Cogs can think.

My mother went into surgery Tuesday. She had a complicated breast reconstruction done - her remaining breast (the other, cancerous one was removed 3 years ago) was removed, and two ‘new’ ones were constructed, using flaps of skin from her armpit, and… Well, it’s complicated plastic surgery, I won’t bore you with the details.

It was quite the ride too, of course. My mother was nervous ever since last Wednesday, when she got the call it was her turn. The hospital she’s at is most likely the best hospital in the country - the Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Hospital (the AVL) in Amsterdam. The AVL specialises in treating patients with cancer and patients with cancer-related issues - like my mom’s case. It’s so good because it doesn’t look like your average hospital - the atmosphere is almost cosy. You’d pay a good deal of money per night if it was a hotel. The contact with the staff and doctors is also very close and warm, and they guide you from the moment you enter through the revolving doors - literally.

The surgery went perfectly, and she already sat up straight and made a few first steps this morning - only twelve hours after a very serious piece of surgery. There’s like ten million tubes draining blood and fluids from her wounds into bottles that lie scattered around her bed.

When my father and I drove up there late Tuesday night, at around 21:00, I said to my dad, look, she’s probably gonna be all talkative already.

And she was.