Life and its curved balls, Sri Lanka & Little Sydney!
(Dedicated to my sister Joanne whom I love more each day x)
It’s been a while since I last wrote my blog and a lot has
happened. Where do I start?
On Friday last week I had my 4th Chemo and I got
a strange reaction to it in that I literally gagged from the moment I got
there. I did not actually throw up, just
gagged the whole time. They put this
down to my brain beginning the process of how it is going to make me feel two
or three days after chemo and nothing to do with the process there and then. It is most unpleasant and my good friend Jane
McKenzie had to witness the slow process of how they administer this strong
cocktail through me. I had no veins so
they had to use the other arm which they don’t like to do on the breast cancer
side as it can lead to shut down which is no good later when I have the
mastectomy.
Anyway that aside about two days after this my hair started
to come out in droves. As I washed it
for the first time when I rubbed the shampoo on my head and pulled my hands
away I had big clumps clinging onto my fingers which I have to say made even me break down as just did not expect it.
Don’t get me wrong no one else at this point would even be able to tell
but it’s the physicality of what having cancer and in particular chemo does to
your body. On the plus point however, HALF
WAY THROUGH WHOOP WHOOP!
You are all aware that I also have a puppy (SYDNEY) who has also been very poorly with a parasite in his gut and it was touch and go if he made it. Well as we speak Syd is biting my toes, making a rascal of him-self and bounding all around my house like a puppy should. He is adorable and is at the start of a new life of adventure for both him and me. I have taken the transition from business woman on the move to a lady who lunches particularly well I think. (A bit too well actually I love it!) I have never had a period of time in my life where I have been out of work so I am truly making the most of it. When Syd has had all his injections and Roxy his sister joins us in a couple of weeks I am going be an eccentric lady who walks around the village with her two little sausage dogs talking to whomever! I think I could handle that quite well.
Actually I have decided to embark on two courses whilst I am
in treatment/fight mode. I am going to
do a Prince2 project management course and a Nuro Linguistic Programming course
at master levels. The idea behind this
is two- fold. Firstly I do project
management very well and also enjoy excellence coaching and therefore wanted a
more formal qualification of both so that when I get through all of this I can
show on my CV that I have put my time to good use and just backed up my
skills. Secondly I want to work for
myself and see the consultancy route a good way forward given these both have
merits in their own right with organisations so let me know what you all think.
I have been an MD and a Chief Operating
Officer for many years but it is now time to think about what I want to do next,
who knows I may even just open a tea shop for eccentric old women who walk
their dogs in the village!
The final part of this blog is to wish my sister Joanne Milne
and all of the Genesis Research Trust ladies the very best on their cycle Sri Lanka
ride. I was meant to be there with them
doing another crazy 60 miles a day for 5 days challenge. The things I will do to get out of it
hey! Well my great pals; Ally Stewart
(St Ally as we call her!), Sharon Greenland, Norma Linton, Deb Russell and oh
around 70 others set off tomorrow and I am so gutted I cannot be there with
them but please give your support to these incredible ladies who just support
each other unconditionally. Karen Tottey my heart also goes out to you for
a speedy recovery of your lovely son Mark after his accident as I know that
this was meant to be your time to go to Sri Lanka too and yet again that curved
ball in your life has stopped you from being able to go. You are a strong independent and a good woman
Karen and will get through this.
I have never really
been a female bonding person, mostly working with aggressive men all of my
career, however, they have made me realise that the support of women for women
is second to none and when in times of trouble, illness or defeat they have
been one hundred per cent behind me willing me through and I can’t thank them
enough.
So when the ladies are in Sri Lanka I would like to paint a
visual of how they look:
70 strong women on their bikes, all ages, all sizes, all
abilities, all had heartache or witnessed it in others, all mad as hatters, all
singing and encouraging everyone to finish each day and there to pick up those
who need it most, all will go through laughing, crying, pain and gain each day
and all will succeed and finish. I
salute you and look forward to hearing the many escapades you are going to have
this week.
I WILL BE RIGHT THERE ALONG SIDE YOU IN SPIRIT. SHE’LL BE COMING AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WHEN
SHE COMES…… XX J
Love Wendy J xx
