After a long 6 weeks in Glenfield hospital and countless tests later it was final results time. We had to see the specialist who originally admitted him.
We were anxious as to why he wasn’t getting better, I was tired as long visits at the hospital after a while wear you down. I had been signed off work due to being generally shattered, the doctor had told me that until it all calms down I need to be off work as I was close to having a breakdown. Colin was concerned for me too. He was fed up of being prodded, injected, scanned and not being at home.
The final test he had before this appointment was a CT guided needle lung biopsy and this was results day.
The time came, it was 1359 and we were called into a meeting room on the ward, 2 nurses were in the room and the specialist doctor. Colin and I sat down, I had an awful feeling about this and so did he. She straight away said after doing further testing the mass on his lung which had doubled in size was stage 3 – 4 lung cancer, she said we would be referred to Leicester Royal Infirmary to a top professor who would advise on treatment plans and any other questions we had she would answer.
Hold on, we were told this wasn’t cancer, we were told this was pneumonia… What has just happened here? I was in tears, Colin didn’t look surprised. The doctor apologised for the length of time this had taken. 17 weeks to diagnose a young man with terminal cancer at this stage.
We were terrified, we didn’t know what to think.
Then we had to tell people, his children, mum and dad, brothers and sisters. How? We’ve never done this…. So many questions were running through my head but ultimately, is he going to get through this?
We stepped outside to get air, then collected Colin’s belongings as he was discharged. I phoned my family, he phoned his and then I phoned our director at work as Colin had worked there for 23 years.
Colin just wanted to get home, I drove us home, we sat down and just cried all night.. I tried to remain positive for both of us but in the back of my mind our world had just shattered into a million pieces right before our eyes….
Jade Lines 