UPS AND NOT SO UP'S

A year down the line and my eye is doing well, still there and the tumour continues to do what it should and stays free of blood vessels.
I've had a few trips back to London for check-ups, lots of long waits but well worth it as all seems to be good.
It's taken me a long while to work out what the not-so-ups are but I think it's mostly down to my dyslexia, or specifically, the disorientation.
I can't judge how fast traffic is moving, my depth perception is off, I constantly knock myself on door frames etc when walking through, fall up the stairs, accidentally hit people when gesticulating, feel the ground is far away when walking off steps or onto a patterned floor so that I walk like a young foal testing it's legs!
I've lost the sight in the far corner of the eye which can cause me to jump when people overtake me on that side and suddenly appear in front of me.
Writing is incredibly hard and even typing is very time consuming, I just don't seem to be able to co-ordinate very well.
My eyes will both sting and water if I spend long in front of a screen and I find I can't read even large print and with my glasses on for a while after.
I've lost hair from the back of my head, not enough to notice normally but enough for the hairdresser to ask if I've ever had a really high inverted cut back there! The good side to that is Lush, I love their products and am trying a sample of R&B, created for Afro hair which apparently breaks off at a certain length.
Another one of the up sides is definitely Calibre, (www.calibre.org.uk), for sending me talking books and free of charge, they help keep me marginally sane at least!

The 'joint' pain returned and I was given a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, which has a huge list of symptoms including 'visual disturbances'!! The fibro gives me far more gyp than the cancer, I seem to have pretty much constant pain somewhere or another that doesn't follow any pattern, so I'm back on painkillers. The fibro also causes my muscles to twitch and spasm, which varies from mildly annoying to excruciating pain, and I can't sleep now without chemical aid. What with drugs for this and that I think I must rattle rather!

I've recently started crafting again after an incredibly inspiring trip to a local contemporary art gallery and finding Pretty Scruffy, (www.prettyscruffy.com), Emily Harper of emilymews blog, and Arran Mackintosh of www.mushroominthebox.com to many small workshops there. I totally adore the work of these artists and will be adding them to my Santa wish list!

RECOVERING

Well, I had the operation four weeks ago and returned home five days later, where I have been recovering.
It will take a while to post it all on here, my eyesight is quite good considering but I can't spend too long in front of a screen of any sort.
I can't believe how quick it's all been, nor now fast it's working, DH and I had a rushed trip back to London just 3 weeks after the operation, to be told that the blood vessels feeding the tumor have already gone. My consultant showed us before and after photo's, and it's clear to see the change, even the heart shaped hole in my iris has gone, (that's what caused the hyphema, or bleeding, way back in May).
My thanks to everyone for their messages of support, and to Bear for updating this blog.
There are plans in the pipeline to get a support network up and running, so newly diagnosed patients can talk to someone who has 'been there, done that', sort of thing.
More to follow:)

Hopping eyes, bear hugs, Italian food and guys, and most importantly big smiles and laughter all 'round.

