Mum is doing fine. She had her surgery on Monday morning and was still feeling the effects of the anaesthetic when we visited that night. I really didn’t like all those tubes sticking into her - I’m a bit squeamish in that respect. I’m not partial to hospitals either when you come down to it. Anyway, she was really tired so we left early.

I didn’t get much sleep last night, thinking about her with all those tubes sticking in various places. However, tonight they were all gone and she was sitting up eating her dinner. She’s been on her feet as well but it is too early to say whether the op has done any good or not. The tingling sensations in her hand has stopped completely so that’s a good sign. She’s hoping to get out on Thursday so it will be a relief not having to go through to Edinburgh after work every night.

On a sadder note, one of our neighbours is dying of cancer and it looks she’s going to be coming home to die. She’s in hospital just now but seems to have accepted the fact she is going to die and wants to be at home with her family. I feel so bad for them all. The woman’s husband died 9 years ago from a brain tumour and she has gone from one health crisis to another. She had breast cancer a few years ago and beat it despite the absolute mess the surgeon made of the mastectomy. She was diagnosed with secondary cancer earlier this year which is just so unfair. I’ve known the woman most of my life and it just seems so heartbreaking to have gone through so much, only to lose the battle in the end.