The Bionic Beauties.

In a cruel twist of fate and epically unfortunate timing I arrived home this morning after Isla's play group to the NHS letter I've been awaiting for 2 weeks.  My one year mammogram shows 'nothing of concern' which is in effect my first 1 year 'all clear' although in cancer world this term is rarely used.  I am, of course, delighted and I know those around me will be too but this news is massively overshadowed by the news I received earlier in the morning that a friend had passed away yesterday.  

She was one of a group of incredible women who have travelled the road of cancer treatment with me for the past 18 months.  We span the country, from me on the south coast right up to northern Scotland.  We are from different walks of life, different family situations and varied backgrounds, in any other situation our paths most probably would never have crossed and friendships never forged.  But we shared the unfortunate honour of going through chemotherapy at the same time and it bonded us together.

We named ourselves the Bionic Beauties.....no matter what happened to our bodies we were going to emerge truly Bionic, an improved version of ourselves ready to tackle the rest of our lives.  Each and every one of these ladies is a beauty in truest sense of the word, with a beautiful soul....somehow when see a person stripped of everything that is typically thought of as beauty ....hair, long eyelashes, a clear completion....you realise how beauty can shine out of someone from deep within. I had the pleasure of meeting 13 of these beauties last summer.  We have shared the ups and downs of our treatments and supported each other through scary and stressful times.

Over the last 8 months we've been there for each other as we've attempted to cobble our lives back together again after treatment.  When everyone else is celebrating our 'recovery' and return to 'normal' we've understood the complex reality and continued to be a source of strength for each other in a way that nobody else can.   Our dear friend 'L' was such a strong member of this group, always with a positive attitude and ready to support everyone else despite her own ongoing battles.  She will leave a big gap and never be forgotten.  It is simply unimaginable, the gap left in the lives of her husband and two gorgeous babies.

Tonight I raise a glass in memory of an amazing lady, you will always be a Bionic Beauty.   To my other BB's, especially 'D' you are in my heart and thoughts .

So today I mourn the loss of a beautiful person from this world and simultaneously  celebrate being cancer free for a year.  How can I do both?  The only way I know how to is to be thankful in every moment for the life I have and the health I currently enjoy.  Things change in an instant and all we can do is make the most of and appreciate every day we are given.  The past is the past and the future unknown, live your dreams today, love the way you want to and hug your family tight.
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