Leukemia and a New Forest Wedding.

Writing LBR post yesterday, reminded me of all the poignant times the New forest has had for us over the past few years.

My Husband asked me to marry him, whilst I was in recovery after losing our first baby at 12 week in -vitro. I was devastated. We decided to "do it properly" and get married and then try for another baby. We decided to have a church wedding with all the works. Friends and family coming from all corners of the globe. 

We should have had an incling things wouldn't go to plan. When we first went to see the vicar, in mid conversation there was a huge crash. We ran outside to find a man had crashed into a wall outside. When Andrew put the ring on my finger, (on his bended knee)  in Hatton Garden, all hell broke loose (at that exact moment) it was 7- 7. London was being bombed! Me thinks it was an omen!

Three weeks before our summer wedding my (then) 7 year old soon to be stepdaughter was trying on her bridesmaid dress and we noticed severe bruising. She also felt under the weather. We took her to the doctor and she was rushed into hospital. She was diagnosed with Leukemia. I still cry thinking about when the doctor said those words. . . .our world fell apart. Step daughter was taken to The Royal Marsden in Sutton by ambulance. We followed by car. Obviously our wedding was cancelled.

Within the next few weeks Step Daughter became gravely ill as the chemotherapy wrecked her little body. She lost all her hair. So I had all my hair cut off  in sympathy. A very small gesture.

Walking in the New Forest

On what would have been our wedding day. My future husband, packed a surprise picnic, including champagne and we went to the Forest. At the exact time we should have been putting rings on our fingers in church, we did exactly that, sitting on a rug, surrounded by nature and a very friendly New Forest pony.



New Forest Pony

Step D, had a fight on her hands and boy did she fight. About a year and a half into her treatment. We again went to the forest. She was in a large pushchair as her muscles were very sore and had shortened as her bones grew and her muscles hadn't. She decided that day she would walk. Again surrounded by incredible beauty, she walked pushing her chair for over a mile, feeding the ponies as we went along(getting her to walk that distance now, is nearly impossible!)
Step D is well now. She is in remission and will have met the magical 5 years clear in November. She is a typical teenager in every way! We wouldn't have it any other way!