My sister, Diana, and her husband, Miro, wanted me to come up to Auckland to be with them when they got the pathology results following her surgery. So much depended on these results – the type of cancer, the stage, had it spread anywhere else in her body and a host of other factors would determine what happens next as Diana tries to rid her body of the endometrial cancer she has been diagnosed with.

When I arrived at the hospital this morning we discovered that the results were not going to be available until the following week – after I had returned home! Imagine our disappointment and worst of all Diana’s waiting had to continue.

I am very close to both my sisters so being able to be there for Diana was very important to me. Only 48 hours earlier Diana had undergone major surgery. She looked so fragile as I walked into her hospital room. As always she put on a brave face and gave me the most massive smile. She is doing amazingly well physically but she is really anxious about the pathology results and this unknown is creating havoc with her mind.

As I sat with my beautiful sister I marvelled at the wonders of modern medicine and the ability of our bodies (aided by our wonderful minds and souls) to move beyond the invasive procedures performed on them and begin functioning again even when vital organs have been removed. I love how our bodies compensate for loss by utilising other organs and body parts to perform similar tasks. Slowly but surely with time things begin to function again and some semblance of normality is created. It can never be exactly as it was before – then again in many circumstances this is for the better.

As my sister showed me her wound that was held together by staples, as we went through everything that had happened and everything that had been said to her by the surgeon I couldn’t take my eyes off the white stockings she was wearing.

“I know you have to wear these to prevent blood clots, but why are there holes at the soles of your feet?” I asked.

“I have no idea,” she replied.

We started to think of possible reasons … I thought maybe to get quick access to her toes or maybe it was a manufacturing requirement or maybe  … who knows?

Later in the day we discovered it was to prevent anyone wearing the stockings from slipping when they were up and walking.

There you go – you can always learn something new even if it just a piece of trivia like this.

Manifesto
28. Every day you will be tested.
39. Every day trust that there is a bigger picture. You are a part of it even if you may not know what it is.
40. Every day give things a chance to work out.

Surgeons must be very careful
When they take the knife!
Underneath their fine incisions
Stirs the Culprit – Life!
– Emily Dickinson

For 28 days my family has been counting down to today. This is the day my sister Diana is scheduled to have her surgery to remove the cancer that has invaded her body. My sister’s life is being placed in the hands of a skilled surgeon and his team. She is relying on them to do their job well and their ability to deal with whatever they find once they cut her open and look inside her precious body.

I can’t imagine what being a surgeon is like or what it must feel like to have to cut into another human being as a part of your day to day work. Being entrusted with a person’s wellbeing and future is an enormous responsibility. In the end though we have to trust our doctors – their knowledge, skills, experience, and humanity to help alleviate or even stop our pain and suffering. We have to believe they have our best interests at heart and that they will do their very best to care for us in our time of need.

So today we all waited for that call from my brother-in-law to say Diana has come through the surgery as well as could be expected and they didn’t find anything unexpected.

When that call came the tears started to flow. It was an overwhelming moment. Our trust was rewarded. The next phase of my sister’s journey to wellness has already begun. It’s not all over but this part is. One hurdle down and the next one is looming fast. Let the healing begin.

Manifesto
18. Every day express love. Some people need to hear it. Most people need to see it. Don’t take it for granted.
21. Every day seek the support of others. You are not alone.
48. Every day there are things you can’t change. You can change the way you think about them and deal with them.