(86) Appointment with Dr Christopher.

(Appointment no 1)

The appointment to see Dr Christopher is for May 7th at 12.30 at the Harley St clinic.

W had not told me it had arrived he was hoping he could go alone but a couple of days ago I asked if he had heard anything from the hospital.  W had rang them as on a forum he is on somebody told him he had to ring for the appointment.

W is rather anxious about this appointment and explained to me he will find it very embarrassing me being there, as they are going to be discussing his surgery and talking about the penis in great detail.
I did feel a little upset as I have stood by him all the way and how could he be embarrassed after coming this far. I need to be there so I can ask questions and understand the procedures he is to go through. I will be by his side...

Tube strikes are allocated for the day we are to go, we have rang the clinic to explain our difficulty in getting there if they go ahead, next appointment will be July time, fingers crossed the strike will be off, so need to get this surgery underway.

W has had excruciating abdomen pain off and on over the last two weeks.  He was in terrible pain on his way home from work last Saturday, as soon as he got home he asked me to drop him off at A & E, he spent 3 hours there, the Dr suggested it may be gall stones. Off to the family Dr today, a blood test and a very embarrassing internal as our Dr thinks it may be ovary related, just waiting for a scan now, on a plus side this may speed up a hysterectomy!

(85) Definitely in the system now...

W received a copy of the letter that James Barrett has forwarded to his Dr and Mr Christopher in the London team.

It clearly states that W has fulfilled all criteria from the Gender Identity Clinic, his diagnosis is primary transsexualism and he would benefit from surgery. He has now discharged us from Charing Cross as it says, 'W's life is very much in order', and asked that he is sent an appointment for his referral for his opinion for phalloplasty surgery.

Thank you James Barrett.
Another chapter begins...

(84) Charing Cross...Result

After the long awaited for appointment we now have the go ahead for surgery!

A very positive appointment with James Barrett at Charing Cross.  We expected a meeting where W would have to repeat his life story.  James Barrett had a lovely manner and a great sense of humour.  He asked some questions, some quite odd but he explained the reason why.  After about 45 minutes he asked W what did he want from this appointment, he didn't have to ask twice!  So we are now awaiting the appointment for the surgery to begin!  Result.

One very happy W so it was a pint of strongbow in The Trout at Hammersmith tube station and a coffee for me as I had to do the drive back home!

I have come so far, who would have thought 3 years ago that I would be happy with this news.

(83) Actions speak louder than words!!

Matt dropped off a card for Will from Grandad.
Matt was unsure what sort of card it was going to be as Grandad always gets grandson and grandaughter ones. Will speaks to Grandad on the phone but no name is used and Grandad knows its Will and not Matt speaking, that's progress.
On the envelope it had the letter R.
So Will opened it...Result, a lovely card a neutral one, inside it was addressed to 'The Best', and £40 fell out too.
A major step forward and a happy Will; he so adores his Grandad and has been so worried about being rejected.

(82) Little Bro Big Bro

I went Christmas shopping on Saturday with Matt, the annual trek around the Potteries Centre. When I picked him up he said he had to get a pressie for W and a card.  Off we went Matt knew exactly what to get W, then we went into the card shop, it seemed perfectly natural for Matt to get a card with Brother on, no questions or silly comments...It's great to see how Matt has accepted this now.

W has booked yet another holiday for January, he's certainly making up for the ones he missed in his teens, Tenerife this time, jammy thing!!  So pleased that he is doing this.

As things are so normal at the moment I'm not addressing my blog as often. So Happy Christmas to you and yours and all the best for the New Year.

Not long for Charing Cross now!!

(81) My very proud pics

W has just got back from Jamaica and had a fab holiday...Thought I would share with you 2 pics that show what a confident young man he has become and how he is now enjoying life!!

PICTURES REMOVED W IS STEALTH

(80) A Surreal Moment...

Had an awkward moment in the supermarket...
Bumped into an old neighbour who I lived next door but one too when I was married. Not seen her for ten years. I spoke to her and straight away she was asking how I was and how was 'Rach'.
This lady is now 80 and is still a neighbour of my ex husband. One part of me wanted to say, 'who'? I went along with the conversation and said how 'she' was doing really well at Uni and was presently in Jamaica. It's obvious that W's dad never mentions him as he chats with the neighbours all day to pass the time!
It felt surreal...

Not sure if I did the right thing, but felt I needed to protect W from anything negative his dad may have said to the neighbour if she had discussed it with him.
I have told a couple of people now, it would be unfair if they saw W and called him 'Rach' it's all on a, 'who needs to know' basis.

I can fully understand why many Trans people move away.