A very Merry Christmas to both my readers.
Two years ago, Christmas felt like whistling in the dark. The tumour in my thigh was so painful that I spent most of my time lying on the couch. Radiotherapy left me so nauseous that initially, I was eating about as much as the cat. I couldn’t organise or prepare much of anything.
You know the Beatles song, “I get by with a Little Help from My Friends”? That was Christmas 2021. Friends arrived with peeled and chopped vegetables, pre-cooked sauces and even mince pies. Other people tidied up, bought the food, cooked and cleaned up afterwards. Christmas Dinner was the first time I ate a small but very nice meal, although after sitting up for about 20 minutes I needed to lie down again.
I felt very much loved and supported, which was a Very Big Deal what with the pain and a probably amputation in January looming over me.
Life is much nicer now. I have no nausea, and I rarely have pain. I’m more mobile after the amputation than when I had a tumour eating through my thigh. This year Christmas won’t be extravagant, but I’m doing things again myself. Shopping is difficult, so I bought a few presents online, well in advance. Others I’ve made myself. We’re planning to eat duck breast with orange sauce, just the two of us, and to see friends for New Year. I don’t have to put on a brave face for other people. I’m looking forward to it.
