Healthcare, frienship and family support!

Here is my second blog! First an apology for the delay! To begin with I am planning on doing a weekly blog, this will hopefully increase over the next few weeks as life slows down!
Today I would like to put into writing the major life event that took over mine and my families life over the last few weeks! After a recent encouter with cancer I became reliant on so many people and I will be forever  grateful to each and every one of them! It all started on the Thursday 30th June where I felt what was like someone tickling my back. When I lifted my hair and looked in the mirror I saw a suspicious mo I instantly felt sick and just knew in my knower that it wasn't good! With hynsight I am sure the tickle was what my family and I call a 'God incident' a situation where God intervenes! What happened next felt like I was swept up in a whirl wind! I phoned our local GP's surgery and asked for an appointment, they couldn't fit me in until the following Monday. When I asked if there was anything sooner they suggesred at a push they could fit me in the following day! When I explained the situation they asked the Dr who was there at the time if he could see me there and then. It just so happened to be Dr Colin Black whom had stayed with us the previous year and had become a great friend! We arrived at the surgery, straight through to Colin who wasn't sure but took a photo and imediatley sent it across the network to Ayrshire and Arran trust! The following day, much to my releif I got a phone to say that there had been a cancelation with one of the Dermatologists and could I attend an appointment the following Wednesday. At that appointment we met Mr Waters who was to become my Dermatologist for the next 5 years! He gave me a mole check from head to toe and agreed that the said mole looked suspicious enough to act upon! That same day it was removed with a margin of surrounding tissue under a local anasthetic for testing! Unfortunatly the result came back and confirmed my fears, it was a melanoma, skin cancer. Thus my journey began!

The rollercoaster of emotions that followed was imense, but through it all there was a deffinate under current of calm! My Faith, my friends and my amazing family have been my rock and I will be eternaly thankfull!

The next stage in the process was to see the plastic surgeon. A lovely man by the name of Mr Thomson. He was to become my plastic surgeon (how very Hollywood) . I had my wide local excision on Wednesday 24th July, where they removed more skin and tissue to ensure a clear margin which would hopefully be cancer free! I also had a further 2 suspicious moles removed for testing and 2 fine needle aspirations of a swollen lymph node in my neck. A week on I have had my back wound  checked and it is healing well ( still no lifting for the forseeable future) and I have the result from the fine needle aspiration......all clear!!!!! Just got to wait for the results from the other 2 moles to see if any further treatment is required there. I will now be seeing my Dermatologist and Plastic Surgeon alternately every 3 months! One to keep an eye on my moles (of which there are many) and the other to keep an on my lymph nodes. I cannot praise the staff at Lamlash Medical center on Arran or the staff in the Mainland hospitals that have looked after me highly enough! They have been so quick from diagnosis to treatment and on going care! The Cancer care nurses, who now know me as the mad Alpaca lady, have been unbelievably helpful and kind! It would have been great to get to know them all under better circumstances, but knowing they will all be looking after be for the next 5 years gives me such peace of mind!

Now for my soapbox moment! Whatever you do, look after yourself and those you love! We all pray for a great summer and when it comes we go sun mad! Remember these 3 things and you'll have an even better summer. 1. Apply + factor 30 suncream (remember to do yourself as well as your children) every 2 hours, 2. Cover yourself or seek shade between 11.00am and 3.00pm (the hottest part of the day) and 3.keep an eye on any moles, if the change shape or colour or you are concerned at all, get it checked. It really could save your life!

I am here telling my tail, but it could have been such a different story! Please take care of yourself! I thank God, my Family and my Friends for being there for me! I want you all to know I will be there for you should you ever need me!

As always I love you I send you so many hugs! Thankyou from the bottom of my heart! xxxxxxx

This Is Me

Hello there.

My name is Bev Hodkinson and I am a newbie to the blogging world. Blogging has always interested me and has been something I would have liked to partake in so I thought, why not?

 Though I say I’m new to the blogging world I have some experience as I do short daily lifestyle posts on my facebook.  I would however like to expand this and began to write an actual blog.

So now that we’re acquainted I think I should tell you a little bit about me and why I decided to set up this blog.

I am a mother of three girls, Mollie 17, Megan 16 and Emily 14. There are so many hormones in our house it is difficult to find room for anything else! The man in our lives is the most wonderful man I know, the father to our girls and my husband Tim. Tim and I have been together since I was 15, we were engaged when I was 18 and then eloped to Annan in Scotland when I was 21. After we had our 3 girls we came for a family holiday to Arran and decided there and then that this was going to be our home.

Arran does that to you, it takes a hold of you and makes you feel safe. There is a  real sense of community and was /is ideal for bringing up our children. For the past 10 years we have lived on our Alpaca farm with our 14 Alpacas and 3 Leonberger dogs. Sadly we recently lost one of our Leo’s, the daughter of our other 2, Bonnie. We all miss her desperately but she is forever in our hearts.

 We have owned the village newsagents for the last 6 years and have recently morphed into newsagents and gift shop and built a 1 bed apartment above. It is right on the beach and is one of my favourite places to be on Arran. We have the most wonderful customers to our shop both locals and visitors alike who over the years have become dear friends.

I was recently diagnosed with skin cancer and have been undergoing treatment for the last 3 months. A life changing event like this makes you step back and look at what and who is important in your life. This was where my daily facebook posts were born. I needed to stay positive and found by posting positive morning messages I was starting my day with a positive outlook and in turn overtime it became apparent it was helping others too, so it became my daily mission. It also re acquainted me with some old school friends who at this time are really helping me with their lovely supportive comments.  

That’s me in a nutshell, and there is much more I want to say but I will save it for another day. Thank you for visiting my blog. Please call again. Love and God Bless. xx  

Me

Me and Tim

From left: Megan, Mollie, me and Emily