Daddy’s Girl

Well, it’s been quite a day! When we returned from Anglesey last week, I found my pre-op consultation at Walton had been brought forward from July 31st to June 11th - and then I had a phone call to say the PET Scan requested by my lead consultant would be at Liverpool Royal on the same day. I’m so grateful for the speed at which these things have been arranged and feel particularly lucky considering the state of the NHS. 

At Walton we meet my consultant - third time for me, first for G - and he takes us through my scans and the details of the decompression surgery. I’m delighted to find he will perform the surgery himself rather than allocating it to someone else. The plan is to get the procedure done before I start on immunosuppressant drugs - hopefully over the next two months. 

Then there’s the seemingly endless series of questions and tests that go into pre-operative assessment - all done as efficiently as possible to ensure I can make the 30 minute journey across the city for the scan appointment. 

Again, all goes well, with staff sensitive and caring. There’s a lot of sitting around - or lying around, both waiting for the radioactive injection to infuse, then the scan itself - which is strangely relaxing compared with an MRI.

By 6.00 pm it’s all over, and having only had water since 9.30 this morning - fasting needed for the PET Scan - there’s the lovely reward of a meal in Mowgli before we head for home. It’s been a day when the NHS has been impressive. 

I had intended to grab some sort of shot around the hospitals, but when Daniel sent me this photo taken by Solveig, I just couldn’t resist making it my blip today - it just makes my heart sing - especially as my ‘radioactive’ state means I’m advised not to pop to see her after my procedure. I hope you’ll forgive me posting it today. 

And in extras you have Lili apparently engrossed in the Welsh counting book we bought her in  Nant Gwrtheyrn last month. It’s a beautifully illustrated book, often choosing less obvious things to count - in this case jellyfish! The book simply gives the number in words and figures, not the name of the creatures - perhaps just as well as ‘pysgodyn wibli wobli’ (wibbly wobbly fish) has unofficially become the Welsh favourite nickname for the Jellyfish! (Its real translation is 'slefren-fôr.)

So I hope you’ll forgive me for sharing these today, and for not looking ar your journals - I’m just too tired by the days events so I’ll catch up tomorrow.