Emerging From Illness To Wellness. #SundayStills. #15. 44/2021.
As I am loving to do, I played with the words for this week’s prompt for the Photo Challenge from Terri called #SundayStills. Her blog is here so come and check out the posts, particularly those that relate to the photos because you too might join in.
Terri here is still moving into her new abode and her friend from Always Write is caring for Sunday Stills again this week.
It’s now my 15th week! Loving it.
Content warning: some images may be distressing for some.
When you are ill, for whatever reason, you want to be well again.
Impatience does not help the cause.
However, as so many of us know from experiences there is one factor that usually is the reason….
T
I
M
E
- Time out in nature…grounding
- Time out in art…mandala making & colouring
- Time out in nature: photography
And my experiences in how I emerged from illness to wellness are, in this instance, from my head and neck cancer (in my mouth) surgeries which eventuated in giving me some (artificial) teeth where cancer had taken hold. I used some of the strategies above to help me through the time productively and to stay well emotionally.
Content warning: some images may be distressing for some.
I admit, some of the images are a bit confronting. I LIVED with them and took photos every day to help mark my progress. On some days, I could feel despondent….hence the need to do something with my TIME….but generally I felt gratitude for all that was being done for me. I just had to do (and still do) some of the hard yards as we say!
- 9 July 2017. Post 1st Surgery
- Mid July 2017
- August 2017
- October 2017
- Post 2nd Surgery Nov 2017
- Late 2017
- February 2018
- Post 3rd Surgery Feb 2018
- Managing…swollen top lip .
- Post surgery 3
- My Prosthodontist: Many visits.
- After a visit to Prosthodontist
- Pre 4th surgery May 2018
- Post 4th surgery
- Promoting World Head & Neck Cancer Day 2018
- FIRST vision of teeth! early August 2018
- 21 August 2018. Issued with upper prosthesis
- SMILING with my husband. Sept 2018.
A Little Bit of Information About My Surgeries.
I had half of my mouth removed. The upper part where there was cancer in my gums and under top lip. I had the BEST ever team. Simple as that. In fact, my head and neck surgeon is the top Professor in the field. I was told, in May 2017, one day after diagnosis that the team would remove half of my mouth, and replace it (jaw, gums and palate) with parts from my leg. These 3 photos show some of this. In total I had 4 surgeries. The BIG one for 11 hours, then subsequent day surgeries to add more skin to the inside of my mouth: November 2017, February 2018 and May 2018. Full details are here.
- Bone here is my fibula. Teeth are attached to abutments seen like ‘nails’
- Grateful for my right leg!
- Progress of ‘free flap’ added to make my palate.
The good news is that I am doing well.
I got an all-clear and I will see you in a year, last September so I am half way there.
I admit, managing the upper prosthesis has its challenges but generally, I do well.
This of course, is how I look now:
Denyse.
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