Tuesday, September 27, 2016

TUESDAY CHAT

Feeling happy as daughter and her hubby are having a wonderful time in New Jersey (and surrounds).  Only complaint in message to me via Facebook.....the traffic is dreadful!!!  Although Halloween is still some time away this is a house already decorated that K saw on her travels.  Unbelievable!!!   Imagine spiderwebs like that......I'd rather not!!!



Feeling sad as had a call from a 66 year old niece last week telling me she has only a short time to live.  I found it hard to believe as she is still so young but apparently her specialist broke the news to her that very day.  Wendy's husband died 7 years back of mesothelioma contracted, it is believed, when he was working with a friend on old houses; obviously asbestos was involved.  Wendy was being checked yearly following Sandy's death and it seems she has picked up a secondary infection following Sandy's illness.  I don't fully understand how or why it happened.  She had surgery 4 weeks ago with the idea of removing a mid section of lung (fortunately keyhole surgery) but they then found it was more advanced that at first thought.  She is unable to have an oral type of treatment available (after testing) and she refuses to have full on chemotherapy with so many dreadful side effects.  It is her life and her choice and I can fully understand her decision.

I am so glad she had her son and daughter with her when she visited the specialist but I imagine, after losing their dad, it is so hard for them to now face up to the prospect of only having their mum with them for another 12-18 months.

Wendy and I were very close when she was a young teenager.  She used to come and stay with me when my first hubby was away fishing and shooting etc and she, along with my two kiddies, used to have a lot of lots of fun.   She even joined us on one of our holidays on Rottnest Island.

Over the years we've seen little of each other but have always kept in touch.  She fortunately has a very supportive family and many friends as well but it must be so hard for her, and them, to face this bleak, and short, future together.  There is not a lot I can do to help as they live in the far northern suburbs and I'm not much use to anyone these days anyway.   All I can do is tell her I love her and give her all the moral support I can.  I will ask Phil to take me to see her when she feels she would like a visit and I can sincerely hope she doesn't suffer too much pain from this dreadful disease.

Feeling pleased that Phil's mouth is healing nicely, even though the stitch came out, and it appears the 'lump' is going down.  Although we are both diabetics we still seem to heal reasonably well for which we both must be very thankful.

I hope you've all had a good week and the coming week will treat you kindly.

8 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    Sorry to hear of your niece's diagnosis. Love and support is generally all that is needed too Mimsie - just knowing one's people are there is a great comfort. Glad to hear the daughter is having fun and that Phil on the mend. Positives and negatives; it's life, heh na? YAM xx

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    1. Yes, the bad news comes along with the good news but that's life isn't it? Nothing remains perfect forever no matter how hard we wish that it may. xxx

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  2. Think it's a bit early for Halloween, a couple of storms could take it out in a hurry.
    Your niece probably knows her reasons for opting out. It's her choice and she must be quite informed. It is sad though.
    Great that Phil's mouth is fine now. Super!

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    1. I thought it a little early for exterior decorations but maybe they've done it before and know it will withstand the weather.
      Wendy really looked into the side effects and made her decision, bless her.

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  3. So sad to hear about your niece. 66 is too young to die and I'm sure she has her reasons, I just know that I'd take a shot at chemo before giving up. I know it's horrible to go through, my mum did it, but I'd still try. If I was older, maybe yes maybe no, it would depend on how much older.

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    1. It is a big decision. My birth mother opted out of chemo but she was 87 and I feel she wasn't all that happy in the nursing home her brother had chosen for her.
      I am not sure what I would choose at my age.

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  4. How sad for your niece. I am older than she is, so I think she is relatively young. How good she has children close. That will be helpful to both of you when you visit her. You might take some old time family photos to share with her.

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    1. Yes, it has taken me a while to get my head around her news. I will certainly visit her when she feels the time is right.

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