Katie Taylor

 The malignant melanoma was moving.

 Major surgery to remove the lymph glands from her groin followed by weeks and weeks of agonizing pain and slow healing. Silver dressings, followed by a vac suction pump attached to her to remove excess moisture and lymph. The suction pump is what you can see on her shoulder in the front picture - she wore it like a shoulder bag.  It made the most horrendous noises so Katie and her friends used to call it "the farting frog".  They threatened to go and stake out our local library or to empty McDonalds with it - thank God they never got round to it! Katie had the most amazing sense of humour and managed to laugh at most things. Keeping her spirits up was easy - it was more a case of her keeping our spirts up. Of course there were times when she was low. These were usually only shown in extreme cases. When having the groin dressings changed she was in such pain the doctor ordered gas & air to help her; after a few gulps - she begain relaxing. After a few more gulps the giggling began; to the point of holding onto the mask and wrestling it back as the nurse tried to remove it; all the time laughing between trying to outstare the nurse with comments of "Its Mine! Goddamm you woman in a weird dress" In the end it was easier to turn off the gas & air and let her hold onto the mask. All of us laughing hysterically till she calmed down. At which point the apologies started " Oh No! I am SO sorry....Im really, REALLY sorry", then a hug with the nurses who by now had come to know her well. It was nothing for there to be 4 or 5 nurses in the room with her. Laughter echoing round the corridors outside.  Melanoma couldn't be that serious - it would be ok - she was only 15.

Christmas day was spent at home. Aunty Bessie came for her lunch, and a surprize visit by a much loved Uncle Nigel made the day.  Silly faces were made under even sillier paper hats. It was a fairly quiet day as Katie had nagging pains in her good leg. Probably just from resting too much we said. After all she had gone from being very active, riding her horse Whisper and training her dog Faith to not being able to walk more than a few steps. It would be ok we agreed -it just needs time to rebuild the muscles in your legs! 

Boxing day we were back at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. The pain had kept her awake most of the night and we were at a loss what to do as the painkillers were not working.  Her consultant came out to see her straight away. A full check-over was carried out but nothing untoward was found. Stonger painkillers were given and rest ordered. 

  December 28th 2007 saw us host a  15th birthday bash for Katie at our favorite restaurant. A meal for close family and friends.  Much fun was had by all, as shown by the fact that all the photos of the night in question are either out of focus or blury. 

 Katie look fantastic in her favorite gothic style dress. Deep blue, boned and laced bodice with black lace overlay and a full black silk skirt with lace trim, fishnets and her all time favorite heavy metal New Rock boots - truly a  Bodacious Babe!

Clicking happily away with the camera she had got for Christmas, she was in her element. Laughter, and a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" made for a most memorable night.