Home Sweet Home.......

We got home around 3pm today after Meg had her drainage tubes removed and lots of faffing around was completed..... Removing the tubes was quite traumatic and painful and the wounds are pretty sore and bruised, but all in all she's doing great and nobody can believe that it's only a week to the day since her operation! Marianne (the oncologist) came to see us before we left to give us the results of the tumour histology. All of the tumour was removed with a good margin of healthy tissue around the whole thing. Most of the tumour was necrotic, but some of it was still active. This could mean that there are other diseased cells in Meg's body that could become problematic in the future so more chemotherapy is vital. After a long discussion about working around the much anticipated visit of my brother Simon and his youngest daughter Jennifer, on 29th March, we agreed that 8th April would be the next round of chemo. Marianne feels that we have an advantage over this disease now, and that she wants to maintain that advantage by bombarding it with 3 more cycles of chemo. We all pray that this plan of action will do the trick and leave our little girl to get on with her life.....

I went to pathology yesterday and saw the right lobe of Meg's liver that was removed and the tumour. I'm sure lots of people think that I'm strange wanting to do that, but it does help me process the whole thing. I did the same with the first huge tumour that she had removed. I wanted to see this cancer; this monstrous disease, that is threatening my Meggie's life. My first sight of it made me gasp a little and the first thing that came out of my mouth was "oh bless....that's part of my little girl...." The lobe of her liver was much bigger than I expected, as was the tumour, but I could clearly see that it was all out, and there in front of me. It made me feel so sad that this "specimin" and all the slices next to it came from my Meg's body, but when I saw the tumour I felt so mad. It was so obviously different and sinister to me. Maybe that's what helps me - being able to actually direct my anger at something physical, instead of just the word "cancer". Whatever it is, I'm glad that I did it, but I hope I never have to see another piece of my little girl on a sterile tray ever again.

Here are a couple of photos taken this afternoon - both sleeping (again!) but she has had a very big week so I'm sure you'll all understand.