Timely. This beautiful and very welcome card from my friend Sarah arrived the day of my surgery. Image: Su Leslie
Where to begin!
When I left you last month I was preparing for surgery for suspected ovarian cancer.
I join you this month a few body parts short of a game of Operation, a pleasing number of kilograms lighter, and with a long, but largely healed scar running the length of my abdomen.
The surgeons are confident they removed the visible tumours, but as the cancer had spread beyond my ovaries, I’ve been referred to an oncologist to discuss chemotherapy.
That should be enough for me to process and deal with.
But.
Four days after I got home from hospital, New Zealand went into a nation-wide Level 4 Covid-lockdown. The initial cases were pretty close to home, and for the first time since the pandemic began, I felt afraid. The possibility of illness — particularly a coughing illness — was terrifying while I was held together with staples and medical tape.
We’re now on Day 19, and my initial fears of becoming sick have been largely replaced by a weariness brought on by all the extra hassles of daily life (particularly one involving frequent medical appointments).
I’m incredibly fortunate to be locked down in a comfortable home, with plenty to eat and the wonderful Big T looking after me. I just wish I could DO more.
I’m not quite healed enough to work in the garden or finish restoring the armchair I had begun, and, as you’ll see, I’ve had a fairly limited choice of subjects for photography this month too.
Flowers began arriving not long after my return home. Image: Su Leslie
Double exposure. Image: Su Leslie
Still beautiful in decay. Image: Su Leslie
Throw in a little editing. Image: Su Leslie
Care package from my sister in law — kindness, goodness and supporting local business. Image: Su Leslie
Not missing these. Bye bye daily injections of anti-coagulant. Image: Su Leslie
The Changing Seasons — this month hosted by Ju-Lyn at Touring my Backyard
