It has been a tough 2nd day in hospital today with nausea and acid reflux kicking in. Medically, all blood levels and pressures are ok with the only main issue being one of the two drains leaking heavily. Solution being to have one of them removed which was a bit uncomfortable. The main news headlines are that I stood up for the first time (but consequently have been exhausted since) and been told I can have green tea. Today more than ever I’ve realised its going to be a long road to full recovery as only allowed any food on Friday, and then only consommé. It will be like weaning a baby.

The nurses have been fantastic and come from all over the world (including Hurst!). However being woken up in the night by glaring lights and bleeping machines is never nice – especially when sleep is so precious now. I did however get a better night than the first.

I’ve greatly appreciated your messages and letters in this hard time but also the support of my immediate family who have come to see me over the last two days – good news is neither Mark, Isabelle or Tessa have fainted but Rowena has recommended a lot of anti-sickness drugs and remembering her favourites!

Sunday Morning

*Warning – contains gory details*

The gory details, as you know already I went down to surgery at 10. They put a cannula in my right hand, then got me ready for an epidural, this involves spraying to clean my back, injection for local anaesthetic, then a big injection into my into my spine. This went all a bit wrong, lots of local, and a challenge to find the right spot in my vertebrae. Got there in the end. I then had the general – bliss as no knowledge for me. It turned out I had a major reaction to one of the 4 general anaesthetic drugs. A red angry rash all over, so they had to stop and get a different cocktail from Brighton County. This took a while. The plan was to send a camera in then remove the tumour if he could. This he did, it was 500 grams. I asked for a photo and he put his hand down flat and and it was at least double. He took out a chunk of small bowel but managed to sew it together. So I have nil by mouth for2 days for the scars to settle down. The best news is that he took it all out and I do not have an ileostomy (bag).

I came to with the epidural- amazing pain relief; ecg monitors, a scar all down my middle from ribs to c-section; glam stockings with a machine which squeezes my lower legs, a catheter, two drains, oxygen, blood pressure cuff, cannula, finger pulse monitor. I am on anti sickness, memories of Rowena, pain meds, drips as I can’t eat, to allow my internal wounds to heal. I am in a high dependency ward but by myself. I have had a night of bleeping machines about 4 hours of broken sleep. I felt anxious and hyper yesterday after op. But sleepy weak and feeble today.

Great care from the nurses here.

Fiona went into surgery finally at 10am and came out at 3.40pm. She has had the initial tumour removed from the abdomen.

She has has been moved from recovery to the intensive care unit where she will be for at least the next 24 hours.

Mark has been to see her this afternoon and she is a bit out of it but okay.

She is likely to be kept in hospital for at least a week, following this long operation.

We still do not know which cancer it is or what the treatment plan looks like, hope to find out in the next few weeks once tests have been carried out.

We will update again soon.

Love,

Tessa, Isabelle and Rowena.

No news, it is just so frustrating, you are told to come in for 7, so we were in here on time. We then waited 30 minutes in reception. Finally seen by doctors just before 9. Realistically won’t be called before 10. So no news for anyone until this afternoon. There was me thinking I might be up for cheering on England this afternoon – I don’t think so!!  More later

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton