To All Those Brave Ladies Out There ......

I have just realized that it is two years to the day (23rd October) since I started on this blogging adventure of mine.  Two years in which I have met some truly wonderful friends from all over the world.  My blog now has 188 Followers and has had over 70,000 page views.

 

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your encouragement and support.  I think all of us, when we wrote our very first post, had no idea how things were going to turn out.  Would anyone read our posts, how would they find us, how would we find other peoples' blogs! It was all a complete mystery when I first started out, but in that two years I really have learnt so much from you all.

 

It was my daughter in Paris who started me on this road.  She had already started a Blog of her own, and thought that I would very much enjoy doing it as well, especially as I had always enjoyed writing - so, thank you Emma, for that initial idea and for setting it all up for me at the very beginning!

 

I think most women now know that October is Breast Awareness Month, so I thought I would re-post one of my very early scribblings in honour of all those brave women out there who are going through this disease, or have been through it.  I admire you all so much.

 

"For a minute, I couldn't really think what I was going to write about today. Then, as October is Breast Cancer month, I decided to dedicate this blog to one of my daughter's best friends (she is actually one of my granddaughter's godmothers) who is undertaking treatment for this awful illness. She has a little girl who is only nine months old and, all through the Summer, she has been undertaking chemotherapy treatment, which, at times, has left her feeling drained. They then found that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, so, last week, she had a mastectomy as well as having all her lymph nodes removed (which is quite unusual apparently). In a couple of weeks, she has to start a course of radiotherapy. You can probably imagine how gruelling all this has been for her, especially as she hasn't been able to devote herself to the little baby, like most mums are able to. I feel so sorry for her, because she had wanted to be a mum for so long. I also feel terribly sorry for her mum and dad, who are in their eighties, and never thought that they were going to be grandparents. Obviously, when the little baby girl came along, they were over the moon. Then, just a couple of months later, they were hit with this. I just can't envisage how it must be for a mum to see a beloved daughter having to go through so much suffering.

My daughter flew over from Paris at the weekend, on a flying visit, just to go and spend some time with her friend after the operation. It was a surprise visit, so very emotional for them both, but the friend was so thrillled. I went along to see her as well on Sunday, and I have to say that she is being so incredibly brave and positive. At the moment, she doesn't have any hair, but, hopefully that will start to grow back in the not too distant future.

It's wonderful how, at times like these, the goodness in people comes out. They were saying how friends and family had really rallied round, and they have visitors most days, which helps to keep their spirits up. Also, they find that friends leave cooked meals on the doorstep, which is such a help to them at this time.

It is incredible to think that something like 140 women A DAY learn that they have breast cancer. I pray that my daughter's friend will get through this and then be able to lead a normal life again with her beautiful little daughter.

I also take my hat off to all those women out there that are going through something similar. Our love and positive thoughts are with you all. xx"

 

The good news is that my daughter's friend came through all her treatment.  She is such a joy to be around - always positive and full of fun.

 

Most of you know that I am off on holiday on Saturday for a week with my beautiful granddaughter, so I will say Au Revoir for now, and will look forward to catching up with you all on my return.  Meanwhile, take care of yourselves my friends.