One year ago today I had my 16 hour operation and took my family to hell and back. But today I am celebrating my new "birthday" by having my hair permed!! There's still umpteen things I can't do (like talk and eat properly) but I don't care...I'm still here, thanks to my wonderful doctors and the whole medical team, also my fantastic family and friends. Brenda x

Hi Brenda

Happy re-birthday! I was also thinking that today was my last Radiotherapy day last year so wanted to join you here.

I am going to live for my family, especially for my 8 yrs old daughter....!!!

Take care,

R xxx

Vicki

You have shamed me!

Happy Anniversary . If I could, I would award all of you 'war'medals for the campaigns you have been in.

Take care and keep well.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hi Vicki, Congralations to you sorry I didn't
respond early on. Have been under the weather.
Cathy

Hello all and thanks all for your congrats. I knew you would be right there with me Vicki as you have been through the same operation. I didn't mean to stir everyone up - just wanted to express how happy I am to be able to celebrate that one whole year of survival!!!

I must be well on the mend as I have just managed to wear my husband out with four hours of shopping for wedding gear!! (our son gets married in May). The only difficulty I had was finding somewhere to have lunch where a) there was a quiet corner, as I'm still very shy of eating in public and b) they offered soup without bits in. I had no luck with either but made the best of it as hubby, John, had to eat! Since I got home I have demolished a pureed dinner, chocolate milkshake and two "dunkie" biscuits and made as much mess as I liked!!!! God help me at the reception! Love Brenda x

Hello Brenda,

Hello Brenda,(again!!! I will try to press the right buttons this time)This week was the anniversary of my big job (about 10hours)to remove most of my lower jaw and rebuild it with bits and pieces from my left arm.Like you I had difficulty eating.I still have vivid recollections of my first meal with the "new equipment"it was pureed shepherd's pie, it looked digusting but I was hungry so I had a go,I shovelled this jollop over my left shoulder, in my left ear and a little bit of it reached my mouth.I told the catering staff to bring food "as is" in future, it wasn't easy but eating has always been one of my greatest pleasures so I stuck at it,about the only thing I can't manage now is salad.So keep at it Brenda and you will soon be popping along to Christians for some of their superb fish and chips,( if you give me a bell I'll come up and join you.)I won't be having my hair permed, it all fell out years ago so I might just have the top of my head polished.
Best of luck Brenda, Keep Smiling
John

Hi everyone. congrats all round, when I look back to this time last year,I was unable to eat and sat like a naughty child with a plate of puree infront of me from dawn til dusk.
Hi John, I cannot manage salad, even now, and before I looked like I had a stroke, so eveerything fell out; you sound as though you have great determination, and I would join you for some great fish and chips, they are not great her in London.Big Bear Hugs

Hello John Good to hear from a fellow Yorkshireman (?) I originate from Leeds and remember going to a good pub in Mirfield - many moons ago! You are obviously familiar with the North East as you are right about Christians - although I can't imagine ever being able to enjoy their fish and chips again as all my meals are still blended. Did you manage to keep a number of teeth despite your op? I have all my upper ones but only three lower ones. Perhaps I'll do better once I get the denture fitted - although the thoughts of it fills me with dread! Where did you have your operation? You certainly seem to have recovered well - what's the knack?

We will have to arrange a fish and chip supper as a goal to aim for sometime - Garance and me are already signed up!!! Best wishes Brenda

Hi Brenda, I have been to Yorkshire this Jan and found the people really so kind, after London it was a treat. Re the CHOPPERS, have just been to the dentist yet again, they took out my lower molars, so have a plate, however the Thrush has been so painful have not had them in. however if you can cope, you may be able to eat a bit better.so go for it Girl. Big Bear Hugs

good morning Brenda,
If you find part of this message somewhere else it is due to me pressing the wrong buttons again!! Right; answers to your questions.I lost all my teeth when I was 19 at the moment I manage with an upper plate and I use my tongue as a lower jaw, however unlikely this seems I make it work. The operation was carried out at the L.G.I.& what a fine bunch of people work there.The knack of recovery? in my case a lifelong stubborn refusal to be beaten and the thought of liquidised shepherd's pie.Now then Brenda , this fear of a dental plate is ill founded. After what you have got used to in the last twelve months this will be no more of a challange than a sneeze.If the plate helps you to eat it will be like winning the pools.My working life brought me to the N.E.I stayed two nights per month at a pub in Blyth between 1990 & 2001.
That's the questions out of the way so let's deal with the fish & chip job I'll make one in. After struggling with London fare Garance would love Christians but can you figure out what they would make of the advance order: fish and two, twenty three times ( twelve of them liquidised) I bet you two don't remember a fish & two!
Keep Smiling
John