Lily had her neck lumpectomy yesterday, and I just can’t tell you how proud I am of her. She made NO FUSS whatsoever in the face of a general anaesthetic – not even afterwards when she knew just what a “special sleep” is. She nearly cried when resisting going back to sleep after the operation, but it was more of a whimper. Other children on the ward howled for half-hours at a time. She had a brief hour or so of struggling to come round, and then gradually sprang back to life – colouring, reading stories, more colouring, and so on. The only time she *did* cry was this morning when the huge plaster on her neck was changed, and as we all know, having a plaster wripped off your neck hurts like few other things.

She was brave, and well-behaved throughout, and was rewarded with a covert half hour additional play in the soft play area in Central Admissions on the way home.