:o(


We went to see the Consultant today and he said that they removed a large benign tumour from behind Paul’s nose (which is good news - sort of). Good news in that it was benign (that’s the good one!), but bad news in that it was (a) there in the first place, (b) quite big and (c) Paul will need further surgery to remove part of his sinuses that have been affected by the polyps.

The Consultant went on to use words that would have scored well over 150 in a game of scrabble, and left Paul and I looking at each other in bewilderment, but the upshot is that Paul will need another operation – sooner rather than later – at a specialist teaching hospital in Fremantle.

At least Freo is closer to us than Perth and ….. well, the tumour was benign (they are the positives!). The operation sounds a lot more invasive than the one he’s already had – it involves cutting round the profile of his nose, right down to his lip and effectively (as the Consultant described it) peeling his face back to reveal the affected area to allow them to treat the problem. It’s not supposed to leave too much of a scar – especially with the skill in reconstructive surgery and stitches that fade to a barely visible line, but is by far more intensive surgery than he suffered last week.

It took the wind out of our sails a little this morning. We were expecting a ‘…looks fine, take these tablets, call me in the morning’ type consultation – not ‘ah, yes, yours was quite an unusual case….. you’ll need another procedure sooner rather than later’. The Consultant was quite alarmed that it had taken so long to get Paul to surgery (ahem…. YOU cancelled the operation once, Sir!), but fully expected the next op to be scheduled a lot sooner than 9 months. Mum? Can you stay a bit longer? Maybe? Please?

Off for a lie down in a darkened room now. We’re off out later for a walk round Secret Harbour to see if we can find the dog that Paul’s kicked - to apologise.