The Best Years of Our Lives
She was transferred from the Carlisle Infirmary to Newcastle's hospital for an operation they couldn't perform in Carlisle. I understand she's had an operation but it appears that there are serious complications. So serious that she will have to have her leg amputated above the knee. I don't know the details but this is dreadful news.
She's in her mid 80's, just buried her husband who died suddenly while she was in hospital and now this. She is a hugely positive person: for her life's glass is always half full but how is she going to cope?
She's had half her life ripped away from her with her husband of 56 years taken, and now she's to lose a leg. How will she cope?
But people do: all the time. People all over the world have their lives mashed up and mangled yet most survive. The families in Paris - of the slain and the slayers. The relatives in Nigeria, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan..etc...the list is endless. Death is all around us and if we're not careful it can suck the life out of us.
We must not be in awe of death. It has its hour, but until that hour arrives we have life and have it in abundance.
I am fearful of my aunt's future, but until that future arrives I will celebrate her living, her 56 years of companionship, her four children and her grandchildren. She is alive and that is to be treasured.
The alternative, as has been so often pointed out, is rather less attractive.
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The plan is for her to stay with her daughter in Leeds once released from hospital - a couple of weeks time - to recuperate.
It all sounds so much more hopefully than I could have imagined.