It’s my first day home alone. Kari comes to visit in the morning with the kids – it’s good that she’s coming because it gives me a purpose to get up and out of the house bright and early. We go to the coffee shop next to my building, and it’s good to hang out even if I am stiff as a board and walking like an Egyptian. I still have to drink through a straw which does attract a few weird looks. I’m used to that anyway, having your neck slashed will always grab you a bit of extra attention!
It doesn’t take me long to exhaust myself these days and by the time I bid Kari and the kids goodbye, I’m shattered and crash on the sofa!
David’s left me my chopped up calcium tablets which I diligently take before lunch. It’s only after I swallow them, that I realise I’m not meant to take them until dinner time! Aarrgh! I’ve just overdosed on calcium torpedoes! How rock n roll! In a mad panic I phone the pharmacist, who says it’s no drama, sheep farmer, I can just miss my evening dose. I have a little chuckle to myself – another blonde moment!
Later that day, I cruise on the internet. As a rule, I try not to do any medical research on the internet. I remember trying that last time I was diagnosed and frightened myself half to death. I know I’m in good medical hands and prefer to pick the doctors’ brains for answers rather than surf the net. It works for me. However, I did visit the Cancer Council Australia website which is fantastic.
The website is really well organised with lots of useful practical advice. There’s a whole section on thyroid cancer which is really informative. I find out a bit more about my follow up radioactive iodine treatment. It is pretty enlightening. It looks like I’ll have to stay in hospital for a few days for the treatment – I thought I’d just take a regular pill and carry on business as usual. Apparently not. I’ll also have to go on an iodine free diet for 2 weeks before treatment. Reading around, that means no fish/seafood, no iodised salt, and limited dairy and commercial bread products. With such a limited diet, at least I’ll be healthy and, forewarned is forearmed, at least I’ve got time to get my head around it! I’ll have to start looking for some healthy and delicious iodine free recipes!
I’ve also been putting a lot of thought into my Bucket List – not because I’m dying, on the contrary, I’m doing it because I’m living and I want to make sure I have time to achieve all my objectives! I hate leaving things to the last minute! It’s always puzzled me as to why people make bucket lists when they’re sick and/or dying – this is a bit like locking the stable the door after the horse has bolted, because (depending on the length of, and items on your bucket list,) you’re probably not going to have the time or the good health to see your wishes come true.
Mo had a bucket list and fair dinkum, she did a grand job getting through quite a lot of it. She had planned a trip to see the Northern Lights, but heartbreakingly, she died just a few days before her dream trip. I don’t want that to happen to me.
When I was compiling my list, I realised, that I’m always setting goals and trying to live my dreams; that list could have been a lot longer, but I guess I’m lucky, a lot of my wishes have already come true. For example, I’ve already met Mickey Mouse, climbed the Harbour Bridge, raised $1000 for Breast Cancer and finished the Mothers Day Classic and completed my CELTA course. I don’t really like the word Bucket either, I think I prefer Wish List. Because I know that wishes come true. I realise also, that the list is a working document, and as wishes will be fulfilled, others will make a new entry. There’s always something new to look forward to, live for and work towards.