Hello follow-ersss!
:)
Middle child again aha, hope you're all doing good.
Well straight to it, I was able to see Mummykins yesterday!
:D
Thanks to m'lovely Aunt.
:)
and I must say Mum looked wonderful, she got a glitter bug from Lush before she went to hospital, and decided to sparkle her-self up for us tehe, so when she hugged us we got sparkles all over us.
:)
Mum is looking very well, she had her dressing changed and I saw her eye, it's not bruised at all, it's blood shot but that's all, and she wasn't in any pain while having it changed, she has two different eyedrops put in her eyes, and has an eye patch which is taped on, but it doesn't hurt when they take it off which is always good.
:)
She's enjoying the food there, I must say it did all sound really nice, but not as nice as the Italian meal me and Auntie had, it was lovely, as was the view tehe.
;)
Mum has a nice view from her window you can see the trees, which made Mum happy, her and her nature haha.
:P
The staff there are so nice!
They always greet you with a smile, stop and chat with you, and they have such a good sense of humor, Aunt got a hopping eye for Mum as a joke, and Mum said about scaring the doctors by winding it up opening the door and letting it out!
The nurses were in hysterics!
It was a funny mental image but Mum couldn't really do it, because she's radioactive woman aha, otherwise she most probably would've gone for it.
The room she's staying in is quite nice the bed is more amazing than it sounds and so comfy!
Mum wants to roll it back home with her haha, I wouldn't reject to that i'd steal it off her, but the nurse said no.
:(
Her bathroom is nice and clean and her shower has a seat in it haha, the T.V. which Mum made sound huge, was tiny haha, and so far away but aye atleast she has one, even tho she bought a million D.V.Ds and a portable D.V.D player with her so she doesn't really need the T.V. aha.
She has another operation tomorrow hopefully to remove the plate, and fingers crossed she'll be home on Monday!
YEY!
Will be so good to have her home, she gave us bear hugs good bye yesterday aha, it was lovely to see her.
:)

Well that's all folks.
;)
Will let you all know how the op' goes tomorrow.
:)
Have a lovely night.

Middle child.
xx

I see golden, I see er...blue things swimming across my eye when a light is on.

Hello my Mummykins' followers, I don't know what she calls me on here soo lets just call me the middle child, until I find out what she calls me aha.
:)
Glad to say Mum is being treated well at the hospital, she has her own bathroom, fridge and a flat screen T.V!
:O
She is quite impressed with the bed, she can make it go up down, and apperently it vibrates(?)
She told me she hopes she doesn't roll on the buttons in her sleep, otherwise she will most probably turn into a human sandwich!
Made us both giggle for quite a while.
Oh and she took her own pillows.
:)

Mum has had her operation today, but she's not in severe pain which is really good news, she's just got a light stinging.
:)
Mum explained that when she is looking out of her left eye (the one with the golden plate on it) it kind of looks like she's looking into a kaleidoscope all the time, which I guess just sends her back to the 70s, which isn't too bad teehee, but when she goes into the bathroom and switches the light on, all she sees is a lightish blue colour and it's like things are swimming over her eye, but that is much better than being in severe pain all the time, i'm very proud of her for being so brave, and just getting on with it, what a wonderful woman she is.
:)
Well that is all for now dearys, I will hopefully be seeing Mumsy tomorrow.
:D
So there will be gossip on here about hot doctors and all that jazz, well if we get home early enough, and if not you will have to wait until Friday, sorry.
Teehee.
Have a wonderful day, hope the weather is better tomorrow!
Good ol' England.
From the middle child.
xx

Hi, just to let everybody know, lunar has had the op this morning, all has gone well and she is feeling okay.

Silver Linings

I have been given more gifts to help me through this difficult time, so many silver linings. I hope everyone recieves such gifts, both the physical and the unspoken...

A gift from one of my oldest friends, (well, she's almost older than me), a pretty eye patch in healing lavender and magical sparkles, and a cane to match. If I bump into anyone at least I'll look nice;))

This lovely handmade bag from my good friend Rowan, to hold my latest knitting project. Rowan saw the fabric and thought of my saying about thinking like mushrooms. Wasn't that kind? I love it!

This is an inside view of a little book TW made for me when I was first diagnosed with iris melanoma, I sent her a wobbly e-mail and she kindly made this to help me out. The little cube says "Why Not?", a slogan that makes for an interesting life!

Winnie The Pooh speaks for so many, I'm taking his friend....

.....Eeyore, since I can't take DH. His nickname is Eeyore because he often appears gloomy but those whom he lets in know far better, he's a softie really:)

A Wise Owl Once Said...

My clever friend TW gave me this little owl scrap book she'd made for me to take into hospital, a beautiful reminder of those who are rooting for me. Isn't he sweet?
There's space for me to fill with photo's.

Words to make me laugh....









Inspiring words from a wise man......

....and true words from a gifted woman, missed by many.

Thank-you TW:)