A very different year

Christmas time is always a time when I reflect on the past and feel so grateful for what we have, knowing that things could have been so very different.  It is always possible to find a positive, sometimes it just means looking a little harder.

The past year has been different, but for everyone, some have been more affected than others, some have lost loved ones, many have lost jobs and everyone has had to make changes to their everyday life. 

We were really fortunate to take Ryan away skiing in February, he and his Dad are mad about skiing, they are out early and home on the last lift, Ryan is already a fantastic skier and looks forward to this holiday very much.

By March Ryan was classed as extremely clinically vulnerable and so received the letter telling him he could not leave the house, he was not impressed but within a week his school closed to his year group and he was not the only one learning at home.  

Ryan's treatment meant that he missed out on years of school, he only reached 50% attendance in Year 4 but despite this, he has managed to maintain his education to a level that equals his piers.  He still talks about a job linked to treating others - like a paramedic, sports physio, mountain rescue paramedic and most recently giving inspirational talks!

'Shielding' took me back to the days when Ryan had no immune system and any infection, no matter how innocent, could have had devasting results for him.  Again we had to restrict his movements, and stop him living a 'normal' life.  Handwashing and alcohol gel was a big part of life back then too and the habit has never really gone away.  This time though, Ryan wasn't battling cancer, this time he was well and we had that to be thankful for.  

He struggled a bit when friends were allowed to meet outside and he couldn't but again technology proved to be a lifeline and kept him in touch with his friends.  We tried to keep him entertained at home and, with the help of Mark, made him a table tennis table for the garden which became a regular feature of the day!

We are lucky to live close to the beach, and as soon as we were able to do so, we took him out on the water again on his Dad's beloved jetski and the months at home seemed like a long time ago.  

 

He also still loves his motorbike and is always looking for new skills to learn, and to make my hair a little greyer!

We even managed a weekend away with friends to celebrate his 14th birthday...

Ryan is a healthy, and sometimes typical, teenager! He is now growing well (with the help of the daily growth hormone injection). 

  

It can be hard to feel excited about Christmas when we cant celebrate with friends and family as we have in recent years, but there have been worse Christmas times and there will be better ones to come.  This Christmas we feel for the doctors and nurses and all the hospital staff who have worked tirelessly this whole year, the families still undergoing treatment and those whose hospital treatment has been delayed and families that can't be together - knowing that for some this will always be the case.

We hope that your Christmas is a happy one where ever you spend it and hope for a healthy 2021.