A few more bits from today:

 

Sarah's compression things are off her legs (reducing the risk of clotting) but she still has the sexy stockings on! Believe it or not Sarah has read 'The week' magazine (lots of small articles to read) and asked for a Guardian to be taken in for her bed time reading.  Sarah is wondering if she can see the video or photo's from her operation in a hope of seeing more of Shirley????  Oh and guess what, after all the 'waiting' Sarah did after her MRI scan saga yesterday, she did get a crap lunch.. NOT a veggie lunch.  POOR Sarah.

We have sussed out that when Sarah is posting a blog from her Blackberry it gets posted as a 'comment' in the 'Thank you all' blog, so it might be worth you taking a look there.

I am still amazed at what a fantastic visit both Max and I had with Sarah today, Joy was ooozzzing from Sarah, we enjoyed so many laughs together. Sarah is truly an amazing fighter.

I have just had such a fun day with Martha and Katy today. We started the day video recording songs, guitar playing, singing and dancing for special messages to Mummy.  The girls went for their swimming lesson and some free play time afterwards before home for lunch and straight out to the hospital afterwards. Martha and Katy taught me the actions for the clapping cup song, I haven't yet got to the super fast speed that M&K can do, but we really had a laugh together.
We had the pleasure of Charlie and mum popping round to deliver a tin of WARM coconut and minstrel brownies, that Charlie had made for us. We tucked into them after tea and ohhhh were they delicious.  Thank you Charlie. We might well put on a few pounds but hey, we very much appreciate these types of treats and we will never say no!
This evening after Mum and Max headed back to Bristol, the three of us ended our evening playing frustration, and boy was it frustration. It took ages however there was much laughter when one of us got 'sent home' and lots of  'six' being shouted. I am pleased to say..... I eventually won!! he he!
Martha and Katy are two remarkable girls and are tucked up in bed now and I will do the same.

Good night to one and all.
Thank you again
Love Bev xxx

 

 

Me and my sisters

Brother Ben missing today, but he has been here with me as well.

Meringues

A visit from my sisters – some meringues. My favourite snack from childhood onwards....

Looking good! No where near as bad as I thought :) S xx

Update from 2pm visit

Our visit, Bev and Max- input from Bev and written by Max

I'm so pleased to have seen Sarah today. We left Martha and Katy with Grandma downstairs. They were brilliant - entertaining themselves with Bev's iPad (we're waiting to see the distorted photo's they took of Grandma) and whizzing up and down in her wheelchair. As we walked into the hospital Bev reminded me that Sarah would probably be very swollen and bruised so I would not be shocked when we got to her. There was no need - Sarah looked amazing! There was still a little swelling around her left eye and a little bruising underneath but nothing like the photo from yesterday when she looked like she'd been 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. Bev was gobsmacked and could say little else than 'I can't get over how good you look' for the first few minutes we were there :)

Sarah has had a busy morning leaving her a little more off colour (!) than she had wanted to be. She'd had a shower (making certain not to get her head wet) and Occupational Health had been to see her. The surgeon had also come this morning to Sarah giving her reassurance. Sarah said she sensed from the surgeon the pride in what she had done for her, leaving Sarah feeling that every that could have been done was done to the best. The MRI taken yesterday was ' a good one' although there was no more information on Shirley or the next step. There is still no discharge date although Sarah is more than happy to stay in hospital. I asked Sarah how much pain there is now (the last time I saw Sarah was before her op when the steroids were working but she was still suffering). Sarah replied "I know the pain is still there, but why should I feel pain. They (the nurses) keep coming round asking if I'm in pain, I say yes, they give me pills. They come round again and ask me again and I say yes. The nurses ask if I'd like something stronger and I say yes!!! They are going to have to teach me to say no!" Her sense of humour seems undented and I'm delighted to say my sister appears to be re-emerging from Shirley's evil grip!!

Bev had done some filming this morning with M & K on K's new iPod. Sarah sat on her bed, eating meringues, watching her daughters dance, sing and play the guitar for her. She was thrilled with what they had done, especially the Cup song (hopefully appearing on YouTube sometime) which she watched several times. She was able to record a video message for them. My wonderful sister started this recording with 'hello my special girls' and promptly belched...loudly! Bev and I were not able to compose ourselves as well as Sarah did and fell around laughing while Sarah continued with a polite apology to camera.

We did a lot of talking and laughing (something Sarah finds difficult because it hurts to smile). She laughed at the photo's Louise had sent in for the Book of Laughs saying 'What were we like?' and 'I was drinking from a funnel....something I would not recommend'.  Sarah is becoming increasingly aware of how bad she was and for how long by comparing how she is now, so soon after the op.
Her mindset is soooooo positive. She believes she can win Wimbledon (if anyone told her to try) because she now knows if you set her a challenge she do it because everything bad was to do with Shirley. All the 'why can't I do....' was all Shirley. Sarah feels fantastic knowing this.

Ed sent some yummy cakes and biscuits to be shared for which we say a huge thank you.  Sarah was excited to try one and saved one for later. She felt the urge to pass the tin around the ward before remembering that most of the rest of the ward were nil by mouth...more laughing.

I feel the need to pass on Sarah's disappointment when she visited the toilet. She really felt like she might actually need to have her first poo but sadly it was just a fart. Even more laughing!! Grapes have been ordered and instructions given to help 'get Sarah moving' :)

Sarah has now seen her scar. She had a period of worry in the night about it. After fretting for a while she rang for the nurse who very helpfully sat and talked with Sarah until she was no longer worried. She is happy to have been told 'do NOT touch your scar'. We were happy that Sarah had spoken to the nurse and not continued worrying and got some sleep. More photo's have been taken for Sarah to  add to her record.

