I want to take you back to the Friday before I went in to surgery. I had been at work that day and as the day was drawing to a close, my friend said ‘so… Pub…?’. It was just us three close friends left in the office and it turned out we all had a free night so we finished what we were doing and headed to the local for a few drinks. It was my last day at work for a while and the last time I would see my two friends for some time. We drank wine, we laughed, we forgot everything serious and we were just three friends having some drinks after work on a Friday. It was perfect.

After a few drinks it was time to head home and we had our hugs and goodbyes and I told them I would see them again on the other side. We all went off our own separate ways.

I took my way down to the tube station, a spring in my step. I was tired so I sat while I waited for the train to turn up. A lady sat down next to me. I was playing on my phone like a good millenial does. And my useless neuropathy hands did their usual thing of throwing my phone on the ground. The lady next to me was kind enough to pick it up for me. ‘Sorry’ I said ‘my chemo hands are useless’.

She asked me more about my chemo and cancer and I said that I was going into surgery on the Monday to cut out half my face and rebuild it. I said it was scary but I was keen to be moving forward.

She then reached into her bag and pulled out a little wooden cross. She said it was given to her by an Israeli. She said it had brought her luck over the last few years and now it was time to pass it on to someone else who needed it: me.

I asked her if she was sure and thanked her profusely. And at that moment my train turned up and I had to run. I told her how much it meant to me and thanked her once again as I ran off. I regret my brevity but sometimes moments are fleeting.

I am not religious. In fact I am quite strongly against religion. But the thoughtfulness behind this action absolutely overwhelmed me. I cherish this little cross. And it came with me to hospital and sat on my table next to me for those two weeks. It now sits at my bedside.

These moments of the kindness of strangers are just amazing. I will keep it close by, I think for the next 5 years. I.e. Until I find out the cancer is gone. Then I shall let it choose its next owner and pass on the luck it will have brought me.

Sometimes I feel like I’m in a movie. Life is constantly proving to me how crazy and remarkable it can be.

So no, I’m not religious, spiritual or superstitious, but I believe in people. People never cease to amaze me or make me feel special.