Last night I was out and met my Nephew. I'd never really understood what it was like for people on the other side of my illness and he was very good and told me about everyone's fears and concerns. We discussed loads of things and then suddenly he started acting - well - a bit strangely. I ordered some food in case he hadn't eaten before he turned up to the wine bar but shortly after that it all kicked off.
I'll not go into too much detail but I managed to get him to the toilets where he stayed for a good 1 to 1 1/2 hours as I got water in and out and tried to work out what to do with him as he was coming in and out of conciousness and so I was keeping him awake and sticking water down his throat which promptly didn't stay there for long.
I grabbed his phone and managed to call his girlfriend and get their address in London. I spoke to my wife to get her to do a bit pf phoning and then the really frightening thing happened. I lost it, all of a sudden I just burst into tears on the phone and Mrs. F. said something soothing like "you're not going to help him like that" and it was over, I snapped back and said "NO, I've got this under control, I'm going to sort it out". I was the only person who was interested or helping and so it was down to me. I eventually got is address, half stabilised him, got a taxi driver and stuck him in a cab and let his girlfriend know.
I went back to the wine bar, drank my wine, tipped the wine waiter who did help me get a taxi and gave me a bottle of water to give to the taxi driver to give to him if he was ill further or needed it. I then got a very late train home and walked back here. I was close to tears all the way, I can't exactly work out whether it was shock - it all happened so quickly and was actually quite frightening - or just the way I am these days - I would never have been like this before BC or something else at play. I just found it all really distressing, really frightening and I'm emotionally drained this morning.
Today happens to be the 4th Anniversary of the first real signs that there was something wrong with me. I'd driven to Yorkshire and on arriving went to the toilet only to emit a stream of red urine. It really is stuff from a horror movie when you see it and it totally freaks you out. Maybe it was that yesterday (as we discussed it) or maybe it was also that I realised that it wasn't just me who was petrified by what I had, everyone else around me had to deal with it too.
On a lighter note. My business partner's cancer is also 4 years ago in a couple of weeks. He and I had no idea about the other's condition until later in the July of that year. After that we started to meet up and compare notes and feelings. I have to say that 4 years ago, I would never have dreamt that he and I would be attempting to start a new business enterprise. We are both really happy we have got to 4 years post diagnosis. His magic number is 5 so this time next year he should be able to say it is beaten for him. For me? Well Bladder Cancer is different - controllable but it does like to come back every now and then. Let's hope that isn't the case in a few weeks time.
As for my Nephew - it appears that he got home and was still in and out so the paramedics checked him over. He had just drank too much. I have to say - I didn't see him or appear that he was drinking too much but there you go - very hot weather we are having and if he didn't eat anything or maybe it was just his light frame but anyway - let's hope he just has the hangover from hell today......... And never does it again.
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