It seems
quite a long time ago that I did a ‘guest blog’ for Amanda and Deb’s Breast
Cancer Tips website, so here goes. I vividly remember meeting Debbie for
the first time whilst accompanying Amanda for her chemotherapy session at the Cancer
Centre in 2014. Amanda and Debbie were receiving treatment in chairs next
to each other, and I was so encouraged by Debbie’s extraordinary upbeat
attitude and infectious personality – I’m so pleased that they’re still
friends nearly five years on. They have such a special relationship
tinged with so many emotions.
To be
perfectly honest, every day has been a challenge since Amanda’s initial breast
cancer diagnosis. Life will never be the same again. Amanda did a
brilliant blog in June about clichés that people use concerning Cancer
survivors, and I think that some of these apply to the parents of Cancer
survivors as well. ‘I know how you feel’ is one that really gets to me,
because I think that it’s impossible for someone to know how I feel, as they
don’t know my history or even remotely understand the way I think. ‘Think
positive’ is another annoying one. It is difficult to think positive when
you’ve been given quite a lot of extreme problems to deal with from a very
early age. Anyway, from my experience, I don’t think that being
‘positive’ can change anything at all.
On the
other hand, it is truly amazing that Amanda is still with us. On July 12th the neurology team advised that Amanda’s MRI (brain) scan
was clear. I truly never thought that I would ever hear the word
‘remission’. My mind sometimes goes back to the very dark days of
visiting the Hospice, and of collecting a wheelchair. How wonderful that Amanda
was called the ‘Miracle Lady’ by her palliative care nurse!!
I said
in my second paragraph that every day is a challenge. When your daughter
has suffered from Cancer, you worry about every ache and pain she has.
The suffering that Amanda has endured has been extreme and heart-breaking for
any father to witness. However, I can now clearly see her getting back to
normality, and enjoying the things that many of us take for granted.
Amanda
has received tremendous care from her husband and received fantastic support
from her many friends from the many aspects of her life; and I really
appreciate that.
I’ll
finish with the cliché ‘Time is a healer’. As Amanda said in an earlier
blog, she still has a massive scar on the back of her head following the
removal of two brain tumours, a scar on her breast and one underneath her arm. Plus,
she still suffers from the after effects of the aggressive treatment.
However, thanks to God, and Amanda’s truly amazing surgeon and team she is
still with us…….
Final
cliché: Let every morning be a fresh beginning!!!
Amanda’s Dad
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