Off to Liverpool 5th Sept.

It will be 8 weeks since our last outing, mainly down to Hubby's work commitments; but also down to some rather dramatic health issues.

6 weeks ago I had a routine (I thought) eye test. I'd had some flashing lights in my right eye for a while but I was developing some blurred vision and occasional bouts of rather acute pain. My Dr had told me to get my eyes tested when the flashing lights first started but you know what it's like you put things off. Anyway I booked an appointment at Tesco's Llansamlet where the lovely Rachel tested my eye's ..she asked me to return to have drops to dilate my pupils so she could get a better look.

Suspecting that I might have a detached retina I returned the following week .... I couldn't go sooner as I needed Steve to drive me as I was told my eyesight wouldn't be good till the drops wore off. Rachel did a long examination of my eyes then put the light back on and asked if I had anything on the next few days, I heard real concern in her voice! ..she phoned Singleton hospital to try and get me an appointment with the ophthalmologist.

Well it eventually came a couple of weeks later so off I went, with some trepidation, expecting to be told that I'd need surgery for a detached retina. Well the news I had nearly floored me ..I have a tumour in my eye and I was being referred for an urgent appointment at the Ocular Oncology dept in St Pauls Liverpool!!! I was sent to medical photography the next day for some 'staging' photos, the consultant was very honest and said he hoped the photos wouldn't show any blood supply to it. When I got home I stared into the mirror for hours trying to see what they had seen, all I could see was some bulging in the white area of my eye so thought if that's all it is there's not much to worry about.

Well I had the photos taken and was just about to stand up to leave when he turned the computer screen around to show me what he had imaged. Blimey did I have a shock, it showed the mass up clearly ..with a blood supply and seeding ( smaller tumours). I asked that Steve could come in and see the photos too, up until this point we were both in denial and were convinced they'd got it wrong. The realisation of what we'd seen hit us hard as we left the hospital and we both acknowledged that our lives had just changed for ever.

We have spend hours crying, discussing my wishes, rewriting my will, and going over and over the diagnosis. It still feels surreal that my life has changed so much in such a short space of time. I can't deny it any longer as the pain and blurred vision gets worse by the day, a fact that scares the hell out of me.

So that's the reason why we're off to Wirral Country Park CC site on the 5th Sept, I go into St Pauls on the 7th and my destiny will be in their hands. Baby will be earning her keep as a home base for the foreseeable.



...................to be continued.