2019: You Sucked

2019 was difficult, and I haven't ever said that about any other year. Like it full on mega sucked. From others I talked to most people seemed to feel the same way, and it got my wondering why?

We are getting older, different problems from those in my teens maybe? The people I am around having similar problems/issues? Whatever it was I couldn't be more glad it's over, but I couldn't be more glad it happened.

This year was definitely a trying year, I have never experienced the hardships- and I hope to never again. But it made me so much stronger as a person that I can be forever grateful for.

Getting a tumor- (which at 27 years old I never thought I would have to say) but having an amazing surgeon that successfully removed it and it being cancer free.

The tumor taught me a lot, before this I can't say I had a huge drive for life. I felt like I was just floating through. Getting at tumor and suddenly feeling like you may die gave me a new lease on life. 

Which this new drive for life I am going to say cheers to you 2019 may we never see you again.

Cheers,
J xx

This is Me Now

Flash forward to a couple of months later. I’m now a 100% recovered (finally) and in the all clear. My last MRI was all clear and I’m finally feeling like myself for the first time in eight months.

I’m currently living in Dallas trying to find a job which is proving difficult after about six months off- I have been feeling a bit discouraged. But nevertheless cross your fingers that’s something comes along because the cries that come from my bank account or me (same same) are getting out of hand.

I want to use this blog as a plat form to share my traveling experiences, my crazy life, and the little bits in between.

Jordan

The Surgery

It’s been a week since I have had the surgery to remove the large tumor that has been invading my skull/nose for the last 8 months or so. I couldn’t be happier that it’s out.

Don’t let the picture fool you I actually was in hysterics (a good mix of laughing and crying..mostly crying). That the surgery was over. In total the surgery took four years..I mean hours; HOURS. I lost a total of 3 litres of blood that was recycled through me as the surgery progressed. The vain that had been feeding the tumor was about 10x the normal size of a vain.

The tumor put up a fight, it was not eager to come out so a lot of cutting had to be done in order to fully removal the tumor. The surgery first began with going through my left eye (hence the black eye) were the vain feeding the tumor had to be cut off to prevent further bleeding. Once this was done the rest would be done through my nose.

To end the surgery there was a small hole in the lining of my brain a.k.a. the dura that had a small hole that had to be plastered with a bit of cartilage from my ear. Basically what I am trying to say is that everything that COULD go wrong DID go wrong.

It’s been a hard week to say the least. I am incredibly weak and most of the time suffering with dizziness, headaches, etc. that make daily tasks difficult. But, all that aside I am alive, I am relatively health, and I am tumor free.

The Emails

Christmas came and went- it was the first Christmas both Kieran and I have had in awhile that involved family, Christmas decorations, and it being colder than 20c/70F. Full of the holiday cheer and too much food, we both ended the day on a high note.

To give a bit of background, I had luckily taken out insurance in New Zealand for the year just incase anything happened (plus it is a requirement if you want to do a working holiday in New Zealand for U.S. citizens). I was fortunate enough to get the first initial coverage of the ‘polyp’ covered. But, as we quickly found out it was something drastically different, insurance refused to adjust the cap they initially set out for the ‘polyp’. In their exact words it was the same “MASS” so the cap would not be adjusted.

Fast forward to a couple days later and the emails began. To make a long story short the plan for the removal of the tumour was into two parts. First being an embolisation to be done in the Auckland public hospital, to be followed up a couple days later with the full removal of the tumour to be done in a private hospital. (If you’re questioning why- the New Zealand system is very specific of where a doctor can and can’t work. The doctor to do the embolisation can only do so in a public hospital, while the doctor to do the removal of the tumour can only do so in a private hospital..confusing I know).

The emails began with an a double whammy from the public hospital and New Zealand immigration. The public hospital contacted immigration (they claimed because they didn’t have any contact details for myself so they thought to go to immigration). In doing this they found out obviously I was out of the country, plus I was on a working holiday visa. This is where things began to go south, immigration then began to email me saying I now became a “health risk” to their health care system, and basically my odds of getting into the country were slim.

With this massive blow we contacted the New Zealand immigration as soon as we could- an hour on the phone later we were still no clearer on if we could get into the country. Basically, they could not assure us that we would be able to get into the country, unless I had proof I had the money in full for the two surgeries. (Even with the proof they said they still could not guarantee entry).

Kieran and I made a decision it was best to stay in the U.K. until we could have a solid answer of wether I can enter New Zealand. This began another list of hurdles we faced.