2020 has turned out to be an especially eventful year for me so far. From a routine screening just after Christmas I received the sort of news people dread being confronted with. And yet on reflection it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Thankfully the problem was caught in time but I’m still waiting for an op to tie up loose ends – not sure that’s the best phrase to use but it means once it’s completed I can move on and get back to the important things in life.
What this situation has shown (as did my broken ankle nearly two years ago) is that I have a wealth of friends both in real life and online. It’s very difficult to break this sort of news to people. I’m not one for public announcements so only my very close friends have been aware of the detail. And of course, as it was bound to, it affected other aspects of my life, not least my writing.
Deadlines were now impossible to meet and I took a step back and made a decision to return to being a self-published author. I needed to work at my own pace and I felt it was the only way in my current situation I could keep writing. It is so important to retain goals, to have something to strive for; a distraction if you like, to keep you on course and positive when an unexpected health tsunami like this hits.
Currently my festive novel is on the back burner but should be ready in time for the Christmas market. My current manuscript, which my publishers kindly agreed to withdraw, is undergoing a complete overhaul. Since submission I hadn’t looked at it, but now I’ve had time to read it through again there are changes I want to make. The cover is currently being designed (I’ve always felt getting the cover sorted early gives you a huge incentive to get the book completed). I’m hopeful – surgery permitting – for publication in late May.
Back to my health. It’s only when life throws you these curve balls that you stop and take stock of everything about your situation. The important things are suddenly not as important and since receiving the news I’ve had a lot of time to think about what is. What really matters. Family, good supportive friends, taking one day at a time and enjoying life are definitely top of the list. Through all of this I’ve felt incredibly positive; grateful things worked out the way they did. Had I not been called in for the scan at that moment in time the outcome might have been totally different. I don’t want to dwell too much on that scenario.
So far this year has been a bit of a roller coaster. A cancellation to my consultant’s operating list gave me an early opportunity for surgery. Then that was cancelled due to other issues. Most have been resolved (not life threatening I’m pleased to add) and I’m currently waiting for a new date. I’ll be in hospital for 2 – 4 days and afterwards there’s a four to six week period when I won’t be able to travel any great distance. We’ve moved our May holiday to mid-June. By that time I should be ready for that getaway and an opportunity to relax somewhere beyond the four walls of home. Can’t wait!
JO LAMBERT 