Skip to main content

The Gallery : A Memory

1992
I was looking through some old photos the other day and found this photograph.  At first glance it just looks like a baby asleep in a pushchair but look closer.  There is an intravenous pump in the foreground, a charity cheque pinned to a notice board in the background and a reclining chair to the right.  It is a hospital ward and the child in the pushchair is towards the end of the hair loss process through chemotherapy, but she sleeps peacefully.

This picture is of my daugher, Rachel and was taken by the nursing staff on Borchardt Ward at Pendlebury Children's Hospital.  It was given to me to reassure me that whilst I went home for a rare break, she was well looked after and she didn't constantly cry.

1994
The second photograph is the first proper picture we have of Rachel after her hair grew back and she'd had her first real haircut since the regrowth.  It grew back blonder, thicker and curlier than previously.  This picture was taken by the nursery school staff about two years after she finished her chemotherapy.

Both of these photos hold different memories.  The first photo reminds me of a time we thought we'd never get through; heartbreaking, endless - a black tunnel with no light at the end of it.  The second photo reminds me how wondrous modern medicine is and how lucky we were to be given the chance to continue 'normal' family life.  I'm sure Rachel thought, at times, that I was over-protective but each time we argued about a risk she was taking (usually teenage curiosity) or I told her that I needed to know where she was and gave her a curfew time, it was only because I'd almost lost her once and I didn't want to lose her again.


Full story: There are only so many perfect heads in the world...

* * *


This blog post was submitted for the weekly Gallery over at Sticky Fingers.  This week's theme was 'A Memory'.  This digital art Gallery is all linked at Sticky Fingers and you can see all of this weeks entries >>> here <<<



Related Links:
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

26 Bands From The 80's : Where Are They Now?

The other day, whilst out with my husband , I was listening to some UB40 in the car and wondered what they were up to now.  Then I saw this post from Buzzfeed and realised I totally needed to steal that idea.   BUT the problem with doing a "Where Are They Now" of the 80s is that they are either dead, accountants (dead accountants?) or in their mid 50's and, having realised they have snorted their pension up their nose, are dragging themselves onto the Reunion Tour concert circuit. So here are my chosen few that form my A-Z of 80's 'Where Are They Now?'   Do you fancy adding any of your own? Art Of Noise.   Last seen looking for Peter Gunn and desperately hoping that Tom Jones tells a "I know A rt Of Noise" story about them on The Voice. Billy Idol.   Currently setting off airport alarms all over the world after having a steel rod inserted into his leg following a motorbike accident in 1990.  Practicing Rebel Yell on Guitar Her...
Keep Reading »

[REVIEW] Canvas print from PrinterPix

Whilst dabbling in a bit of (very) amateur photography I occasionally have a favourite photo printed onto canvas.  It's usually a scenery picture and used to brighten up the walls in the lounge or at a focal point on the stairs.  Most recently I have had two images put through the process by PrinterPix . I sent off an image of my son after his Territorial Army passing out parade in April (proud parent moment) and one of our dog on the beach from a few months ago.  They were returned within a few days and looked even better than I had imagined. Soldier Boy is on a canvas that is 16" x 20" on a standard thickness (2cm) frame.  Michi is on a 12" x 16" canvas which is stretched onto a thickeer (4cm) frame.  Both have been printed using a gloss finish.   All canvases from PrinterPix are hand-stretched, use fade-resistant ink and tension wedges are fitted into the corners of each frame to aid stability. What do you think?  I'm in l...
Keep Reading »

7 Things To Do In Roda, Corfu

This year, our summer holiday took us to Corfu. We were staying in Roda on the north coast of the island and had a wonderful time. It's a beautiful Greek fishing village and has the most chilled and welcoming atmosphere I've ever experienced.  I'd love to share my recommended seven things to do if you visit Roda. Sunset over Roda harbour Swimming With The Fishes The coastline at Roda is completely flat so you can walk out quite a distance and still only be in shallow water.  The beach in the village is very sandy but becomes rocky as you move out of town towards some of the beach front hotels (twenty paces out to sea, it becomes sandy again). The water is generally very calm, beautifully warm and clear enough to see the occasional fish swimming by.   Chill out at the Boathouse As we walked down from our hotel, The Boathouse was one of the first bars we stopped at before continuing into Roda. It is perfectly placed between the rural coastal road that l...
Keep Reading »