Thursday 9 February 2012

Little Acts Of Kindness

Photo Copyright: Maggie May

Its been quite a while since I posted. The truth is that I haven't got much to say. Gone are the days when I used to post three a week and have plenty of little happenings from the grandchildren and my work to write about. Those days seem a bit distant now, with the grandchildren growing up, not working any more and all sorts of things that are on my mind that I can't blog about. So maybe just writing about this situation is better than not writing at all.
In the meantime, I receive little acts of kindness from friends, like the little pot of cyclamen that Audrey brought to me yesterday along with a celery chew for my rabbits that they have already started to work on. More important than that, she will listen to me and let me rant.

Most of the things that are happening to Harry and me are to do with our health. Our lives seem to centre round getting from one hospital visit to the next and just coping with survival, really.

I have still not heard any news about my coccyx fracture. I have had the blow of receiving news that a fabulous free home visiting support scheme is being dropped from the NHS through lack of funds. We had got to know two lovely nurses who came to to house every month just to take time to listen about any problems we might have and to take notes which were then passed on to the doctors' practice. Because of this, Harry received a step to help him get into the bath and a seat to go across that has been very helpful to both of us. So whats new? This seems to be the way we are progressing these days, cutting back on services for vulnerable people and making do.

Harry has had very bad news concerning his health. Not only is his prostate cancer progressing rapidly, the available treatments getting less and more drastic, but now we seem to have a major problem with the results of a recent brain scan, which explains why his legs are causing such a problem and a whole host of other symptoms that he has been experiencing. So now we are waiting to see a neurologist as well.



32 comments:

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Maggie you have been such a wonderful support to me over the years. My prayers and thoughts are with you and Harry. xxx

CorvusCorax12 said...

lovely flower...sending my love♥

Sueann said...

Oh my dear sweet friend...I am so sorry to hear this and glad you have posted about it. I will pray for you both!! I can only imagine how discouraging the news for you both. I am so sorry!! And the services cut is really awful. Sigh! I hope something pops up soon that is just as good. Please keep us posted hun!
Hugs
SueAnn

Rose said...

Maggie, I am so sorry to hear this latest news about Harry's health. I will continue to keep him and you in my thoughts and prayers. The cyclamen is such a lovely gesture from your friend; friends like Audrey are such a treasure, and I'm glad you have her and others to talk to. Keep us posted--you can "rant" all you want to us as well.

Sandi McBride said...

Maggie,you are avoiding your best place to rant and share what direction your life is taking, I hope you will . Tell us what pisses you off what makes you smile, what causes you worry...a shared burden is a lightened burden...you know we'll listen, sometimes have a helpful comment maybe even a solution...please know that you and Harry are always in our thoughts and prayers...even as I was reading I asked the Lord to support you and help you cope.
In the mean time, admire that lovely plant, it should make your heart lighter.
hugs and prayers
Sandi

Celia said...

Go ahead and "rant." I would very much need to in your shoes. So sorry about Harry's news and the support cuts.

MARY G said...

Sending hugs and sympathy - and more than willing to read any rants you care to post.
We are getting service cuts in Canada as well; universal coverage is too expensive to sustain, they say.
However, it's been my experience with the Canadian system that if you really dig there are pockets of support, some gov't funded, some provided by caring people, that you can access. We have a prostate cancer sufferers' club in our local town, for instance, where all the members share information on how to find help. It's a great group.
As the wife of a man with prostate cancer, I share a lot of your frustrations. So if you need a shoulder, I would love to provide one, even though it has to be virtual.

dianefaith said...

Your writing always has meaning. It's real, and I hope it continues to be an outlet for you.

cheshire wife said...

Do keep posting even if you think that it is not worthwhile. I am sure that we will read whatever you write and let you know what we think.

I cannot imagine what life must be like in your house, but do try to stay positive.

CWx

Mimi said...

Maggie, I'm very sorry to read this. You must be feeling awful.
Love and light being sent to you right now, and a little candle lit for you.
They're cutting services right, left and centre over here too. It is so unfair, especially when you consider the money they've wasted on stupid things. grrrr!

Jeni said...

It sure does seem that after a certain point in our lives, everything just turns more complicated and convoluted, doesn't it? And if it isn't us making it that way, sure enough, it's usually some governmental regulation or other that is the culprit!
Hope you find some relief and respite for both you and Harry. Difficult days to contend with, for sure.
Oh, and I know all too well the brain dead feeling when I think about doing a post all too often!

Sally Wessely said...

Maggie you are dealing with so much. I understand how all these doctor visits and bad news/no news situations cause one to just try to make it through the day.

I'm thankful for your friend who brought the beautiful flower. I will hold you in my heart and pray for you and your husband.

Akelamalu said...

Oh I'm so sorry to hear Harry's news. I'm praying for you both and sending oodles of Reiki. xxxx

Jackie said...

