Chapter 10
My Chemical Romance.
I though romances where meant to be fun and exciting? I had my date with my 3 chemical friends and I have to say it was very disappointing. Instead of butterflies in my stomach I had horse flies. The actual administration was largely uneventful. Sheryl and Lee where there through the whole thing asking questions and telling funny stories to relieve the boredom. I hate sitting around for hours on end being attached to machines. The next few days where good, sure I was tired but I’m thinking this is still the effects of the surgery, a necessary evil I guess. At this stage my chest is very tight and I ache because of poor posture, so at every moment I try to pull myself up straight. The exercises are now getting harder to do due to the shrinking of the scar tissue and the cording in my arm. Panadol is still my friend at this stage, although I loath taking them. My fingers and toes burn as they would if they were cold and had just been put in warm water, I have stomach cramps that won’t go away. The good news is that I still have my taste, although I have no appetite! Food at this stage is doing nothing for me… My gums don’t bleed this time round however the ulcers on my tongue and the blisters on my face are hideous; mostly though, the sun is still shining. I see something and want it but after 1 or 2 mouthfulls, I’m full and can’t eat another thing. This I’m sure will pass along with all the other nasties.
Nearly a week down and I’m starting to really feel like shit. My taste has now gone, well not entirely, it seems to come and go when it pleases. Everything tastes like a slimy choko. (I hear you all cringing!) Ahh the humble choko, nana food, the most useless item on the planet. I use the word item because it certainly is not a food stuff. One thing I know for sure, this romance is short lived, dead, and so is the cancer.
Boobs away.
I received a few packages in the mail. I love packages, there like little surprises. One was from the BCNA (Breast Cancer Network of Australia). They generously donate to cancer patients all over Australia. This time they sent me a Care Kit… This comprised of a post surgery bra and 2 foam inserts along with numerous pamphlets with information on how to care for my breast... Hmmmm, a little late don’t ya think! Anyway, I was excited because these foam inserts actually looked like boobies, they are still a tad smaller than my own but I can stuff ‘em! The other package was from The Cancer Council. This was a…. now how does one describe this????? Lets say… ok… There was a spare cotton sock thing and a thing that can only be described as an old lady’s saggy boob. Funny, my prosthesis fitter Carol, said they were slightly unusual. This comment was used very loosely. She had designed the one I was using, the very one I had been bagging to her! Oh well… Feed back is good right? Needless to say I’m not ready for the saggy old lady boob, so in the back of the cupboard it went… Ya just never know when I might need some extra padding... Bring on my new climate controlled, stick on, weighted and correctly sized boob I say!!! Ladies I’ll bet you would all like a stick on boob (or two!) that you could remove whenever you wanted? At least with a weighted boob my bra wont ride up on one side! It’s a delicate balancing act, one that will be completed soon.
Frock up and get out.
What girl doesn’t enjoy a day out with just the girls, a real girly girl day? I had been waiting what seems a life time for this, the extravaganza event of the year! An event that should be marked on all women’s calendars all over Australia if not the World! How on earth could I not have known this event existed? This event would be… The High Tea Party! This party is a high tea event with a difference, the difference being that not only do you get to indulge in delicate finger sandwiches, decadent cakes and slices, scones with fresh cream and lashings of jams and preserves and tasty tartlets, the all important bubbles and of course the tea, (My mouth is watering), but there are the pamper stations, the free samples, the portabello road stalls and the endless supply of cocktails! What more could a girl want? I hear you say chocolate. Well that was there too.
It was time to find that special frock that was worthy of all this excitement. The dress I had planned to wear was a tragic disaster! It was just too low cut! I know, fancy me having a dress that was low cut… When I put it on you could see my not so sexy bra big time. It was all wrong… If it was someone else it would be funny, but it wasn’t, it was me… So Greg and I hauled our asses into the city to find the perfect dress. I had something in mind, just didn’t know if it would suit my body shape at this time. I had put on a few extra kilo’s and was a little swollen from the chemo (that’s my excuse and it’s my story). The hunt was on! I tried frock after frock, some I couldn’t even get on, some just looked like sugar bags with accessories and some... well didn’t even make it off the hanger! Then I saw it, the one that had to come home with me… It was perfect in every way! It had a high neckline, fitted bodice and a fullish skirt with a zipper down the back. The best part was that it was purple… I love purple! By this time I had a lovely young sales professional helping me. She knew what occasion I was looking for and she knew the importance of having the perfect dress. Unfortunately for me I am no size 10 anymore and that was all she had in that particular dress. I was devastated, but then she found a frock that was the same style just a different colour. I could do this, a different colour I could do! It was black with dusty pink polka dots… A modern day take on a 1950’s style complete with a tulle petticoat… Ugh, again not in my size… What’s with that? Who’s a size 8 or 10 anyway??? Sheesh! She hunted through the returns rack to find one being almost positive there was one in my size that someone else had tried on earlier... All the while she was gone I was saying out loud to all that would listen, please let there be one, please let there be one… She came back with a smile on her face and a frock in hand. Now the next part, please let it fit, please let it fit. As Greg did the zip up I knew this was it. It was so cute. I loved it. I even had the perfect shoes to go with it… Today was a happy and very successful day.
All the girls came around the day before the ball and we sat around making fascinators the matched our frocks and drinking wine. The wine was for inspirational purposes only of course… Finally we were done. All ready for the big day. Gabby and I went to bed early coz we knew it was really going to be a big day. Everyone arrived to the boat nearly on time all dressed to the nines. Miracles got a look in for this occasion. I swept her to one side with a band and clipped my mane together with my dusty pink fascinator. A miracle had indeed been performed, I had been transformed into what I consider to be a sexy lady. Probably because I was in a dress that fitted well, complete with stockings and sexy black patent leather and suede shoes.
The Red Carpet Treatment.
We arrived at the Stamford Plaza Hotel at 9.30am to be greeted by a red carpet and loads of crystal chandeliers. We were in awe… First stop was the Henkel stand! (bubbles for those of you who aren’t up with the lingo). Then there were photo shoots, mini manicures, makeup makeovers, hair retouching, cocktails, massages, chocolates, free samples, and let’s not forget the high tea experience… After all this indulgence I was exhausted… Finally at 4.30 Gab and I were on the ferry going home, bags full of stuff in hand. I had to ring Greg to get him to meet me after I got off the ferry ‘coz I just couldn’t carry both myself and the goody bags anymore! What an awesome day…
Back to reality…
3 weeks have gone by so quickly and it’s nearly time for my next date with my own private chemical cocktail. My hair is only just hanging on, it’s not happy and is standing on end. When I scratch my itchy tingling scalp a small amount of hair drops… I don’t care for this stage much… I’m starting to feel great again and this only reminds me of the fact that I am a cancer patient. Something I forget quite often… Buggar! I am sitting here thinking of what can be my next adventure?