Above & Beyond

By now you’ve probably worked out how sincerely grateful I am to those involved in my care – both medical and personal. I’ve also mentioned how often I’ve been reminded that ‘help is only a phone call away’.

Earlier this week the Practice Manager from Dr D’s (a very likable, knowledgeable and busy woman!), took the time to give me a call. (She’s also a very private person – so let’s just refer to her as ‘J’.)

J told me both she and Dr D were a ‘bit concerned’ about me, following my last visit ‘my smile just didn’t have the same spark’. I guess the emotional strain showed no matter how brave a face I tried to put on.

After asking if there was anything they could do, J asked what it was that I was having difficulty with. ‘Is it the implants – the fact you have something foreign in your body?’, ‘Is it the changes that have occurred to your body?’, or ‘Is it the fact there was a big ‘C’ in front of everything?’. (Did I mention how experienced this woman and her staff are?) My honest response was ‘no drama with the implants, but probably a combination of the other elements’.

The reality check is clearly underway (might I add J had warned me about this months ago – actually the day before my mastectomies) and I’m doing my best to ‘get a grip’. From her experience women usually ‘fall’ or ‘crash’ while the expanders are in-situ. Perhaps it’s a bit delayed in my case as I went back to work and tried to keep everything as normal as possible during that time. As J afforded me the opportunity to touch on how the diagnosis and treatment has affected every area of my life (personal and professional relationships, my career, physical fitness etc.), she reminded me that my prognosis is very good and reassured me that I’d done everything in my power to ensure that is the case.

I was also offered assistance in arranging to speak to a counsellor – if I wanted to (‘not saying you need to – but just if you’d like to’).

At this point, I’m pretty sure that (and anti-depressants – not that she mentioned them, but a Dr or two may have), wont be necessary. I told J I had my head on straight and know this is just a phase of ‘adjustment’ (big time!). I’m certain of this, in part because I’m so confident in the people alongside me on this journey.

J’s caring and compassion, the generous giving of her time and sharing of her knowledge is, I’m sure you’ll agree, above and beyond what one might expect. Another very special person, doing extraordinary things in her daily life, to help people like little old me. Sometimes, life can throw these curve balls that end up exposing you to some wonderful human beings. This, is just another example.

*You may notice I haven’t said ‘Thank you’ here. This is quite deliberate. Every time I try to express my thanks to J (and Dr D and Andrea for that matter), I’m met with a very humble ‘that’s not necessary’. Guess by the footnote – you can see I think it is!