while we nursed her until her death almost 12 years ago.

Anyway ..... I say .... just to let you know sis is out of hospital ... she says ..... good. I'm going in Wednesday week ..... I say ..... what!! what for? ..... she says .... I have breast cancer - just found out today they're removing breast and lymph nodes on 30/04.

She is over 80 and has a daughter who has spent her adult life living in South Africa, a son who hasn't spoken to her more or less since he married and the youngest who is a year older than me with two young children. He and his wife are devastated - they're the ones that take her on holiday, shopping, do Sunday dinner that sort of thing - but we're all pretty stunned by the news.

Since my mother's death she has sort of been the matriarch of the family and now I don't expect her prognosis to be good because she has had a stubborn chest infection for months that hasn't responded to treatment - I now suspect secondary mets.

I joked onsite through the week that normality will be resumed shortly .... I guess I'd spotted a street lamp and not the actual light at the end of the tunnel.

No need to respond to this journal .... just letting my friends know where I am at the moment.

What devastating news.

Thanks for letting us know.

And for the record, Fizzy,

This is your friends letting you know where we are.

Here, for you, if you need us.

I second that motion Hoggy

Fizzy

You and your family are in my thoughts, Fizzy. Thanks fot taking the time to check in.

My thoughts are with you, dear sister

Keeping you and your family in my thoughts

Thinking of you

Really, this is the point at which, if I could, I'd start coming around with a casserole or something, so that you don't have to deal with all of the practicalities of daily living.

As has already been said, you know where we all are Fizzy anytime you want to have a rant or whatever. Take care, remember to look after yourself as well as others.

Thank you all for dropping by .... all the are appreciated .... I feel better already.

<------ 45 minutes at 180C, when you're ready for it.