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"Time is the longest distance between two places" Tennessee Williams
Waking with my brain filled with the smog of jet lag, I struggled
through my first day back from a month in Australia. Breakfast time
in Canada is equivalent to Australian's bedtime.
"Everything happens to everybody sooner or later if there is time
enough." George Bernard Shaw
After spending the long awaited Christmas holidays with the family
I was so filled with joy that a needle could have pierced me and not
a speck of bliss would have escaped.
"Time does not pass, it continues" Marty Rubin
It was great to be home with Chris after such a long time away.
"Time is a brisk wind for each hour it brings something new." Paracelsus
Before I knew it, our week began and the roads stretched before us on
a tense journey to London Hospital. Tests were completed, prognosis
presented and time stopped.
The chronology of this event involved a Covid two year delay for an
appointment that would have been able to stop the shift of the problem
from serious to significant.
Time present, past and future merge into a tangled mass as Chris and I
question, reason, wonder, panic, hope, together trying to slow our pulse
and breathe.
"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." Leo Tolstoy
More specific tests and analysis followed and days were
marked by time: waiting, researching, erratic eating,
hours without sleep, lack of concentration, thinking of others
who had experienced similar scenarios and striving for
positive energy. Fear loomed large. We drew comfort from
family, friends and walks in nature as we waited.
"Every storm runs out of rain, just like every dark night turns into day." Gary Allen
Finally the meetings with the Doctors and hospital staff began.
Procedures, dates, expectations and schedules were given with clarity,
confidence and patience. Our time was never rushed and the outcome sounded
very positive. We could now push aside searching for answers to those questions,
why me? when did it start? who do I blame? is there a cure? can we overcome?
Now was the time to find strength and build coping strategies to tackle the challenges
of treatments, side effects and healing.
"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Five weeks were filled with winter storms, long drives, waiting for treatments
and doctor's appointments, increasing negative side effects, pain, sleepless nights,
weight loss, mood swings, hope, frustration, schedule changes, weekend exhaustion,
seconds, minutes, hours, days, nights, weeks shifting, twisting, pulsing......
comfortable spots to wait and wander were plentiful in the hospital
volunteers play to the heart
saying hello
different views every day; like life
inspiring art work hangs throughout the hospital
light our way
nature shows promise
"The past is your lesson. The present is your gift. The future
is your motivation." Anonymous
Life outside ourselves showed a bright, strong continuance: encouragement and
kindness from hospital staff, family and friends, support, generosity and love
as sunshine, snow and moonlight nourished the abundance of nature around us.
Winter turned to Spring. Celebration sounds from beautiful gong and brass bell
resonated through the hospital as folks celebrated the end of treatments and
marked our passage of time.
love conquers all
Positive vibes from the family in Australia. Finn turns six.
Patrick brings love as visits from Vancouver
"Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected expected?" Bob Dylan
After a month's rest and recuperating another meeting with the specialist
surprises us with the news that a surgery date will be set soon. It is
complicated. It will take five hours, followed by 5 days in hospital
and approximately six months to return to "normal" which will never
be "normal" again.
All Aboard! Here we go on the Time Train once more.
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"All that is important comes with quietness and waiting." Patrick Lindsay
Anaesthetic stopped time for the patient but raced for those waiting
outside the operating room. The brilliant surgeon and his wonderful team
of experts worked their magic and Chris was soon out of hospital and
beginning his long recovery. A few weeks later later we received the
incredible news that he was Cancer-free!
"Gratitude bestows reverence....changing forever how we
experience the world. John Milton
We proceed though our days embracing time with a fresh outlook, love and enthusiasm.
Spring time... Goderich Harbour time baking time
marmalade time
Tulip time Trillium time bud-popping time hiking time beach time home time
Summer-time
"The butterfly counts not months but moments and has time enough." Rubindranath Tagore
Autumn-time Future-looks-good time!
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