No More News

Thank you so much to everyone who's written comments on this blog, and to those who have said that it's been a good idea and helpful to keep everyone updated.

This is just a quick note to say that now Ruth's back in "normal" working mode, I won't be putting up any more updates - the idea behind the blog was to be a single place for anyone to check how she was doing during such an intense time.

Fortunately, we're not in the same "intense" situation now, so it doesn't really seem appropriate to post further updates. Obviously, as we see & speak to people, then if there's any news, it'll come out that way.

Again, thanks for all your support and kind comments - it means the world.

The Homecoming

Well would you believe it? ... a mere 80 hours after major brain surgery, and this tough cookie is strong enough to leave hospital!

SHE'S HOME!

This can only help her get better quicker, can't it?!

There was some confusion this morning about whether she'd be allowed to leave today or not - nothing ever goes completely smoothly does it ;-)

But I'm really pleased to be updating this with the good news that the question / confusion was sorted out, and she's home.

Just in time to watch the rugby too ...! Hmmm ... just maybe she made the big effort so she could crack open a few beers while watching hunky men run round a rugby pitch. It seems like they've actually implanted an understanding of the rules too ... amazing what they can do these days.

Anyway ... can't write too much right now ... she's summonning me to cook tea.

(Good to have her back! ... No really, it is! ... Kids are chuffed to bits too.)

Reassuring News

I've just seen Ruth, and the good news is that the surgeon believes they've removed 80% - 90% of the tumour.

And what's more, she may not be in hospital for as long as we thought she might.

She was also looking fresher and stronger - she'd been up & about and had managed to shower, so she felt much better. (Still hadn't washed her hair though ... I didn't like to say anything, but really ... some people just don't care about their appearance do they?!)

Her left eye is still a proper "shiner" - but that'll get better over the next few days. (I certainly won't be putting any hospital photos up here - that wouldn't be fair at all!)

Now she just needs some rest and recuperation time - she's a tough cookie, so I'm confident she'll be on the mend nice and quickly now.

"An Unusual Lesion"

Well, just got back from another visit.

Ruth is looking well. (Actually, no that's rubbish - she's looking like she came off 2nd best in a round with Mike Tyson) but she's in less pain today.

She had quite a long time with visitors today, as her parents went in for the first time, as did a couple of friends who happen to work at the JR, and I took the kids in later. She was pretty tired after it all, so I reckon she'll get a good night's sleep.

The key thing for us today was to hear what the consultant had to say about the op. When he did his rounds it was before I could get there, so Ruth wrote down the key points. We're really none the wiser, to be honest, from those comments, as they echo what was already said before the operation - things like "it's been there for a long time". I guess they can't really tell too much just from the physical appearance - we'll find out more when we get the histology results back. I think that'll be towards the middle of next week.

One comment has thrown us a bit, though. Apparently the consultant said that it was "an unusual lesion". I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. So that's something I'll try to find out tomorrow. It could sound sinister, of course, but it could just have been an aside comment. So, there are more questions than answers from today.

Anyhow, the main and immediate focus is for Ruth to get stronger. On that score, I think she's doing really well. Just before I left her this evening I helped her across the ward - the first time she's been out of bed for a couple of days ... so that's another mini-milestone achieved, and it's helped to make her feel more refreshed and more human.

Onwards and upwards ....

Thanks for your support

Just a quick note to say thanks - again! - for all your offers of help & support. With Ruth's parents now living close by it's really a team effort, so we're pretty much covered for practical (and emotional) support.

But I know what it's like - when someone's in need of support you feel you want to offer ... but there's only so many times you feel you can offer it!

I know that Ruth and I are generally rubbish about asking for help, but just because we haven't, absolutely doesn't mean that it's not really appreciated.

Thanks

First Post - update after the operation

Please excuse this slightly impersonal note, but so many people have asked to be kept up to date with Ruth's situation that I'd be on the phone for about 3 weeks to speak to everyone.

Thank you so much for all your support and kind gestures to Ruth recently – she's been really moved, and it's been a huge source of strength for her, in what has obviously been an incredibly stressful time for her.

As you may already know, she was due to go in to hospital on Monday for the operation on Tuesday. We phoned on Monday, as instructed, to check that a bed was available, and after waiting for about 4 hours for the hospital to call back (and the stress that Ruth was under during that time) we were told that there wasn't actually a bed available that day, but that we should go in to the hospital on Tuesday at 8.30am, when she'd be 2^nd on the list for surgery.

To cut a long, stressful and frustrating day's story short, we arrived at the hospital at 8.15, and were still there, waiting for her to be called to surgery at 5pm! By 4.30 she was "gowned up" and ready to go, but at 5.15pm the surgeon came up to the ward (looking knackered) saying that they had had a few emergencies in the day, and unfortunately it wasn't going to be possible to do the operation that day. You can only imagine how Ruth was feeling when we heard that!

Anyway, she stayed in overnight, and was first on the list yesterday. She went down to theatre at about 8.30, and arrived back on the ward at around 1pm. The surgery was about 2½ - 3 hours we think.

I saw her in the afternoon, and she was looking great (well, as great as you can with a scar on the side of your head!) She didn't even have a bandage round her head, and no "drain" as was possible. She was also talking clearly and could do all normal things: see, hear, touch, move all limbs – so all the potential surgery risks seem to be OK.

We'll find out more about the operation itself today. But for now, it's just great to be on this side of the event, and for her to be recovering well.

Anyway, as so many people have been so kind, and have been emailing and texting, I wanted to let you know as soon as I knew anything.

Again, sorry for sending this in a slightly impersonal way, but we're really overwhelmed by how many people have offered their support and good wishes. Thank you so much.