The first morning in the cancer ward
I was awoken I think about 6ish am on weds (I think) with a cheery good morning we’ve come for your blood, for a second I thought I was still in some Bram Stoker inspired dream🦇 This was the first morning on the cancer ward, I should of been scared but surprisingly I wasn’t, I mean it’s not normal toj have just found out you have prostate cancer and not be scared, is it?
It took a few moments to become fully conscious and then the blood taking began.
Ive never really been great with needles 💉but in this case I just said to myself this is all for my benefit and Im thankful for the opportunity to give blood. Well if you think that bit of gratitude helped I’m afraid your sadly mistaken😀 tiny scratch in went the needle💉 , but no blood wanted to come out, tiny scratch in went the needle💉 no blood, 3rd time lucky tiny scratch and succes the blood decided to leave me and into the tubes.
I had a quick chat with the nurses and asked how their night shift had been, it’s important to make people feel that you are grateful for what they do.
Carers need care too you know ❤️
Breakfast, tea 🍵 and marmalade on toast can’t complain, this was the first cup of milky tea I had drunk for years. I’m a coffee man you see☕ to my surprise I actually enjoyed the tea, so much so that I had another one. The lady delivering breakfast was nice , we had a chat and off she went.
The cleaning lady was next , she looked a bit upset I took some time to have a chat with her , she was quick to tell me her problems which of course I won’t divulge on here, but I’m sure the chat to get a few things off her mind might have left her with slightly less of a burden to carry around for the rest of the day.
You see unless you actually talk to someone you will never ever know what’s going on behind the scenes where it all matters in the mind. Once someone speaks it can help to lift or a least lighten those imaginary weights that they drag around with them.
“We’ve come for blood”🦇
Here we go again, “hi Woody is it ok if one of our students takes your blood”,
“of course fill your boots” came my slightly macho reply. The student was really good slight scratch and I gave him a 8 out of 10 , perhaps it was a touch too high, hey but what’s the point in being accurate over someone’s confidence.
I was whisked off to various depts for CT scans🖨️ ( well ok the emoji is a printer I couldn’t find a CT emoji) and tests through the remainder of the morning, but got back.in time for sandwiches 🍔 and more milky tea.
The porter who took me down for a scan needs a mention, he didn’t say a lot at first then I thought I would ask him how he’s feeling today, this is when he told me he has prostate cancer and he’s been with it for 5 years and they are controlling it with various drugs. We had a great chats really full of positivity from both sides that left me feeling good. 👍
By the way I’ve started to talk to the machines, the CT scan machine got my thanks and best wishes after all he is helping me out too.🙏
The rest of the day went in a bit of a blur, the staff in the cancer ward were incredible, more tests were done cannula connected and then the doctor’s done the rounds, this was the first time I was really told how much of a precarious situation I was in.
The prostate cancer seemed a done done deal, I also have two spinal tumours which was now forcing complete bed rest in the fear my vertibrae could collapse.
I think back to a small slip I had on the stairs a few days ago (sat Eve) that set off a pain reaction in my back that made me go to A&E, without this coincidence/miracle call it what you will, I would be in far worse state than I am now.
I’m a firm believer that the universe’s plays a part in our pathways in Ife and thats one of the strengths I’m holding on to now.🙏
Nameste
Tomorrow is zap time.⚡
Good day! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!