On the Road to Recovery

Thankfully I had a healthy platelet count of 114 (that is very healthy for me!) and my surgery went ahead on 18th February. I was strangely excited to be walking to the operating theatre, I'd waited for a long time, although with trepidations about the spinal block I was about to have. The anaesthetist had cheerfully declared he was giving me one as I'd be in "a lot of pain" afterwards... He wasn't wrong, but it didn't last too long. The care I received was excellent, with the multicultural nursing team looking after me beautifully. I couldn't really eat much, but even the food seemed OK. 

Paul collected me on Friday lunchtime in our old car, that has similar suspension levels to a supermarket trolley. Let's say I was glad to get home! I'd been training him up to care for me over the preceding months and he rose to the challenge. And home is a wonderful place to be; warm, comfortable and full of people and things I love. 

Three weeks later and I'm reaping the rewards of doing yoga four times a week throughout the winter. I feel completely fine and ready to resume my life! Once my digestive system had returned to normal after about a week, I won't elaborate further as nobody wants to hear about that, I was prowling the house looking for something to occupy me. There's a long list of things I mustn't do for 6 weeks or more, but walking is actively encouraged so I started on day 3, with a tiny walk around the block. I've increased my walks to a decent 4 miles, at normal pace now. I'm wearing a groove on the pavements in my locality. I begged Helen to take me to Yin after 2 weeks because I needed to get out and about. I promised that I would focus on relaxation and meditation, no folds or twists. I have really enjoyed it, and Helen informs me that my recovery will be aided by a calm and stress-free mind. I am desperate to get back to Monday mornings, but will be patient for another week and do some suitable home practice. I haven't been managing too well with patience, it's not my forte. I'm not meant to do the vacuuming, but waiting for Paul to notice that it needs doing (unlikely) and actually do it (what's wrong with now???) has defeated me, and I've been doing it. Proud that I've resisted carrying it upstairs, however. 

We should be heading south through Spain towards Seville at the moment, but have delayed our departure by 3 weeks. We now go on Good Friday, a sensible six weeks after the op, when so many things become accessible to me again! Like my poor bike, languishing in the garage when others are getting taken out in the sunshine by Paul and Helen. Don't worry, George (all my vehicles have names), Spanish tarmac is calling us soon. Will probably need to be fairly flat tarmac for a while, though, as my wobbly legs remember what to do. I've started making piles and lists ready for our trip, researching places to visit. The list is way too long, but we can always go back. I love this part, the anticipation in advance of the experience all part of the fun.

Being home so much over the last few weeks has made me, sadly, more exposed to the horror of the news and the amount of hate and greed that exists around us. I am not so naive as to believe that wars will not happen. Unfortunately it is the nature of man. I can only hope that the lessons of the past will be remembered at some point, and that future leaders will be selected for different qualities. Maybe they will choose love, not hate. Sending my positive energies out into the universe in hope. 

Namaste.