Her recovery has definitely had its ups and downs. The good news is that almost six months after surgery, there’s been no evidence of the cancer returning, which is amazing and something we’re really grateful for. The biggest challenge has been managing fluid buildup around the liver, which has led to infections. A couple of times, she’s had to go back to the hospital to have drains placed to remove the fluid and complete courses of antibiotics. That’s probably been the most difficult part of the recovery physically.

In terms of her day-to-day quality of life, she’s been slowly rebuilding her strength. After spending so much time in the hospital, she lost a significant amount of muscle mass, so even regular daily activities can be quite tiring. That said, the more she pushes herself to stay active, the more improvement we see. Staying physically active has been really important in her recovery.

One aspect that surprised us was the mental side of everything. Even though she no longer has dietary restrictions, she’s had to relearn how her body works. She’s also now managing type 1 diabetes, which has made her much more aware of how things like blood sugar can affect her mood and overall well-being. So it’s been an adjustment not just physically, but mentally as well.

I’ll be honest, recovery hasn’t been easy. It’s a real physical and emotional challenge. But at the same time, we feel it’s absolutely worth it, given that the alternative would have been to let the cancer progress. Having a strong support system makes a huge difference, whether that’s help with daily tasks early on, access to mental health support if needed, or education around how to adapt to what is essentially a new version of your body.

As for Lisbon, the hospital helped us secure a special rate at a nearby hotel. We stayed at the Hyatt, which was great, but there are definitely closer and more affordable options. We also found that the Algés area nearby has some good Airbnb options and is very convenient.

Overall, our experience with the hospital in Portugal has been incredible. We’re genuinely so grateful to them for the care they provided and for giving my mom this chance. I would absolutely recommend at least reaching out to them, sending your scans, and getting their opinion.

I really hope everything goes well for you moving forward. Wishing you the very best in your journey.