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.