Hello dear friend.
The act of kindness from your friend to you not only brightened your day, but the sharing of it brightened mine.
What a sweet friend Audrey is...bringing you sunshine and bringing some sweet crunchies for your rabbits. People who love our pets are 'keepers' aren't they! :))
Having a friend who will listen is invaluable, Maggie. I am so thankful that you have friends such as these.
Surviving. Sigh...
It seems to be a day by day thing the older I get. I'm thinking of my parents...and thinking about our lives revolving around getting from one hospital visit to the next. I feel that too, my friend. Daddy fell and broke his rib(s) on Monday. I took him to get an x-ray. We are waiting on the results. We go back on Monday for a follow-up0 visit to the doctor. Mama continues to hold her own, but seems so frail to me. In the midst of this frailness and these doctor/hospital visits, I do relish and hold onto the smiles and sunshine that I receive from my friends. I am thankful that you and Harry have friends nearby that will continue to minister to you both. I'm so sorry to hear about Harry's news regarding his health. I am going to try and get a card in the mail to both of you this week. I have been wanting to do that. I send you lots of hugs, Maggie. Lots.
Love you much,
Jackie

Irene said...

I think you should rant and rave whenever you feel like it. Take the opportunity and do it here too. We will be a willing audience. You can't always keep your composure. I would be mad as hell if I were you. So go ahead and be angry and unload. I'm sure we can handle it. XOX

Anonymous said...

Oh Maggie. You have a wonderful way of giving us a beautiful variety of content in your posts. An act of kindness together with yours and Harry's health issues scream how up and down life really is.

I know what you mean about not knowing what to write - I have a lot of days like that, too. There are things I'd love to write about but it's hard to open up. Sometimes, if we talk about something openly that hurts us, it makes it too real to accept, if you know what I mean.

I'm sending my heartfelt wishes that everything will be okay.
CJ x

Ayak said...

Oh Maggie I'm so sorry to hear that you and Harry are having so many problems. I think losing those nurse visits is such a shame. As you say these cutbacks only ever hit the most vulnerable.
Thinking of you both and sending you much love.
Linda x

Dimple said...

It's a lovely cyclamen, Maggie. Friends are a gift from God at such times, I am glad you are receiving them!

I pray that God will wrap Himself around both of you with comfort and provision for your needs, and that His strength will be your joy.

Expat mum said...

Oh dear, Maggie. So sorry to hear that. My thoughts are with you both. x

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh sweetie, my heart sank a bit when I read what your goin' through here. Know I'll be keepin' ya'll in my prayers.

Please let me know if I can do ANYTHING.

God bless ya and have a most peaceful weekend.

Hugs!

Bernie said...

So sorry Maggie, I hope you are surrounded by lots of support and love. My heart and prayers go out to Harry, I hope he is not suffering too much. Life is so hard by times. Sending you big hugs and tons of prayers....:-)

Wendy said...

Sorry to hear this news about your dear hubby. Life is harsh sometimes, isn't it? I hope the neurologist can help.

Oh you can vent and rant here all you want. I did it for years. We care. We understand.

I don't have much to post about either. Life goes on.

So sweet of Audrey to give you that pink cyclamen. It's lovely! Spring must be around the corner.
Sending healing thoughts your way.

Suburbia said...

Oh Maggie, I've never heard you so low. What a lot you have to cope with, and to have support taken away is just unforgivable.

You must always post about your troubles, that is what we are all here for, to listen and support, if that is possible in a virtual way.

All my best wishes to you both.

X

Brian Miller said...

let yourself go...write what you need....its hard, this life...prayers def for you as you continue to walk it...

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

So sorry Maggie. I have an idea of the place you are at "mentally." How hard it is to write for a blog sometimes. I know how it feels to hear discouraging news although I can't know "how you feel." Prayers and love and support to you dear soul, and Harry. There used to be a wonderful system of public health nurses in the US who provided amazing support to poor people etc and of course they did away with it.

FeltByRae said...

Oh Maggie, so sad to hear this, my thoughts are with you and Harry xxx

You can always vent here to us all - you can see how much we care for you xxx

Happy Frog and I said...

I hope you can see from the comments on your post that there are so many people who support you however little or often you post and whatever you decide to post about. xxx

Suldog said...

Ah, Maggie, God bless you. I'll say a prayer for the two of you as soon as this comment posts. It's all for the best, you know, even if wee don't see it immediately. Keep that in your heart, eh?

Mya said...

So sorry to hear this news, Maggie. You are in my thoughts and I wish you and Harry all that is well in the world.
Mya xx

Jayne said...

Oh Maggie. I hope Harry (and you) get some brighter news soon. It sounds like you both are constantly fire-fighting at the moment, which must be totally draining and exhausting. I am so glad you have lovely friends around you - little acts of kindness mean so much. Am wishing happy days for you both. And do use the blog to rant, to share - I've always found the blogging world to be hugely supportive, and it might help / be a comfort to you to know you're in people's thoughts. x

RNSANE said...

I am so dismayed to read of all the cuts to health care. Of course, this isn't just in India. When my job ended three years ago, millions of dollars were made to San Francisco's Department of Public Health and this affected mainly services to the poor, to children and the elderly. It is so outrageous..and, at 67, I am in the ranks of the senior citizen.

I am just glad I got to make this trip to India...in fact, if I could, I'd come here six months out of the year. People are so good to me. It is so different fro the US..which, of course, will always be home but I can truly appreciate the differences between our two countries.

FeltByRae said...

Hi, just to let you know I have awarded you the 'Versatile Blogger Award'... hope you like it, details on my blog... Rx