The End?

Last Thursday the consultant met with us following Ruben's PET SCAN and MRI  (the third and still rather terrifying in its seriousness). He reported that his results were perfect. The disease is completely gone. Ruben has, he believes, less than a 10% chance of it coming back. We cried. Not Ruben. He was too busy showing Dr Daw his school report commending him on courage and diligence.  He was indeed pleased. Dr Daw is remarkably understated and his smile was very lovely to see.

He reminded Ruben what he's been through and how easily others will forget when he will not. He reminded there will be low days as well as the upbeat physicality he feels right now. He was immensely reassuring and kind.

 It was as strange an appointment as the very first one was, when we leaned against the Teenage Cancer Trust signs, unable to say the word. The beginning and end of this cancer experience have been surreal, even edgy. (Boundaries and borders often are. )  Juxtaposed as they are with the real world, leaving it as we did in September 2014 and returning as we are now in March 2015. The bit in the middle was cancer and chemotherapy, nurses, wards, and appointments and sickness and being looked after, us as well as him. Now we've emerged back and the horror of it all, the surprise and shock and strangeness feels amplified.

Forgive me I haven't told you all personally yet. I will of course.

We are going away for Pesach and I can't imagine it yet but I'm sure sunshine will be healing. And the liberation will be that bit more real.