Silk Road Stories

Posted on 24/04/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

My wonderful and talented friend, Daphne, and a few of her friends have written and choreographed a play specifically for a fundraising event this evening at the Leicester Square Theatre in London.

A charity dance and musical event to aid the British Red Cross in Syria. Performances by Alia Alzougbi, Galit Mersand, Daphne Pena, Tara, Anne White, Zoonation Dance Company and our fabulous Guest Star Jillina!

Live Music by the amazing Baladi Blues Ensemble with singer Camille Maalawy.

This will be a very special one off performance to raise one and awareness for the people of Syria and the work being done by the British Red Cross. Funds are urgently needed to help the Syrian Arab Red Cross continue to provide aid including food parcels, first aid, and support to healthcare facilities.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/syriacrisis/?approachcode=102697_syriahero

An incredible evening and I was so pleased that several of my friends also bought tickets and came along to support the event.

Gastroscopy with sedation!

Posted on 19/04/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

Here we go again. I feel sick at the thought of what is going to happen today. I soooo wish I’d had sedation the first time and then apart from not having to do this again, I’d also not know what it feels like to have a tube with a camera shoved down my throat!

Very nervous for my pre-procedure discussion. Nearly passed out when they attempted to find a vein and give me the sedation… Today’s consultant is way less empathic than the last and took only a minute to tell me that I was being weak having sedation as it doesn’t hurt! So pleased when I was asleep and didn’t have to know anything else. I was however a little surprised to wake up with a black eye – what happened whilst I was under?

I left with the report which advised that there was minor reflux oesophagitis, further down in the stomach there was gastritis. A biopsy was taken from my stomach and sent for testing.

They have recommended antibiotics to manage the gastritis and infection.

Although this may explain the rectal bleeding this doesn’t explain how it started or where it came from.

Edinburgh trip for my niece’s 6th birthday

Posted on 11/04/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

My niece called me a few weeks ago and invited me to her 6th birthday party in Edinburgh. I said thank you and she asked me if I wanted to know why I was being invited? Of course I said ‘yes’ but was surprised by the answer. Apparently I’m the only person who can bake the best birthday cakes in the whole world!! No pressure then! Oh and I’m in charge of entertainment – eek.

I arrived at bedtime the evening before the birthday party laden with a suitcase full of ingredients (and balloons). An evening baking (with the odd glass of vino) and my masterpiece was ready for the birthday party the following afternoon. I wasn’t able to hide the tower of chocolate cake so decided to show Iola in the morning. Phew, she was delighted and the best bit was yet to be revealed at her party!

I just loved the sounds and squeals form my niece and her friends as we cut into the ‘magic cake’!

Entertainment was easy:

Move all mattresses in the house to the floor and walls of a room.
Blow up (3/4 full) as many balloons as your lungs can cope with.
Place balloons into mattress zone.
Release the children.
Check on them once in a while and ensure they pop out for hydration and refreshment occasionally.
Adults chill out away from the ‘balloon room’!

A little pre-party practice, but so much tamer than when the friends arrived:

So much fun and truly no other party games are required. The kids love it!

As I was in Edinburgh for the weekend we made the most of it and I took the kids to the Edinburgh Science Festival. Brilliant hands-on things to do. The girls got really involved with lots of questions of why? when? how? Not only fun but I think we all learnt a few things too.

Love these girls. x

Gastroscopy

Posted on 02/04/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

I’ve been dreading today’s procedure. But as I’ve said for many many months, I’ll do anything to stop the symptoms and work out what the hell is going on with my body.

I was asked if I wanted the procedure under sedation but to do so would mean that I’d need someone to pick me up after the appointment. This is a huge problem for those of us who live on our own and are of working age… our friends are working and we don’t have any partners to take a day off work! So as not to delay the procedure I figured I’d be find without the anaesthetic. When I called to query it, they suggested that if I needed to reschedule, I could be waiting for several months… so I did it! Or I thought I would be able to.

Reality check though. To have a huge tube put down your throat with a camera on the end of it, isn’t easy to do without gagging. As I have a really bad gag reflex anyway, I found it extremely difficult. Of course they spray lignocaine on the back of your throat to help but for me, this just panicked me as I thought my mouth was filling with spit and I couldn’t swallow. The consultant and nurse were lovely but after only a few minutes (which felt like hours), I couldn’t cope anymore. I thought I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t stop gagging and tears were pouring from my eyes. I hated it and had to ask them to stop. I can’t explain the relief when finally the long tube was withdrawn from my throat.

Annoyingly I only had a few minutes left to put up with and they would have finished the procedure. They were able to see the oesophagus and stomach but didn’t manage to get as far as my duodenum.

The consultant did however advise that he could see an infection in my oesophagus and gastritis in my stomach. He suggested though that I return to have the procedure completed, under sedation!

I felt so stupid and sorry to have wasted their time. Now to find a friend who can pick me up after the procedure when I get a new date.

Olympic Park for the Gold Challenge

Posted on 01/04/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

Up early and excitedly making my way to the new Olympic Stadium in East London.

I’ve been honoured to represent Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres in a parade of charities and organisations involved in the Gold Challenge event.

I think the pictures speak the many words… except to say that when we walked through the athletes tunnel, went from light to dark and echoing in the tunnel could hear the roar of the crowd, then from dark to light as we entered the stadium, it really was A-mazing. I really felt that as I came through the tunnel, I could achieve anything, particularly with the support and encouragement of all the people cheering me (errr us) on.

We then went on to parade around the track in the stadium. I was able to touch the track that athletes will achieve their dreams in July but also for future years and generations to come. Where spectators will formulate plans to train harder to be at the next Olympics Games. Where it will inspire people, encourage and give confidence.