Thank you to all medical staff

Since I had my brain op in 2009 at Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre, Haywards Heath, to try and remove a pituitary tumour.

This turned out to be benign, but as it could grow again it is being monitored.

I have full faith in NHS England – they have looked after my health issues since I was a young child.

What would I have done without them?

I have many health issues to contend with – including issues that have attacked me as each year has gone by.

Sometimes I wonder why me?

But without these issues hitting me –I would not be the person I am – I still challenge myself to try and get my words to come back fully – I never shy away now from asking for help.

I tweeted Peter James the crime writer about three years ago – I never expected a reply but I got one.

A world famous writer.

The Hastings Observer wondered if my writing would return within the newspaper at that time – unquote but similar ‘would my mag Ebb & Flow Community Magazine return’.

Well the last was 2012 – the end of the non-profit mag – but now retired – I am collating behind the scenes, as a hobby to get another produced.

I know many enjoyed it, so even though slow, disabled and going blind and deaf (both partial) I am still going to do it.

I have many consultants at the Conquest who have helped me: Mr Pieter Gouws (eyes), Mr Simon Baer (ENT), and Mr Sathis Kumar (endocrinology).

All I give praise to – including the endocrinology special nurse Maria.

Mr Gouws took over treating my eyes in 2012.

I was so glad, I had no idea until just before my last eye op in 2013 that he was also a volunteer with Andean Medical Mission having read about it in the Hastings Observer after.

I was gifted donated eye tissue from an organ donor in my sighted left eye – the right eye is blind.

I was so pleased I joined the organ donor list.

I hope the junior doctors campaign succeeds.

NHS England needs to continue and they need to be heard.

NHS began in 1948 the year of my birth, long may it continue.

I also in this email wish to thank Brett McLean for continuing to support my mag even though slow and now a hobby as patron and having been so since 2002 and all the staff at the Hastings Observer that have given me publication in the 90s when I began as Mary Jo West (poet) leading onto Josie Lawson (poet).

I will do my best to self-train my brain again, following mini-strokes and never denying help from others – I have always wanted to write a novel – I will always attempt to do so.

Josie Lawson

Stonehouse Drive

St Leonards

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