Hi everyone
This is my second attempt at introducing myself – I had written a lengthy diatribe last Wednesday (inspired by the Thanksgiving season) and was just about to post it when I had a lovely interruption – the very BEST kind – a phone call from your own Andrea in SLC – well – we talked for about 40 minutes or so, and for those of you who have often wondered – yes, unposted entries DO time out LOL- and I just didn’t have it in me to re-write at that time….so by way of introduction, I am Denise, my husband is Geoff and he was diagnosed with a 7mm AN in late September. Even tho I have never been much of a “joiner�, I really did want to tell you all how very much it has meant to us over these past weeks to be able to read about your experiences and learn from all of you. It has certainly made this journey not quite such a lonely one for although we live here in SLC area we are far away from our families – we are ex Brits, having lived here for about 17 years.
Geoff is scheduled for middle fossa surgery this very Thursday, December 4th with the very same team who did such a stellar job with Andrea – I had written to her privately shortly before her surgery and we have been communicating ever since - and as you all know she is quite a woman – we had been (unknowingly) steps behind her on this journey - she has given us invaluable practical advise and her incredible positive energy has buoyed our spirits as we celebrate her recovery.
Even tho I am not the patient I want you all to know how much you are helping us – when people ask us how we are doing, I tell them we have ‘whiles of peace and moments of terror’ – there have been several occasions when we have logged on in those moments and found something here that has reassured or given us new insight. I know that we all have our own journeys and issues along the way but it has all helped in our preparation for joining the illustrious postie group.
Whilst we are hopeful for a totally positive outcome we are very realistic and your experiences (both the good and the bad) are preparing us for the coming weeks and months of recuperation and recovery – so thank you – it seems insufficient – but a very heartfelt thank you. I hope that we too can pay it forward in time. It seems to me that ANs (or D***AN as I like to call ours
![Smiley :)](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/smiley.gif)
) are pretty discerning little bugggers (if you’ll pardon my turn of phrase)- from what I see in this group; they only seem to go after bright, caring and articulate folk - and this is an elite group; not perhaps one that any one of us would have chosen to join but good things do come out of adversity and you are all living proof of that.
I will keep you posted after the surgery on Thursday and appreciate all the cyber good wishes and healing vibes I feel from all of you in this supportive community – for even tho we haven’t even communicated with each other until now, I know that you will wish us well as we certainly do for each one of you – I hope that it strengthens each of you to know that you are strengthening others.
Denise