Today it's three months since my surgery at Hutt Hospital. After two months of radiation treatment and chemotherapy in the Newtown Hospital environment, the surgery episode seems like it happened a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
But on Thursday I returned to the Hutt for a post-surgery check-up.
Secretly I was also hoping for a chance to see Swee Tan, my head surgeon, the Director of Surgery at Hutt Hospital and general grand master of all things surgical. He is part kiwi, part Malaysian, and part Jedi. In my stay after surgery, he would come into my ward to deliver inspiration and wisdom, with calm, measured advice such as "You have done exceedingly well. But remember, you have a long journey ahead." I felt like a young apprentice being inspired to complete my training.
So after almost three months, it was a real lift when Swee Tan walked into my checkup clinic on Thursday. Dressed immaculately as always, he leaned in to examine my scars, then stood to give us a warm smile, and said "You have been very brave... You have reached the crest of your hill, the top of the hump." And then we had a good laugh about how well I was talking with my arm.
Swee Tan, may the force be with you.
