Wearing my fave onsie that mum adapted so that I can catheterise without pulling it up and down (if you’re wondering how she adapted it, she cut and sewed a hole in the crotch 😂👍🏻) 💖 #wearingmyfaveonsie #onsiesarecomfy #onsiesarehot #intermittentcatheterisation #livingwithincontinence #thatpalliativecarelife (at Llansamlet) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Ux9HRD4nM/?igshid=1lxbz2haunulq

I’m feeling so incredibly lucky to be here and doing so well health wise right now; I’m successfully intermittently catheterising 🙌🏻 for the first time in 9 years, and I’ve successfully bladder trained after 3 years on free flow. It’s been really, really hard work getting here, and I’m incredibly grateful to so many people, but the person at the very top of my list is my incredible mother @caroline.davies350 💖 During this whole ordeal, she has never once accepted defeat as an option. When everyone blindly accepted bladder removal as my only option, she got my drs to look harder for alternatives. When everyone told me I would never be able to do intermittent catheterisation after 9 years of having a suprapubic catheter, she told them to stick their opinion up their arse. When my nursing home weren’t sure they’d be able to support me through the bladder training, she brought me home to Swabsea for 6 weeks. When I had my indwelling Cather removed and we spent all day at UHW whilst I literally learned to wee, she held my hand, bought me coffee, and cheered me on through every step. When I threw my first tantrum when I couldn’t get a catheter in after 20+ minutes of trying and threw the catheter across the hall, she calmly informed me “you better pick that up yourself, and then try again with a clean one.”! When I had to get up to pee literally 20 odd times a night, she slept next to me and helped me up and down, and never once complained. When we started to actually leave my the house and I had to stop on the way home from the cafe to pee, she didn’t yell, just reminded me I was still learning how to pee. When I had difficulty weeing due to the pressure I was putting on myself, she started coming to the loo with me for a chat so I’d calm down. She took me swimming for the first time in 4 years, and even though she absolutely fucking hates water slides, she still went on one with me. She gave me all the tights that I’d given her 5 years ago back (although she’s still salty about that one 😂!). She’s been my rock, and I literally couldn’t have done this without her. Thank you, mummy. I love you ❤️ #intermittentcatheterisation #ilovemymummy❤️ #mymumismyrock #thanks (at Aberavon Sea Front) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0o2Z5whVnK/?igshid=10wzrhdz11xfl

So yesterday I had a super important appointment with my neuro-renal-urologist, aka The Bladder Removal Guy, and I was super anxious about it... well guys, here’s a photo of my happy face afterwards, because guess what? IT WENT REALLY WELL 🙌🏻! My dr, who does not have the warmest bedside manner (he’s a great dr, just not super friendly), legit made me happy cry 😭. He told me I’m a credit; to myself, my mum/family, and my clinical team, and said that he’s very impressed with all the hard work I’ve put into make this intermittent catheterisation thing work. As long as the current program keeps working, there is no need for bladder removal 🙌🏻! Although bladder removal is still on the cards, so to speak, it’s not imminent as long as things go to plan; cue me looking down at my bladder and kidneys, and entire body tbh, and whisper-yelling “keep your shit together!”. I’m so incredibly grateful for all the support, encouragement, love, and especially patience everyone in my life has shown me on this journey. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve done it 🙌🏻 and as much as I’m genuinely really proud of myself, I know for a fact I couldn’t have done this without you all ❤️ There are so many people I need to thank for being so amazing, but I just want to say I know for a fact I wouldn’t have survived the last six months without @caroline.davies350 and @mjenga10 keeping me sane and keeping me going, when all I wanted to do was give up. Love you guys more than life itself, and I’m so thankful to have you in my life 💖 WE DID IT GUYS! #wedidit #intermittentcatheterisation #incontinencequeen #palliativecarewarrior #yesiamabadass #thankyouall #couldnthavedoneitwithoutyou #blessedbeyondmeasure (at Remos) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0o0jbSBulv/?igshid=8vvytn6180w6

I’m extremely wobbly and stiff on my feet tonight, so it’s the first time one of the nurses, Carol-Ann, has had to accompany me to the toilet 🚽 and I just want to say I’m feeling incredibly grateful to have such kind, patient, skilled staff taking such good care of me ❤️ Btw, we call our little middle of the night wobbles The Toilet Tango 😂! #thetoilettango #middleofthenightthoughts #gottapee #bladdertraining #intermittentcatheterisation #palliativecarewarrior #wobblywarrior (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxWQ5pgBC-f/?igshid=166soem25zciz

So me and mummy had a bad night; lots of up and down for peeing, pain relief and spasms. Today, we’re using our appropriate mugs that announce we are not morning people 😂! #notamorningperson #readthemugs #badnight #bladdertraining #intermittentcatheterisation #seizuressuck #spasmssuck #chronicpainsucks #upallnight #knackered #mymumismynurse #ilovemymummy❤️ (at Llansamlet) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwjUh28lWzC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gf383zx7rttk

So we’ve had our first Bad Night of bladder training/intermittent catheterisation. Went to bed at 1amish, been up SIX TIMES to pee since then, and up four times for pain relief and anti spasm meds. We’re both knackered. Chill day today for us! #nosleepforus #upallbloodynight #bladdertraining #intermittentcatheterisation #chronicpainsucks #chronicspasmssuck #seizuressuck #firstbadnight #chilldayforustoday #knackered #mummyandamycwtches #makesthingsbetter (at Llansamlet) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwjJP3VFoxo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1atcgpwj4tedp

‪Feeling all emotional 😭 my nurses dropped off my first delivery of catheters and they’ve drawn a cartoon of me as a fairy 🧚🏻‍♀️ on the box 📦 MY HEART 💖‬ ‪#bladdertraining #intermittentcatheterisation #palliativecarewarrior #nursinghomefam #nursesareamazing ‬ (at Llansamlet) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwiMdEClFgC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4t6geuvn3cw7

Look who’s up and dressed in actual clothes for the first time post catheter removal... also, look who’s WEARING TIGHTS!!! First time in 13 years I’m tube free. It’s both incredibly unsettling, And unbelievably freeing. Seems ridiculous to feel emotional over something as simple as wearing tights, but I am. It’s the first of many firsts that will happen over the next few days and weeks... and the first item crossed off my Easter Bucket List! The list is mostly about doing things I couldn’t do with tubes in me. Life is really exciting right now guys 😁! #lookwhoswearingclothes #upandatem #postcatheterremoval #bladdertraining #intermittentcatheterisation #palliativecarewarrior #feelingfree #tubefree #imwearingtights #firstoflotsoffirsts #lifeisexciting #thisiswhathappylookslike (at Llansamlet) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwhaMeDlBm0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12r4aue5pmx0d