Brain surgery – complete it mate. Wow that feels good to say. 

To be on the other side of this surgery now is just amazing. At times it’s felt so far away and so so scary. Today tough, was nothing but calm. The hardest part for me has been the not eating – I’ve been absolutely starving! Nil by mouth is absolutely NOT the life for a girl like me . I set my alarm to have one last meal this morning. A big 5:30am bowl of cereal. Oll had lovingly bought me my favourite and placed it out on the kitchen side next to a bowl and spoon ❤️ but what did he forget I hear you say?! MILK! So I sat there in the lounge at 5:30 am this morning eating the biggest, driest bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes that you can ever imagine. This was my last meal. I would have much preferred something more extravagant ( or at least less dry) but I appreciate the small things in life now remember?! So I crunched every last bite and appreciated the flavours and the fact that they still filled a corner. Although a very dry corner. The rest of my day was filled with dreams of my fave foods – five guys mainly. And the great news is – they’ve said I can have one today! So Oll has been instructed to bring one for visiting hours today which I’m VERY excited about. I will have an MRI this morning to confirm how much of Nev was removed. Hopefully those new metal plates in my head won’t mean I stick to the top of the Tesla scanner 😂 that would be dramatic 😂❤️ 

We have ordered a huge five guys to treat the staff too because honestly just what ANGELS they are 😍 so today is a good day. I’m absolutely raring to go home. I want to mobilise, shower, have a wee and get home! Let’s see what they say on ward round – I definitely am wasting resources in a HDU bed anyway! I know that for sure! Get me gone Huns! X 

Overall, brain surgery is way less scary than it sounds. It’s like some sort of miracle key hole surgery – my nurse couldn’t even find the incision on my head yesterday! I had to point it out based on where I felt pain. It’s a 2cm incision, with just two sutures near my parting. No shaving off the head or Frankenstein scar like I imagined anyway! My nurse said that’s why they call it a mini craniotomy. A mini craniotomy?! That sounds a bit patronising doesn’t it?! It sounds like something fun and autumnal to do alongside a boo basket and pumpkin picking doesn’t it?! 😂 well that’s exactly what I’ve done this Halloween 😂 🎃 

To wake up with full function like this though has been incredible. I was so scared I wouldn’t be able to walk or talk or remember anything. But it’s ALL there as it was before (minus the brain surgery underpants which have been replaced by a catheter at some point 🫠). I feel I could stand up and walk right now! They won’t let me – but the point is that I could! And that’s incredible after such major surgery. They’ve handed me that awful call bell again though – even though I’ve reiterated I’ll never use it. They’ve made me promise I’ll use it if I need them. But I won’t. Just get me home to recover there instead! I could use a call bell in my own home actually – maybe that’s the key here. Oll would love that. DING DING HUSBAND 🔔 the patient needs you!  😆

So I’m waiting for ward round, when I’ll beg to be discharged home. I think they’ll let me! Then today hols a nice big celebratory five guys for me which will be amazing. Can’t wait to see the rest of my family too. It’s my sisters birthday today which I’m sure is going to be rather crap for her! But it will be lovely to see her at visiting hour ❤️ 

Lots of love, Jen and (a bit of) Nev  🧠👁️⚡️