We have been on quite a journey over the last few weeks. John's surgery is over, he was up and walking around the next day. The surgeons managed to remove 80% of the tumour, and he will have further treatment - either chemo or radiotherapy in the next few weeks. It's been a hectic ride - moving swiftly from our island home, to Inverness, to Aberdeen, and suddenly I found myself wondering how it was that I came to be sitting in a hospital day room, with my family - hundreds of miles from home, engrossed in a game involving a plastic palm tree. Yet - right at that moment, there was nowhere else I would rather have been.
While John was in hospital, James and I stayed at an amazing place called Clan Haven - an accommodation facility for people and families affected by cancer - I guess that is what we are now... I cant speak highly enough this home from home - the kindness of the staff, the comfortable rooms, and the support of others on different stages of this walk - it truly was a haven.
As John grew stronger, it was time to make plans for home. James and I made the journey back by car and ferry yesterday - it was a long trip, but at last the distant shores drew near and soon we were driving home past those familiar horizons, in the fantastic midsummer light. John was flown home this afternoon, so we were waiting to pick him up at the airport.
It is just great to be back home - sitting round our kitchen table, eating good food and just catching our breath. Finding that despite all that is going on, we are still the same people - the same family...
Thank you all again for your love and support - every comment and message has been cherished by us all. xxx
Beautiful photos and I send prayers for a full healing for John, and strength for you and all the family.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are back home because truly there is no place like it. Clan Haven sounds like a nice place to be as you traveled this road that unfortunately so many of us have traveled. Keeping all you in my prayers Jacqui.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are home and safe. I'm amazed at how challenges arise in our lives there are people and places that hold us close to share the burden. Praying for john and you and your family.
ReplyDeleteJacqui, I do understand the pleasure to be gained from that plastic palm tree game.
ReplyDeleteEven better, of course, was having your family together back a home having a delicious meal.
Continued best wishes to you and yours. xo
So glad you are all back home. Keeping you all in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteClan Haven is, obviously, like our Daffodil House in New Zealand - luckily I have had no reason to use it.
ReplyDeleteThoughts and prayers are with you.
So glad you are home. You and your family have been in my thoughts a lot lately. Sending you my prayers.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are home. You and your family have been in my thoughts a lot lately. Sending you my prayers.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this experience with us, well done for getting through what must have been a very very difficult week. It must be lovely to be home - I hope John's recuperation is quick and as always, thinking of you all every day x
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are home now. It must have been wearying and quite an ordeal. So glad you had a safe haven for a while when away. I pray for you and John many moments of each day, and will add your son as well. This experience is tough on kids, but may be just what The Lord had in mind for James. He will take this experience for growth in his young soul. Blessings on you all.
ReplyDeleteDear Jacqui, First of all thank you for taking time to share your life with us. I am so happy for you and your family that John is now in the familiarity of his own home. I pray that he continues to make a full recovery. You and your family come in and out of my thoughts over the past couple of weeks and I pray that God gives you strength and faith through this difficult time. You are a gentle and thoughtful soul. May God bless you. Love Jackie in Canada
ReplyDeleteAll the best to your family thru the healing process to come.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home, welcome home! You must be so relieved to be back again! Grateful that there are places like Clan Haven-it truly does look like a haven. Continuing with the healing wishes and that the treatment will go smoothly. John seems like a real trooper to be up and walking already. Big hugs to you all. xo Laurie in NY
ReplyDeleteAh I have been so negligent with blogs and reading, I missed the previous posts and am so sorry that cancer has plopped itself in your world, it is thief. It steals time, and keeps you from being able to focus on normal. When I was diagnosed with Kidney cancer, I remember that all my memories became "before cancer" and "after cancer", my life fragmented. But you have and will find beauty in everything, and joy too. I don't know if this makes sense to you, but everything after cancer is so intense, all the small joys are immense and intense. I am sorry you have to travel this cancer road, it is distracting and steals our normal. I wish John well, and healing on your island.
ReplyDeleteHome is THE best place to be. May you find peace and comfort in familiar surroundings and prayers will be continued for you all. We lit several candles at church last weekend.
ReplyDeleteMuch love
San and co xxx
Best thing ever is coming home, especially after the journey you all have had. I keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. The photos are lovely, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThere truly is nothing like coming home and you surely do appreciate it more when you've left for a while. Lovely photos!! You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers every day. xoxo
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
So glad you are all home. Sending much love. Holding you all tightly in my prayers. Wendy, Edinburgh
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear that you have been able to return home. I hope that journey is the start of a new chapter that is a more positive one for you all. You remain in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI have missed out on all of this. the wonders of technology are owned an dictated by how good machines are operated and maintained. (In other words, my computer has been on the blink).
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I have just caught up with all of your traumas and am so glad that you have all come through with strength and courage. I will think of you all in my prayers tonight and hope that your journey continues to go onwards and upwards with hope, good humour and help from what ever source available. Be strong. You know you are.
So happy you're home! Sending love, and keeping you all in my prayers. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that you are home...and that you had a haven when you were away from it. This post really made me stop and take it all in, what you are going through, what so many do. May you keep finding this beautiful awareness, and sharing with us now and then. xo
ReplyDeleteWonderful news to read you are all home again in familiar surroundings engulfed in the love that his 'home'
ReplyDeleteHealing wishes for John as he ventures along his recovery path.
{{big hug}} for you too as you support him xxx
oh jacqui i just read this. oh goodness dear lady. you are all so much in my thoughts and prayers, we have been affected by the dreadful C in our family too so i am good and prepared to make my prayers count, all good to your john and to all of you giving so much love and support.
ReplyDeletep.s. your photos just make me gasp. gorgeous.