A few months ago our family went on a whirlwind journey. Now whirlwind journey implies that it was an exciting and thrilling adventure. Well planned and loads of fun. This could not have been further from the truth. Hubby was sick. Sicker than what he has ever been. It was the next stage of our normal.

Six years ago Husband Dear was diagnosed with an uncommon liver disease known as Primary Sclerosing Cholangitist or PSC for short. However we got a 2 for 1 deal. He was also diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (UC for for short). To say that it was one of the worst specialist appointments ever is an understatement. We met our brand new, Brisbane based gastroenterologist and within twenty minutes he had to tell Hubby that yes you have UC and this is what will happen and here is all the medication. Then he rolls into the news about oh you also have PSC. This disease will attack your bile ducts which will in turn destroy your liver. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ you will need a liver transplant. Oh, and we will need to closely monitor you as your risk for various cancers has just increased.

Now this was distressing six years ago but as we built our relationship with our specialist and learnt more about PSC and UC it became our normal. The medications and some diet adjustments had Hubby coming back into normal. Then 2020 hit.

In the middle of Queensland being in lock down, Hubby’s body commenced its own attack on 2020 with a liver infection and a cholongitist flair up. I must say it is interesting to deal with a medical crisis in the middle of a pandemic. A medical crisis that had nothing to do with the pandemic. We also live four hours away from our state capital where Hubby needed treatment.

Over the course of two months and five trips to the Royal Brisbane Hospital I have learnt a few things. One is that ‘normal’ can change at any time. Second it’s okay to get angry and cry, just don’t take it out on the ones trying to help. Thirdly everything comes back to being normal. Was it the same normal as before…..no. Has it become normal……yes. Will his condition change again……most certainly yes.