Well it is six weeks since I had my kidney removed, and although I had some pain and discomfort my wound heeled up very quickly.

I had the most wonderful surgeon Mr Bhatt at the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham. He was so supportive before and after the op, he came to see that all was ok every day while I was in hospital. He has also written to me enquiring about my health and assuring me that he was able to remove all the affected tissue and gain a good margin of healthy tissue - he is clearly in the right vocation.

His compassion and kindness is second to none and I feel so honoured to have met him.

However, I did have a scan before Christmas and although all was fine with the kidney area it now appears that I have problems with my spine hence all the leg and backache.

So off I go this Monday, January 7 to have further surgery. I will be having the first stage of the op at the Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday its a proceedure called an embilisation to stop the flow of blood to the affected area to lessen the risk of blood loss during the op.

Then, on Thursday 10, January, all being well, I will be transfered to the Royal Orthopedic Hospital in Birmingham for the operation on my spine.

I have felt very low but I can only keep on going forward now and try to overcome all that this disease throws at me.

Sometimes, I feel that it is not happening to me and I long for my life to be as it was with me being so independant and content with the life that I had.

But I know that the I was so lucky in having the life that I had and that some people have had nothing but suffering and misery all their lives.

I will keep going and thank God that there are people willing and able to help me. I can only put my life into their hands and try my hardest to stay strong and possitive.

My family are still there for me and I know that there lives have changed by this.

But they keep me strong when I am low and I thank them for that.

So here's to the next stage of my fight I will give it all that I have got.

John and I had a quiet Christmas and Christmas lunch was a joint effort, we are just glad to have each other. Although his cooking is getting quite good now, when I get more mobile I might just let him carry on cooking now that I know how good he is at it.

Anyway I hope to write to you soon to let you know how I am doing.

Speak soon Angelena.