It’s been a long, long time since we had a holiday…a proper “let your hair down / feel no stress” type of holiday….
Since I was diagnosed with Melanoma almost 23 months ago we haven’t really thought about “holidays”….because I worked for a man who had the moral conscience of a toad, I had to use most of my holiday days to attend medical appointments, or have surgeries…which left very few days to actually devote to pleasure.
Add into the mix that for a considerable amount of the last 2 years I/we existed in blocks of time – at the start it was day to day, then week to week….and more recently like most Melanoma patients…in 3 monthly appointment blocks….. I didn’t feel like we could plan anything in advance….and the idea of a holiday somewhere hot and sunny added its own element of fear into the mix.
And then the decision was made for us….we had a wedding to attend….in Florida!
We left it right up until the very last moment to book flights, take the time of work…and actually commit to a plan for a holiday! I was nervous…..so many what if’s….but this was something we needed……more than you can imagine.
The little people didn’t sleep on the 9 hour flight because they were beyond excited that they had their own TV and could watch movies back to back without a murmur of complaint!
And then we were driven to…..63 acres of heaven.
Everything apart from the mosquitoes and ants was perfect…..I can’t say it was “restful” because we spent an average of 20 hours a day drinking, eating, laughing, and generally partying with my Brother in Law, his new wife and their friends who provided us with 6 days of constant entertainment. But it was without a doubt relaxation for the soul.
It was Alcoholics Anonymous meets I Love Lucy….the warmth, the happiness, the humour, the alcohol fuelled entertainment…it was fun….and it was magical.
We then moved location for a “holiday”…..6 back to back theme park days….Disney Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot & the Universal Studios parks.
Utterly exhausting….but even though your feet ache from walking so much every day, you exist on adrenalin…and excitement because everywhere you turn there is something amazing to see or do. There is nothing quite so magical as the constant sparkle of happiness and delight in the face of the people you love the most in the world.
I know I am lucky….I am still here and my real battle has yet to start.
Melanoma is so unpredictable, so vicious, so uncertain that whilst I feel in such good health now I have no idea what I might face around the corner…I have seen and read so many experiences of people at the same stage as I am….some who progress yet go on to experience many years of stability in-between rounds of brutal treatment…and others who’s journeys are frighteningly short.
Whilst I feared planning and was apprehensive about leaving the comfort and security of home soil, I cannot even measure the joy I shared with The Little People…no matter what happens in the future they will always have the memory…and photos of this wonderful 2 week holiday.
From a cellular point of things I cannot imagine I helped my cancer…granted I did use the gym at the wedding estate and then kept oxygenating my cells by walking a dozen miles a day….but I drank large quantities of contraband (not Red Wine)….the food wasn’t all from the good list (think yum & triple it!)….and I did spend many hours a day in the sun (even though SPF was plastered on)…..
BUT….I filled my heart with happy endorphins….and to continue to fight Melanoma….to stay upbeat my “batteries” needed recharging.
So in true Alcoholics Anonymous style I will leave you with some photos of our magical moments and say :
“Hi, my name is Imogen & I have Melanoma, but right now I feel really, really alive!”