I've put off writing this for the longest time because it's probably the hardest post I've ever had to write.
We're really digging deep into the personal life of Sophie now, straying away from the typical happy-as-Larry girl who rambles about food and gets excited about new makeup. This is the realio dealio.
I don't know how else to write this other than to just jump straight in.
2017 has not been my year. Not by any means. I mean, January up until March was pretty good, yanno, the usual "I'm gonna get fit" "New year new me" mantra. We've all been there.
On the 1st April 2017
... my house burnt down. There, I've written it down. I mean, if you know me or even follow me on Instagram I did post a picture about the fire explaining what happened about a week later.
You can find it on my Instagram if you want to, but to be honest I really don't want to put that picture in this post or on my blog at all. Nuh uh.
The fire started at 3 o'clock in the morning on April Fool's day - not a joke in the slightest, and my mum and my brother were inside. My brother was incredibly lucky to get himself out after trying to get up to the loft conversion to rescue my mum, as the fire did actually start on the first floor.
After my mum being on the phone to the fire service for over 20 minutes, 6 fire engines from 6 different stations arrived at our house, and 2 men that I will be eternally indebted to made the huge decision to go up and rescue my mum.
At this point, she was trapped inside her ensuite shower room, lying on the floor as far away from the door as she could get.
We actually got the chance to meet the fire brigade and everyone who was on call that night, along with the operator that my mum spoke to, who was so incredibly sweet and did the best job of keeping my mum calm. We found out chilling things about the fire that we hadn't even considered, like the fact that the firemen aren't obligated to go above the fire to rescue anyone, so they didn't think anybody would be making it out of the house alive.
It took 4 hours for them to put out the fire, while we spent hours in the hospital where my mum and my brother were getting checked over and kept in for a while due to smoke inhalation. My brother also got 2nd degree burns to his hand and had to spend 3 days in Morriston burns and plastics unit in Swansea. They were both so incredibly lucky and *touch wood* my brothers burns have healed amazingly and there's no long term lasting damage.
We stayed in a hotel for 6 weeks while the insurance company found us somewhere to live - I just want to point out how important house insurance and fire alarms are. I'm serious. I would have lost my mum and my brother if it weren't for smoke alarms and we wouldn't have a home if it weren't for our house insurance covering getting things back on track - and then were put in temporary accommodation. We've been in this house for about 3 months now and actually have a move in date to go back home which is in just over a week - I can't believe it's gone so quick as we seriously didn't think we'd be home before Christmas. Thank the Lord for our insurance adjustor and our builders (the same ones I fuelled with cupcakes, yep) for working so well and speeding things up more than we could have imagined.
A week or 2 after the fire
while we were in the hotel, I started getting crazy abdominal pains that lasted a few days before my mum was super concerned and took me into A&E. After staying there for a night with suspected appendicitis, I was discharged as my appendix appeared to be fine.
A few days later my mum took me back in since the pains were getting worse and spreading up the right side of my belly, and I had to stay in for nearly a week, until they finally diagnosed me the day I went home with gallstones. Lettt me tell you, gallstones are painful. Agony. It's not pleasant at all.
After another few days, the pains were back in full force, and the doctors decided I needed to have my gallbladder removed. Fun, right? As you're reading this, my operation is actually tomorrow. As in the 2nd August. As in 2 days after my birthday. Fun, right???? I've been waiting 3 and a half months for this operation so to be honest I can't wait to just stop being in pain.
Because of all of this
I actually missed 2 of the 6 weeks of my teaching placement because of all of the craziness that was going on, which annoyingly means that I have to repeat the 6 weeks of placement again during my 2nd year of Uni, so I'll have to do 12 weeks of placement next year instead of just 6.
As if it doesn't get any better, I've also had to put in extenuating circumstances forms for my first year exam not once, but twice, because of being in the hospital and on god knows how many painkillers and antibiotics - I mean seriously, I was taking 29 tablets a day for a week. Do the maths. It ain't nice - and then secondly, because the resit that I was going to sit is actually the morning after my operation. DOES MY BAD LUCK EVER END???
So now, I'm in a bit of a pickle,
I'm still currently in pain, I have a hell of a year ahead of me in terms of Uni and catching up, I don't know what's happening about my exam yet, and my birthday is probably going to be spent with my operation in the back of my mind (well, by the time you've read this my birthday will have been yesterday; oooooh future me is speaking, you'll be reading this when I'm 20) but what I'm trying to say is none of that matters because my family is still alive, and boy am I ready to go home <333
I'm sorry if this post seems super jumbled but it's been super difficult finally writing this all down and getting my brain to work like a normal person.
Sophie.
I'm so sorry about the fire and everything, you've had so much to cope with! I'm so glad that your Mum and Brother are okay, we're supposed to be having the fire service round to refit our alarms and this has definitely pushed me to check in with them. It must be horrible being in ill health too when you're at University and on your placement, because you probably can't even take a day out and enjoy it like everyone else. I really hope you still manage to have a good birthday, you deserve atleast one day off. Happy Birthday!! and I'll be hoping your operation and recovery goes well xx
ReplyDeleteVelvet Blush
It really was horrendous, definitely check in with them to sort your alarms! It's been a super hard time, but my birthday was lovely thank you, and thank you so much! Xx
DeleteAww babe! I know you probably don't want any pity or sympathy but I'm so glad you made it okay as well as your family. Life sucks hard sometimes and I know that you're going to power through it. Reading this makes all the problems I thought I had seem unimportant. I hope you had an amazing birthday nonetheless and that the operation went well. xx Nikita
ReplyDeletejasminelovesblog.blogspot.be
Thank you so much that means a lot! And my op's in the morning so touch wood I'll be okay xx
DeleteWow, you are so brave and inspirational, thank you so much for sharing this with us. I am so glad you are all ok after the fire, I cannot imagine the pain that caused you all, but as long as you are all safe and ok. I really hope you managed to have a nice birthday and that the operation goes well tomorrow, I will be thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteAlice May Snell ♡
Thanks so much lovely that's so sweet of you to say xxx
DeleteSo happy to hear everyone is okay after the fire, that sounds like such a scary situation! I've never been in a fire so I can't even imagine how it would feel but I'm so glad you and your family are all well. And so sorry about the gallstones! Hopefully everything works out for you, and happy belated!
ReplyDeleteSending positive vibes! :)
Anika xo | anikamay.co.uk
Thank you!! That means a lot haha! I'm recovering now after my op, but I had a great birthday! Xx
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