Do one Terry!

As most of you know the operation went as well as it could have gone and Sammy has made a spectacular recovery!  Her balance is back, as is her hand-writing and she looks a million dollars.  You simply wouldn’t have a clue that she had a craniotomy 10 days ago, save for a very neat (quite long) scar at the back of her head. The wonderful nurse Jo, gave the surgeon 9 out of 10 for its presentation (I don’t think she ever gives a 10).  I personally would have given James 12 out of 10 but as you know I am biased…

The recuperation period for such a procedure is typically 5-7days in hospital.  Samantha, being Samantha, tried to have herself discharged on the Monday!  Being a boring spoilsport we asked that they keep her for a bit longer.  She came home the following day...  I am told marriage is all about compromise...

When I say home, I meant Tooting’s very own Eden Project, the house is a hundred degrees and is full of every spectacular flora known to equatorial man and smells, very floral!  It is mind-blowing and I am not joking when I say that the first attached photo only captures about two thirds of your amazing flowers!  What it doesn’t show however is all the amazing other presents we have been sent.  The amazing balloons, potions, scents, creams, candles, the delicious food, the chocolate, cashmere socks, cheeses, books, cards, emails and texts of love and support.  It keeps coming and it really is chicken soup for us right now.  We are on first name terms with two delivery men, again no joke! 

We truly didn’t think we had so many friends but your kindness and support is true sustenance for this fight and we are going to need every morsel of energy we can muster.  I cannot begin to thank you all for being so utterly brilliant!  It is only in times like this you realise how lucky one is and I and all the family are forever in your gratitude.  It is very sobering that some people have to face these battles on their own and we consider ourselves very fortunate to have such an army of support. 

Throughout this whole ordeal Sammy has remained in amazing spirits.  Evidently, there have been some teary moments because what we are up against is petrifying and it would take a fool to not be scared! Courage is about masking ones fears with rational thought and pluck and Samantha is doing that with unquestionable aplomb!  It is also about letting go at the right time and talking through ones fears which she has also done.  It is amazing what grit and determination we humans have when we need it.  Although I am no athlete, Samantha is, and I know that she will dig deep and when we feel like we are totally drained and exhausted we will know we have twice/thrice as more to give.

Humour is the other ultimate weapon Sammy has in her armoury and I will share a couple of things that have cracked her up amongst many other things:

·         Turmeric biscuits… The wonderful person who gave these to us genuinely hadn’t thought of the connotation… We have been told that turmeric is very good for beating tumours.  More turmeric please in that case but please not in biscuit form as I am afraid they are revolting.

·         Someone sweetly gave us some true or false general factoid cards. Below is one which we read after coming out of intensive care, it reduced us both to tears of laughter.  The answer is thankfully false!

These are just two anecdotes I wanted to share but there are clearly more.  You have all been so amazing at keeping her smiling and this is key to this battle.  I therefore please ask that you continue in the same vain?

The bad news is that we got the results back yesterday and they confirmed that Terry is of the melanoma variety. A distinctly foul breed!  This makes this most inconvenient of weeks a little more rubbish.  It has been advised that Junior is related and needs to be sent packing too.  Whilst we were prepared for the worst, hearing it isn’t always easy but as always Sammy marches on and has taken it in her stride!

The result is that we need to go for another, more complex operation and we are taking Sammy back to St Georges now so that they can operate tomorrow.  Whilst I don’t in any way want to over-dramatise this operation I think it is worth pointing out that junior is in a much more sensitive position and the operation is more complicated.  However we have a James Laban!  And yes my man crush is now verging on restraining order level.  Again we are overcome by him and his team and consider ourselves fortunate to be so close to the best place possible for this type of surgery.

Jane asked a pertinent question of him.  If a relative of his was faced with the same prognosis would he choose surgery.  His response was an unquestionable yes.  If Mr Laban is confident he can get the little fu(ker then so are we.  Sorry for swearing Bunny.

The tests on the liver and the lungs are still pending until we have sorted this most tiresome and persistent headache!  We will then work out what needs nuking with radiation and what sort of treatment is best.  These are all very much next steps though as we have to concentrate on the task in hand and at the moments it is about getting Junior!

Our families have been remarkable, beacons in the storm and we are both incredibly grateful to you. Our friends, well I cannot thank you enough.  It is a truly rubbish time but you are all making this easier to deal with so we are ever thankful.  Thank you also to St James Place because you are simply fantastic and thank you also to my work for being so compassionate and understanding.

I will update you all as soon as I can.

All our love and thanks.

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