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I have the most amazing story to tell you about the power of positive thinking. It involves two people, ladies in their late sixties who had been friends for almost forty years. One of those ladies was my mother.

When my mother was in her sixties she discovered a lump in her breast and this resulted in her having a total mastectomy. Her doctor then gave her the all-clear and for ten years she enjoyed wonderful health and the freedom that goes with it. Then, after a visit to Thailand she became very ill and was diagnosed with Thai Fever. Unfortunately this diagnosis was wrong, and after many months and a lot of suffering she was correctly diagnosed with cancer. Our family were shocked and devastated that this wonderful woman was now back on the cancer merry-go-round, but we all tried to stay positive for her sake. Her doctor recommended a total hysterectomy and my mother agreed to the surgery. Weeks later and still in hospital, my mother was not making any progress at all and we watched as she slowly slipped away from us. Finally the doctor gave her two days left to live. On the last day I was sitting by her bedside, watching her sadly and knowing that there was nothing I could do to help her, when she suddenly looked at me and said 'I'm going to die, aren't I'? I responded 'Mum, you have to try to eat - you've become very weak through not eating'. Even as I spoke I knew she couldn't eat, and wouldn't eat. That afternoon my father came in for his usual afternoon visit and Mum said to him 'I want you both to help me walk'. My Dad and I looked at each other, shocked, because we didn't know how we were supposed to do this and we also knew she wasn't strong enough. However, we got her out of the bed, and between us we 'walked' her down the corridor, which meant Dad and I walked and we basically dragged her between us.

That was the beginning of her recovery. She started eating and a week later was transferred to a hospital closer to her home, which made visiting easier for family and friends. Then a few weeks later the hospital staff said there was nothing more they could do for her and they thought she should go home as she still wasn't making the recovery they hoped for. They felt she was fretting for her home and familiar surroundings.

So, Dad and I took her home and there we looked after her. She just responded so well to being home - she ate her meals, rested when necessary and loved being with her family. Within two weeks she was able to be left alone at home

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