About Me

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I'm Carole, living in London, happily married and mum to two amazing boys.I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer in April 2010. Surgery took place in November 2010 and I now have a permanent colostomy...Spinal mets were then diagnosed in October 2011...In January 2012 I was told of further spread to the hip area (multiple lesions)..My life expectancy is now 6-9 months. Walk alongside me on the last part of my experience with this..

Saturday 30 October 2010

Pre Christmas Spirit.....

You will see that I've set up a link on my page for Trinity Hospice.

This is a service that relies on donations to ensure they can continue to provide quality care for patients who receive a terminal diagnosis.
They work with families to either keep people at home - often preferred - or to offer quality care within the hospice itself.
The Hospice is a beautiful building with quality outside grounds so that people can sit quietly and just enjoy the lovely gardens - or relax inside the visitors/family room, instead of feeling like you are stuck in a clinical environment.

All services provided are free - therefore raising funds is always a priority for them.

Help me to kick this blasted cancer up the butt by turning my diagnosis into something positive and donate to this essential local resource........ Not asking for vast amounts or regular monthly donations - just a pound or whatever you can comfortably afford to give.
Maybe you would consider buying one less Christmas present this year (let's face it, we all buy too much at times..) or one less pack of overpriced Christmas cards, and give a small amount to Trinity Hospice instead?

As you know, Rab is cooking Christmas lunch (for two days) this year and we will be asking for those present to make a small donation.
Once I'm feeling better, after my surgery, we will be organising other fund raising events...Djamel has already said that he'll walk around the common 4 times (!!! It's huge!) on a rainy day if people will sponsor him - so that's something we'll be organising in the future.

I may well be needing them at some point in my life so I wanted to try to do something for them whilst I'm around :-)

Thank you in advance.

6 comments:

  1. Excellent idea Carole, i will donate in a couple of weeks insted of buying christmas cards :D

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  2. Loretta and Tony x31 October 2010 at 14:00

    Is DJ actually walking round the common or is he going to run?

    If we is WALKING then ill join him (if he wants) but if he is running maybe ill just sponsor him hahaha x Oh and Leanne dont know it yet but ill drag her along too - we could do with the excersie - but only if DJ wants the company x

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  3. Hello Carole, I've been following your blog for some time but don't usually comment. My partner and I have recently embarked on the same rollercoaster as yourself, (He's the one with the cancer) and I'd like to thank you for sharing your experiences so far. I say 'I' would like to thank you as my partner, Stevie, hasn't really accepted his situation yet, and as such, is so far reluctant to explore forums like yours. Like you, he has colorectal cancer and, like you, his tumour is quite low down in the bowel, bordering his rectum. He was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago and so far, he is carrying on with his daily life as best he can. Some see this as a positive attitude but I see it as a means of avoiding the reality of his illness. He starts 5 weeks of chemoradiation tomorrow and is beside himself with fear. Hopefully, one day, I'll persuade him to join me in exploring blogs like yours, which may help him accept his situation, share his own experience and discover advice from real patients on how to deal with the ups and downs that bowel cancer brings. However, thus far, he depends on me to research and find the answers to his many questions. Honestly, we could be in a room with a dozen other medical staff and he'll ask me about whatever he wants to know! Perhaps this is because he isn't yet ready to hear the 'raw' truth, by asking me questions he knows whatever answer I give will have the 'raggy' bits trimmed off! Carole, the main reason for commenting on your blog at this time, is to say firstly yes I will support Trinity Hospice and secondly, I'm aware that you are due to undergo your rescheduled surgery very soon and I send my very best wishes to you and your lovely family. Stay strong Carole, we're all rooting for you.

    PS in case you're wondering where Stevie is as I write this comment, he's at the Tyne & Wear Derby (Newcastle v Sunderland), we lost 5-1, and he ain't pleased! Not sure if he's more upset about the score or the toilet access ( you'll know what I mean......)

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  4. Hi Nicky,

    I'm really glad you left a comment because it is so nice to hear that my blog IS actually helping others.
    I know I have numerous readers who prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine but it's lovely to hear the blog is useful to people other than myself and direct family.

    Nicky, please do feel comfortable with emailing me directly with any questions or just if you need to vent. My email link is on my profile page. If there's anything I can do to help you both just let me know.

    Stevie will accept things in his own time - it's all been a huge shock to him no doubt and initially your emotions are all over the place. Also, I don't know if you're aware but Cancer Research have a really good supportive forum - join us there if you want to make contact with others who are dealing with colorectal cancer.

    Thank you for your good wishes for my surgery - I'm on countdown (not the TV programme...:-)..) and this time next week I'll probably be in pieces (not literally, that'll be a few days longer) but for now, I'm dealing with it all day by day :-)

    Keep in touch Nicky, I'd be pleased to hear from you.
    Hugs to you both and I hope the treatment goes well xxxx

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  5. Hi Loretta,

    I asked Dj about you and Leanne going with him on his walk and he's definitely up for that as long as you get people to sponsor you to do it as well.

    He's really into this raising funds thing now. I was thinking that I might get him to do a sponsored silence one day soon.
    HIS other bright idea was that people could sponsor him to play Xbox for 18 hours without a break!
    LOL....Nice try Dj.. :-)

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  6. Sarah - thank you.
    If I managed to get everyone to do this we could exceed my target easily.
    Much appreciated xxxx

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