Keep Calm it's the Final Countdown!

We only have 12 days, 11 hours and 45 minutes to go till we take off from Brisbane airport for what will be the trip of a lifetime.  I think it would be safe to say I have never been so frightened in all my life! But underneath the terror is a relief that at last we are nearly at the point where I am going to finally get the operations I need. 

I want to say a quick but massive thank you before I move on to today's blog, to everyone who has given to our Go Fund Me Page.  I would also like to thank those who although they couldn't donate have helped us by sharing our story far and wide.  Every donation whether that's $1 or $10,000 is helping us to get to Switzerland and really I can't thank you all enough.  
 
As you know, we need to raise $140,000, which is an insane amount of money.  We have raised nearly $30,000 through Go Fund Me and through private donations.  But with $110,00 still to raise we frankly need a miracle, but I live in hope that there is someone or many someones out there who will be able to help us.  This operation will change my life and the lives of my family.  I know there are many good causes out there and in the scheme of things I am not very important, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing to help us. If you would like to make a donation click here.

Moving on, this week I have been lucky enough to speak to a number of patients who are either in Switzerland at the moment or have just left after similar or identical operations as the one I am having.

In particular, I would really like to thank Robert Shattuck.  Robert arrived back in Missouri on September 6th and although he is suffering with some 'distraction' pain, he says he hasn't regretted having the operation for a second.  It has been amazing to talk to someone whilst they were going through treatment.  Robert has been so kind and honest, which I really appreciated.  I hope I will be able to return the favour to someone else who is awaiting treatment and needs a friend to talk to. So, if you are reading this and need someone to talk to, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Robert has shared his highs and lows with me and it has left me with an honest idea of what to expect and what not to expect.  He has been so generous with his time, writing to me the day after the operation and the days that followed. 

Craig and I have spent this week packing and then unpacking.  I just can't make up my mind what we need to take?!  It's so hot here at the moment it is hard to contemplate going somewhere cold, and are we talking cold or really cold?  I have asked google and it predicts that the temperature will be around 7 to 11 (brrrrrr), which lets face it to us Gold Coasters is bloody cold!!  We went thrift shopping and between Mum and us we have picked up some cheap jumpers to take with us and two coats.  I have even managed to dig out a couple of hats and scarfs! According to google, Germany will be even colder so I hope we have the right clothes with us!
 
This will probably be my last post before we head off.  Then we will both be blogging and vlogging when we can to keep everyone updated, so please become a follower of this page, that way everytime we post you will be notified.  We will not have our normal phone numbers so please be aware that from October 4th - November 11th our numbers will have changed.  If you want to ring us, PM through facebook and I will give you the new number.
 
We want to spend these last days with the girls and not waste a single second of the time we have left together.  I think it hit all of us this week and there have been tears all round.  I am dreading dropping them at Mum and Dad's and heading off, it's going to be a really hard day for all of us.  We are dropping them off on the Thursday and having dinner with Mum and Dad before we head off.  It's so hard because really if money wasn't as issue we would all be going together.  I am going to have to find and pack my big girl pants to do this without them by my side!


I am so grateful to not be doing this alone though.  Knowing my supportive and loving husband, Craig, will be with me every step of the way is very comforting.  We will also have some visitors whilst we are there including my Uncle Bob and Aunt Maggie, my beautiful sister and my buddy Andrew.  So we won't be completely on our own and it will be quite a treat as it has been a number of years since I have seen some of my family.

A month from now this will all be over and I will be in hospital recovering, it seems a little surreal!  I hope this journey finally ends this episode of my life and we can get back to the job of living!  I feel like my kids have had a Mum who has been missing in action for too long now and it is time to get back on track.

Well folks, this is me, Kate signing off till we fly.  Thank you again for all the support, love, kindness and generosity. I hope that when I am back to my old self I will find a way to give back to my community, friends and family and everyone who has made this possible.

With all my love

Kate x