We left Sarah worn out but happy, with meringue crumbs everywhere, looking forward to a snoozy afternoon. We will not be visiting later.

Thank you for all the cards we delivered to the hospital today. Sarah read them all.

Much love

Maxine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bev xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Updates that Sarah has posted today from her blackberry but sadly they have been posted to the wrong place and nobody will see them. I have typed them from my ipad to Sarah's laptop exactly as written for you all to read. So don't blame the spelling mistakes on me this time!!

28 June
06:57
Good morning all. I can undersand you talking and I can talk bac'. Probs with words and memory within this, but basically on form. I could not ask for more. My LHS is swollen duing night. Doc will ome to look t it. I think it is expected part of process.
So all is in order :).:)
Arah xxxxxxx

16.27
This is Sarah and my progress today.
Throughout the day I have had bloodpressure tests. Pulse rate and temperature- al taken a number of times and recorded in a yellow A4 file.
I was taken for an MRI scan at 830. A porter came to push me in a chair to the unit. The unit seemed to be on opposite side of hospital. Another man came with us in wheelchair- he had a big tape up the bck of his head and told me that they had removed 'an egg'.
At the unit, I went in first. Same as previous scanner. Instruction were to lie still and don't move. These make me laugh because I am not able to move about!!
The scanner is very noisy. I have ear plugs. They are several phases. The end phases are with die, so that they can see everything.

17:58
Drugs; my drug regime is being amended. The steroids have been cut for four every morning and four every night TO three. I have a tablet added to protect me against the effect of the steroids- they would damage my gut. Added- paracetemol: added - two to help me pooh! Nothing going down there yet. Love S xx

20:32
After the MRI scan, I was pushed out into the corridor, to wait for a porter to take me back to my ward. I was seated in a corner waiting room. Two people arrived, a man and woman. I waited.
I waited. I asked the man to get me a drink of water. Staff had to check this was ok, and a glass was brought to me. I waited. I asked the man to tell reception that I was waiting. I waited.
The other young man emerged through the doors, with a porter, and was taken back to the ward. I argued with the porter, asking him to take me first, but he was following computer instructions.
A radiographer appeared through the door. I asked him to take me back. I didn't care how I got back- just take me back.
He refused (on the grounds of being a radiographer),
Eventually, a porter appeared. I was returned to my ward having missed breakfast, missed bed baths, missed ordering my lunch (tricky cos I am veggie). When I got back I was very distressed, as you could imagine.
All solved with a talk, an air fan and a 'sleep in a breeze'.
Not a good morning today!


Sarah finds visiting exhausting and that is with us going in only one at a time and for a short while.
Sarah can receive BLOGs emails texts facebook etc.  She cannot read them all nor reply, but appreciates any that she sees. Keep up the messages- it really helps.

Thank you and good night xx

Friday visiting update.
Sarah started her day with an MRI scan.
Wow! Sarah has been up on her feet, first on mum's arm walking to the toilet at a very brief 2pm visit and later in the day going solo.
During the afternoon Sarah was miss bossy boots of a sister, texting me saying bring me this, then another, bring me that!! and they were properly spelt messages today, so I knew Sarah was feeling better. So we have duly taken in a couple of magazines, her IPOD and a few fresh clothes.
The nurses have encouraged Sarah to get up and about and was sitting in the chair at tonight's visit.
You can see from the photo's Sarah train track and the swelling beginning and Sarah has been told that her eye will most likely be fully closed over tomorrow. Sarah said 'it really doesn't matter cos Shirley is out and I can speak, understand and I know what is going on'. Wahoooo!
Katy has been saving up for an ipod touch and it arrived today ready for when Katy got home tonight before tea. Sarah was thrilled to bits to hear Katy's songs she had just made and messages she had just recorded, all with lots of I LOVE YOU MUMMY sung, all a little overwhelming and she shed a tear. Martha also sent a voice message which too made Sarah smile.
I left her tonight with her ipod in one ear, singing along with a smile on her face, washed and changed and 'The Week' magazine in her hands that she thinks she might attempt to have a look at, though I am not posing much hope. 
Sarah is talking much more fluently and recorded a voice message to the girls on Katy's new ipod touch.
Martha and Katy are coping well being away from Sarah and very much looking forward to having her back, especially without Shirley.
Good night all, thank you for your continued support.
Beverley xxxx

Today's hospital visit 2pm.

Sarah was looking good though very tired and full of medication. Amazingly Sarah has had two  sessions on the commode!
The surgeon spoke to Sarah this morning saying that most of Shirley is out, and all seemed to have gone as well as we could have hoped. We now have to wait for the scan and biopsy which could be up to 5 days. So far so good.
Please no visitors however we are passing on messages.
Sarah says 'Hi to everyone' and she is so pleased that Shirley has been dealt with. Sarah wanted her photo taken for the blog and that will be uploaded soon.
Sarah asked us not to visit later tonight.

Good morning,
Just to let you know Sarah is well enough to have sent a text this morning.
We will be visiting at 2pm and will update on our return.

Post Operation Update

Sorry for the delay, Sarah got back to the ward just after 8pm, rather a long time away. Sarah is very woosy from anaesthetic and she is communicating and understanding us.  Sarah has got a bandage turban.
They are pleased with how it has all gone today and the nurse said we will hopefully hear more details from the surgeon tomorrow.
Sarah will have a scan in approximately 3 days time to compare life with and now without Shirley.

No news yet, Sarah is not back.
We are briefly back home and we are going to return to the hospital to wait for when Sarah comes out.
Catch you all later.
Thank you all for your kind words, they mean so much to us all.

My brother catching a nap....

Operation's been put back to this afternoon

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