Hi everyone, well it's been almost five months since I have blogged. Life has once again become busy as I'm sure it is for all of us. I have since had two changes in employment since last posting. As you know I was working for Healthcare NZ doing support work in the Paraparaumu area. I got to meet lots of people and it was great to be able to give back to other people who needed assistance. Unfortunately the company I was working for lost the District Health Board contract to supply these services so 170 support workers were allocated out to work for either Presbyterian Support Services or Access. I was employed by PSS. That is when things started to go downhill workwise. My hours began to dwindle from 32 hours a week and were floating around the 19 hours per week mark. It became very stressful for me to not be able to bring in a decent wage. They were a difficult to company to work for, never being able to contact managers etc etc. I decided that I need to get away from there so I emailed a few rest homes in our area to enquire about employment. Safe to say I am now working with a lovely bunch of people at the Kapiti Rest Home on Paraparaumu Beach. I do a little bit of Diversional Therapy but mostly caregiving.....and I am loving it. It is the perfect job for me! It has taken a while for me to fit into a job so perfectly but I can see a long and happy employment where I am.
My third six monthly check-up rolled around in February. As you can envisage, this is quite a stressful time for me and about six weeks before the appointment I do start to become anxious that all is not well. Well, again, I needn't have worried. Mammogram and ultrasound have come back clear again. I have one more six weekly check up in August and then move onto yearly checks, so that is great to have come so far.
At the end of March I took part in the Cancer Society's Relay for Life 2012. www.relayforlife.org.nz/ It was held at Frank Kitts Park in Wellington and 2500 people took part. I participated as a Survivor and got to wear a red sash to show my journey. I took with me my husband Darren, daughter Nicole and very good friend and supporter Sophie who got to wear green sashes to show that they played a huge part in caring for me throughout my illness. It was a beautiful day in Wellington as the sun shone over everyone taking part. We were invited to the survivors tent for afternoon tea and then we attended the official opening. At 4.00pm the survivors and their carers had the privilege of opening the ceremony by doing a survivors lap which was lead by a group of drummers; it was quite an emotional experience. As I walked I felt jubilant that I could take part as a survivor so that was a celebration in itself. It was wonderful to see so many survivors banded together (and that is just in the Wellington area) who have fought the battle and won. I also remembered my friend Brenda from Greymouth who was diagnosed the same day as me who sadly didn't make it. I shed tears for her. And most of all it was great to see so many people, young, old, rich, poor, black, white, fighting back, what an army of us standing together to challenge this beast. Next year I hope to take part again either as a volunteer or to enter a team of 10 to raise funds and awareness. Any person who has walked the walk of cancer I encourage you to take part. Here are a few of the photos from that day. Many thanks to my daughter Nicole for taking such memorable shots.
So that is all for this post....Darren and I are off to Rarotonga on Sunday for ten days for a relaxing holiday.....one which I think we truly deserve. Until next time xx
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