bowel cancer update

Hi, well I am still alive and so grateful!!! Had tumour removed realy agressive and then chemo rad and on 8 Dec radical surgery to remove everything and leave me with a permanent stoma. Was realy scared thought I would die. Surgeon said I needed to get my affairs in order and wrote 'risk of death' on my op consent form.I was in theatre for 6 hours and had about 50 stiches from 2 inches above my belly button to below my ceasarian scar with staples and about 50 from my bum to my lower back and 50 internal stiches.When I came round and they were wheeling me from theatre my three daughters were waiting in the corridor and I just waved and said 'I am still alive'!!! I woke up well from the anesthetic and was able to talk to them although they were cringing as I had a canula with three stiches in my neck with 8 attachments and tubes everywhere. They said they were worried everytime I moved as they thought I would pull something out!!! My youngest who is 17 said 'I love you mum' when she left which was lovely as we had not been getting on for some time and she moved in with her dad. (teenage stuff) although I love her so much but couldn't cope. She has done so well since moving in with him. I realy didn't want a stoma but the consultant said I had a 75% chance of it coming back without the op. Its now only just over 2 weeks since my op I had my stiches removed on christmas eve. I managed to cook christmas dinner with the help of my girls, I went to my sisters today and then to the pub to watch my son in law play with his band. I feel wonderful and what ever pain I have I am so grateful to be alive.I have the district nurses coming to check my wounds and they say I need a tee shirt with 'I have just had a major operation ' as I look a fraud!!! What they took out was cancer free which is great news. but I have got to have chemo again to help it stop it coming back. Just thought I would write this for anyone who is a stage before me in the hope it will help. The stoma is fine and easy to deal with. Any one else going through this feel free to PM me and I will give advice where I can. Just feel so lucky and happy in spite of adversity. Think most of us do on here!! Happy Christmas and New Year to everyone. Take care Jo x