My most memorable, but unfortunately worst, Christmas was 2001. It was the first year I’d not spent Christmas Day with my parents, opting to stay with my boyfriend (now fiancé) instead. I was beginning to think that it was odd that I hadn’t heard from my parents, when, quite late in the afternoon, my Dad rang. I knew from the tone of his voice that something was wrong and when he told me the terrifying news that my Mum had suffered a brain haemorrhage while making lunch, if felt like the world had turned upside down. She’d been taken to hospital and stabilised, but needed major brain surgery to save her life. Numb with shock, I rushed to the hospital, even though there was nothing I could do and it was just a matter of waiting to see if the operation was a success.
Over the following days she got gradually stronger and the doctors agreed that the danger had passed – the operation had worked. A week or so later she was discharged but her recovery was far from over. Her short-term memory was non-existent, her sense of smell gone forever and she was very confused – she didn’t even know where things were in a house she’d lived in for 20 years. With the love and support of our family and friends, and a great deal of effort on her part, Mum slowly improved. Now, nearly 10 years later, she’s now almost returned to normal, though she can no longer work due to memory and information assimilation issues.
I now realise that my worst Christmas experience eventually had a very positive effect on me. Despite being a truly awful time, these events made me reassess what the holiday and my family mean to me – now each year is a gift and I treasure spending time with them all. I used to complain about Christmas but now I cherish it totally, remembering that I am lucky to have the people I love around me at Christmas, as well as the rest of the year.
Mum and Me In Bridlington
( This is an entry into our Win A £100 Christmas Gifts Voucher Competition )
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