Tulips, and the story behind them

The tulips are lovely but it is the story behind them I’d like to share.

As some from the GW forum might know, my wife has had multiple incidences of cancer as well as two brain aneurysms. Throughout it all our health insurers have been brilliant - supportive, sympathetic, helpful and professional. Indeed we wrote to tell then how impressed we were and they wrote back asking if Mrs Cotto would be willing to do a short publicity video. Of course she would.

In the course of the interview, and just as a throwaway line, my wife mentioned the shock of her very first diagnosis, sitting in the grounds of Glenfield Hospital looking at a display of tulips and wondering if she’d ever see tulips again.She has, twenty times over.

Two weeks later, the video edited and uploaded on the company website, a parcel arrived on our doorstep - a large box of tulip bulbs as a thank you present. They have bloomed beautifully ever since.

The photo above is from two years ago and this year they are not so good, infected by a blight. It is apposite. Last summer my wife was diagnosed with cancer for the seventh time and, to the shame of the consultant and the GP who missed the signs for the best part of a year, the outcome is “advanced and terminal”. Originally given a prognosis of 2-3 months, it is now 1-2 years. She demonstrates enormous courage and resilience, refusing to turn her face to the wall, and often has the oncology nurses in fits of laughter. I am so proud of her.

 

What can we say? @Ben Cotto. Best wishes to you both for the time you have together. Hopefully much longer than you expect. She has a good track record after all.

 

All the best to you both and may the tulips always bloom.

 

Wanted to post a tulip pic for your courageous wife, @BenCotto, but not yet fathomed how.
All the very best to the pair of you.

 

My continued best wishes to you both.

 

Your wife is a strong and courageous woman, I wish you both all the best.
The tulips are beautiful. Gardens, plants, nature, certainly have a positive effect.

 

Trying again, a tulip for Mrs. C. Hope it's not life-sized!

 

Thanks Tinkerton, your kindness is greatly appreciated.

I have sent you, I think, a private message but I thought it was a public one!

 

Got it, @BenCotto, and just replied - so that's two things I've learned how to do! All rather confusing, isn't it?
Please post the accidental private message on here if you like.

 

Our thoughts are with you both @BenCotto and our kindest wishes for your future together … however long it may be. xx