SATURDAY LUNCH WITH COFFEE AND CAKE

Greetings and welcome to Saturday - what started out to be a gloomy and dreary day is not turning into a sunny afternoon and I am pleased to see the sun, as will all the brides who have their wedding planned for this afternoon.

I am always a little sad to see rainy Saturdays that shatter some dreams of a glorious sunny wedding and a place in the sun for photographs.

It is lovely being home and able to do things at my own speed and in the order I wish to do them - I didn't have a very good night so was up for a while and I updated my blog "A Liver for Linda" and then went back to bed so was much later getting up and going than normally.  I am finally coming to the realization that I don't have to be up by 6.00.a.m. and have things done by 8.00.a.m. - that it really doesn't matter and I don't have to explain to anyone at all.

My procedure on Thursday was not an easy one, but it was able to be done and although it was a later start it was over by midday - I slept most of the afternoon away and was able to discuss what had happened in surgery with the Surgeon - a lovely lady who speaks my language.

I met some old friends and made some new ones - met a lovely Anaesthetist who was fully aware of Stevens Johnson Syndrome and referred to it as the "anaphylaxis" of the skin and the only life threatening disease of the skin.  He was very aware of the medications I should not take and floated the thought of my going into hospital to immunology to find out exactly what I can and cannot have - as I said an idea and I would have to give it lots of thought.

This Doctor was training a lovely Anaesthetist Registrar and teaching her all the tricks of the trade he knew and it seemed to work well because under his instruction she didn't have any trouble inserting a cannula.

Beautiful nurses and procedure staff took very good care of me and although the procedure was not an easy one - all seemed (from my point of view) to have gone well.  It really wasn't a matter of changing the stent because even with xrays there was no sign of the first stent and it appears I may have passed it.  There were some fairly substantial stones in the bile duct which they were able to remove and then to insert a new stent into a good position.

The procedure had taken long than they thought it would and there had been lots of poking and prodding which would account for pain/discomfort.

The Surgeon was surprised I had not felt ill from the way things looked.

A follow up appointment has been made for May 13 and at that stage I shall discuss with my Specialist when the next procedure will have to be done.

There was a lovely nurse in recovery who remembered me and asked me if my daughter was home from England and how she was and I was able to enquire about her son and his enrollment in the Air Force.

When back on the ward another patient was returned in the capable hands of Felix the most delightful man who had been the one to take me to the operating theatre for my transplant.  He remembered me and we talked a while and he also remembered singing to me as we went down to theatre.  He also remembered that it was Christmas time and how that I had been delighted with the Christmas Decorations outside the theatre doors.

It was good to talk with Felix and it made his day that I remembered him a it pleased me that he too remembered me.

What had to be done was all done in a lovely caring environment and I was treated with great dignity.  A third year nursing student spent some time with me learning all she could about Stevens Johnson and her comment was "I may be able to recognize the signs and save someone's life"  - see the world is in good hands with young people like that.

All that remains is for me to take some time to recover and live my life as well as I can until the next procedure.


I am slower than I used to be but then I am older than I used to be too.  I tire easier and sleep eludes me more, but that is the pattern of my life and it is indeed a joy to be alive and living well.


My daily gratitude today is 


"I am grateful for music that brings joy to my soul and calms me." 


I hope that there is music in your life today and that the sun is shining in your little corner of the world 


It is Earth Hour tonight - turn off your lights for just an hour and make a difference - sit by candle light (it is much more flattering) and in some small way give our world a chance.


Keep praying for the people of Japan and all other places struck by earthquake - I caught a news bulletin early this morning about a quake in Burma earlier this week.  Wow they kept that quiet.  



I have been doing a little tidying up and adjustment on this blog and I am happy with the result - it also gives active links to other blogs you may like to visit.  There are two in America (In Chigago - from Aletha and Diane) and one from Lynne in New South Wales.  Visitors are always welcome and appreciated. 


These ladies has been supportive of me and I hope you enjoy a visit to their blogs - Diane and Aletha often share lovely recipes and Lynne's blog (Tiili Peninsular) is new and very lovely.


I have more to add to the list too, but right now it is time for a siesta.

I wish you a beautiful weekend with the love of friend and family , the laughter of children, a smile from a baby, a good book to read, some time to get your hands dirty in the garden and to commune with nature a while.  To those celebrating birthdays I wish you a flower strewn pathway and a diamond studded sky.  Happy Birthday Nicole (today) and Naomi on Monday.

Love and hugs and as always thanks for taking the time to visit "The Musings from my Heart."