It’s just over three weeks since the operation, and it’s been a bit of a rough time for Mrs H. The main wound seems to have been okay, apart from leakage the first week, and a slight infection at the bottom end. That is right on the  crux of her elbow, so any movement would have delayed any healing there. No, the main problem has been her underarm. As part of the procedure, the surgeon performed, what I understand to be called a ‘Nodal Survey’. This, I believe is to check whether the Melanoma had spread to her ‘nodes’, which is not a very good thing to happen. Well, this has been where the main problem has been. Last Thursday, she could feel that there was more tenderness in her underarm that there had been the week before. Also there seemed to be a ‘bit of a lump’. By Saturday, this had turned into a very painful swelling, and did not seem to be getting any better. A very very disturbed night followed, and on Sunday morning she rang the ‘out of hours’ doctor. She was told to go straight to the emergency department at the hospital, as it sounded like a cyst. The only problem with that, was that R***’s support worker could not take him out that day, so he would have to come with us. So with a fully medicated son in tow we sped off. We were only in the place for about an hour, before we were on our way home with a packet of antibiotics. Job done. R*** had coped extremely well, and I think they may have pushed her up the queue a little, because of him. The infection is starting to improve a lot now, but the ‘Jubilee Holiday’ has been a bit of a damp squib, and not just because of the weather.

Work has been brilliant !!! Firstly, letting have the time off the week Mrs H had the operation, and now they have allowed me to take leave this week. Mrs H really could not have coped on her own, with R***. He can be difficult with all of, when there are no other problems. So a big thanks to them. Seems different, having a management team, that are willing to put themselves out for an individual. It’s not really happened with the last ‘team’. I’ll be glad to get back and start to become a real part of the team.