Alison's Breast Cancer Diary
Feelings after diagnosis, surgery, and chemo-therapy

16 December - Dr Deb comes to visit
It seems like a hundred years ago.  It was 1979 when I enrolled for Intermediate Medicine with Deb.  Remember I mentioned I was depressed that year because I was away from my babies?  Deb hadn't had babies at that time in her life and worked hard.  She studied most nights in the library until 11:00 p.m.  She earned her straight A's and was accepted into medical school.  Over the years she has become a great friend and excellent doctor.  Currently she is a psychiatric registrar which is a very useful sort of friend to have when cancer has been diagnosed. 

Deb flew down from Auckland to pamper me over the weekend I came out of hospital.  It was very relaxing.  She insisted that I just relaxed and she would do the jobs.  There weren't any really but she found some ironing and proceeded to demonstrate that she can really work an iron.  She ironed my bottom sheets - an experience they had never had before.  She cooked dinner and made cups of tea.  Such a lovely friend.  In between times we talked and talked - so nice to have her stay.

One of the best things you can do for a friend who has a serious diagnosis is to spend time with them.  Just be there and offer to help.  It makes the patient feel deeply loved and the world seem a beautiful place.

I told her (in jest) that she shouldn't have wasted her time being a doctor and should have been a nurse.

The nicest thing a friend can do for someone who has just come out of hospital is to be there and just do the little tasks.  Deb was an angel. It was a lovely weekend.

Useful websites
www.cancerhelp.org.uk 

Alison Renfrew - Profile          Alison Renfrew - Financial Planner of the Year    Alison coping with cancer