Healthy,
sick or dying, we all have issues to deal with day to day, it’s not fair to say
anyone’s are less or more important than say mine, bad as life is at times for
me I consider myself very lucky compared to others, the fact that I’ve made
March 2014 after being told last August that I am going to die sooner rather
than later I’m blessed. It’s still hard to think in such terms though.
I am still
getting the shaking, the numbness, the tingling I’m still taking my daily dose
of chemotherapy but life goes on but we keep getting obstacles put in our way,
here are a few!
I have a
bucket list! When Casper was over in December we were discussing my ‘bucket
list’ and I have a dream, I want to spend time in a log cabin, halfway up a
mountain covered in snow, toast marshmallows and drink large mugs of hot
chocolate in front of a log fire, I want to play ‘Snow Angels’, I’d love to
have a go at tobogganing. Casper said “let’s make it happen then” !
Casper and lies (pronounced lees) set about
looking for somewhere in Germany, they found a cabin, looked ideal, there was
SNOW!!. I’d previously been advised by
my Oncology team not to fly though a
short trip like this in theory should not be too bad but I’m still scared, will
the cabin pressure affect my head, will the recirculated air expose me to germs
that may result in pneumonia? I really don’t want to fly. Andy looked at other options;
they were all going to be expensive.
We are going
to try to make this trip happen despite the expense. Two more issues, one Andy is out of holidays at work. We
haven’t had a proper holiday as such pretty much every holiday day has been
eaten up with my consultant appointments or when I was in hospital or having my
surgery. Andy’s employers have been very
understanding they’ve given him an
amount of compassionate leave on top of his annual leave too but there is only
so much an employer can do and there is only so much as an employee that you
can or should expect from your employer, Andy feels we have reached the point
of acceptance for now.
On top of
that we need to look at travel insurance. Andy gets Annual travel insurance
through his bank and that used to cover us both worldwide; to any cancer
patient considering travelling abroad unless
you are mega rich and can cover your own costs you need to declare any
conditions to your insurer or you risk them refusing to honour any claim. Truly
if there is an industry that will do its utmost to avoid meeting its
responsibilities by hiding under its small print the insurance industry tops
the charts! That said declaring an illness may or may not affect, they may
charge you a small premium, they may exclude the condition from your cover or
as we have experienced in the past with Andy’s Asthma they’ve said “No problem,
thanks for declaring it, you are covered”! Having cancer, in my case terminal
cancer, is a different thing altogether. Andy called our insurers, a lot of questions;
all was going well until he was asked “Have
you been given a terminal diagnosis?” I had been. It was a short conversation after
that, it went like this; “Regrettably we are not going to be able to cover your
wife, also if you travel and even if your wife is covered by another company
and she has to be repatriated you will not be covered”… Andy took to the web
but every time he got to the dreaded question “Do you have a terminal diagnosis?”
That was the end of the line. He did get one quote for a week £1,340!! Eventually
after a lot of searching the internet he found a quote for £450, even at this
the trip was going to cost too much, beyond what we could afford.
Andy looked
at alternatives and found a lovely log cabin close to Aviemore in Scotland it
wasn’t up a mountain but Aviemore is at the bottom of one and is probably the
UK’s premier ski resort, it had snow! The log cabin was reasonably priced and
had a log fire! Andy spoke to Casper, he and Annelies decided they’d come to us
instead.
I am excited. Andy went to see one of the
Directors he reports in to and asked could he take what time we needed from
next year’s holiday allowance, he kindly agreed.
So the first
week of March we were Scotland bound, no way was it realistic to do the drive
in one go so we stayed in Sterling on the way up, the next morning being in no
rush we toured Sterling Castle which was just yards up the road. We then drove
a few miles up to Scone Palace, the ancient place where so many Scottish Kings
were crowned. We saw the most amazing carpet of Snowdrops so beautiful. I’m
tired but I’m happy.
Next stop
was to be ‘Tormore’ our beautiful log cabin. Located on the edge of Carrbridge
situated in woodland the setting was gorgeous. We collected the key, we
unloaded the car, unpacked and Casper lit the log burner. The cabin had full
central heating too, every mod con you could think of. We had shopped on the
way and so we settled in for the night and ate.
We had an
amazing time, we saw plenty, visited a couple of distilleries, I saw my first
ever Red Squirrel in the cabin grounds, he was in and out in no time but he was
beautiful.
Anyway, snow!! that’s what I’m here for after all…. We
headed up to Aviemore and to the Ski resort of Cairngorm Mountain, the views are beautiful. On the
way up we saw how much snow they’d had, see Andy standing beside it! ------->
The resort
was busy, thank goodness we have a disability blue badge, we don’t abuse this
privilege but the car park was split level and I really cannot manage steps
well now nor long distances even though kitted out in proper walking boots and
waterproofs. We were directed to a spot right by the funicular railway station.
This is how we would reach the proper snow. It’s an amazing and quick way to
travel up a mountain, watching skiers coming down on the runs either side of
you.
At the top
is the drop off station complete with a restaurant and coffee shop. We ventured on to the snow and ice, most of
it was compacted but we found some that I kind of got to play Snow Angels in.
Sadly tobogganing wasn’t going to be happening, a combination of too dangerous
and no snow on the nursery training slope. There is only one thing for it, I
need to ‘hang around’ until there is snow for me to toboggan on, take notice
Fluff!!
On the way
home we broke our journey by showing Casper & lies around Gretna Green and then by staying
in the Lake District, We’d told Casper and Annelies about it but it’s like a
lot of England & Scotland words are never enough, you need to see it with
your own eyes. Plus as previously mentioned I’m going to be scattered and ‘live
on’ here one day, I am naturally drawn to the area.
Next day we
were home and then the day after we are waving our dearest friends off as they
head into Liverpool Airport. It’s always sad and emotional saying goodbye, I
truly never know If I will ever see people again.
Also at the
earliest time possible after diagnosis either as the patient or the partner of
a patient, if you are employed make your employer aware of your change of circumstances.
You may not want all of your colleagues to know for now and your employer is obliged
to respect your privacy. Most employers will look at your situation
sympathetically and should you suddenly not come in to work one day at least
they’ll know there is a reason for your absence. Your employer may also have certain legal obligations to you now too be you the patient or the patient's 'carer'. Depending on your employment status, say
part-time or on a zero hours contract you may want to speak to the Citizens
advice service to see what your rights are and what if any new or extra
benefits you may be entitled to.
Another one
for you; if you are going on holiday, make sure you take all of your medicines,
make sure you have enough for your holiday and a little extra, Take a copy of
your prescriptions with you and remember if you are on steroids, you will
have a steroids card, make sure you have it
with you and you let your travelling companions know too. It would do no harm to check out the locations of the nearest hospital to you too depending on your condition and general health, better safe than sorry.
 |
| Weird, Whacky but lol Not a fairy! |
Finally, chase your dreams whilst you can no matter how weird, wild or whacky they may seem and laugh every day, you are making lasting memories for those you'll leave behind...
I’m still
looking for fairies…hehehe
 |
| Casper & 'lies Whitewater Hotel Newby Bridge |
A serious late addition to the blog
I mentioned in a previous blog "A few words of advice" The dangers of taking drugs not approved or discussed with your team.... Please see this govt press release today! This product is quoted as being a treatment for cancer. IF you or a family member are on/using this please contact your Oncology team immediately.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulator-warns-against-gcmaf-made-in-unlicensed-facility-in-cambridgeshire
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