This has been an awesome camping trip. The weather has been great, we’ve swum everyday, Susannah hasn’t thought about work and I haven’t thought much about cancer. My thoughts have been directed towards the beauty of the beach, the simple joy of playing in the ocean, and the pleasure of just being together with Susannah, with no stress. My skin is still red, raw and itchy but I think the seawater has helped a bit. 

We pack up camp and then go for one last swim. I’m a bit leaner than last summer so I find I get cold a lot more quickly.  I can’t stay in the water as long as I used to, but even with a messed up left side and limited strength, I can still ride that body board! I find myself grinning like an idiot as the waves propel me towards the shore. I feel so alive! I don’t think about cancer, I just get up, wade back out and stand in the water, looking for the next wave to ride. It’s awesome.

We reluctantly head back home to Auckland in the afternoon. Back to reality. I have an MRI of my spine scheduled for 5pm. H drives me there. We arrive on time but have to wait at reception for awhile as there is a Covid patient being treated. Covid is everywhere again. My cousin Mi (Uncle P’s son) now also has Covid. So far the rest of the family is ok. 

Finally I am taken through for the MRI. The machine is very loud. It starts off clicking like a triffid but then starts making loud clanging noises. I try to stay as still as possible. My throat is very dry. At one point I have to push the help button to get them to stop the scan while I cough but other than that everything goes smoothly. I am once again told I am a model patient – could it be because I know the drill? I’ve had so many scans over my adult life. The technician tells me I have a lot of bony spurs on my entire spine but does not give any indication that she’s seen anything out of the ordinary. I feel confident that this scan is ok. Hopefully it’s the last procedure of the year. I just have one last Oncology appointment to go and I can more or less put 2023 behind me.