Emma Hannigan
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From ITV to ICU

8/19/2017

13 Comments

 
Hi folks!
What a week it's been! (Now I sound like #AlanCarr except I'm not as funny!) 
I was on #Elaine with my lovely friend and the panel of fab ladies on TV3 on Tuesday. 
Then on Wednesday my oncologist agreed to allow me have the chemotherapy pump removed for a couple of days so I could fly to London. There, I had the massive honour of being on #Lorraine on #ITV 
I cannot tell you how excited I was. 
It was my first big slot on UK TV and a massive opportunity for me. As it turned out Lorraine wasn't there as she's on holiday, but #ChristineLampard was sitting in. 
It was so interesting to see ITV and how they do things. All the walls are covered with photos of their stars from #PhilipSchofield and #HollyWilloughby to #AntandDec 
I had a quick chat with the producer and #DrHilaryJones as he was coming on the show with me. Then it was air time! 
I loved every minute and it seemed to go by in a flash. I hope UK viewers enjoyed it. 
Lots of people messaged me via my website (www.emmahannigan.com) afterwards to say it helped them. So I'm delighted they know that it's possible to live with and through cancer.
AND 'All To Live For' shot up on Amazon to number 1! Very exciting and thank you to everyone who bought it!
Unfortunately all the excitement meant I've ended up in hospital with exhaustion and a chest infection and feeling pretty rough (and that's putting it mildly). My vitals weren't good and I was officially in bad shape. There's a list that runs from 1 - 10. 1 being mild 10 being an ICU job. I was at 10.
But you might've guessed that I don't believe in doing things by half measures. So I went all out with a temperature of 40.6/105, delirious, unable to walk, sweating buckets, hallucinating & talking gibberish (nothing new there really). 
My poor hubby had to think fast and luckily he did and got me to hospital immediately  or things might have been very different.
 As usual the amazing team I have minding me are nursing me back to health. It's my body's way of telling me loudly that I am not ready to tear about. That I need to stay put and let this chemotherapy do it's job. That I need to be patient for a while longer.
So my message to my body: I hear you - loud & clear! Please don't frighten me like this again. 
​I'm going to behave. I'll sit and write and do small walks with Herbie and that's it.
To the nurses who are minding me, feel free to hit me over the head with a chair. I'll take it.   
On the up side, I got breakfast in bed this morning and I'll be having it again tomorrow!!
Have a great weekend one and all 
Love and light
Emma xxx
13 Comments

Ireland AM interview

8/12/2017

0 Comments

 
Hello there!
I was honoured to be on #IrelandAM yesterday morning. We chatted about my new book 'All To Live For' and about cancer in general. I don't look the way I usually do right now. As you will see I'm blown up like a balloon and I'm sporting a wig!
My energy levels are very low so I'm exhausted today. But I am in the lucky position of having a public profile so I thought I should use it to show people that the effects of cancer treatment are transient.
I'll look like me again soon. I'll sound like me again soon. But most importantly I'll feel like me again soon. 
I'd love the interview to give hope. If one person watches it and goes away feeling they can beat their cancer and stamp it into the ground, then I'll be thrilled. 
The link is attached below. (If the link doesn't go through when you click on it, please do copy and then paste it into your search bar)
Have a great weekend one and all - I know someone who is already doing that! Tom-Puss is having a duvet day. 😂
Love and light
Emma 💗

https://www.tv3.ie/3player/show/809/130346/0/Ireland-AM






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Thank you!

8/8/2017

2 Comments

 
Hi everyone,
As usual, I am blown away by the kindness you have all shown me. 
I've had so many beautiful emails, letters, Facebook and Twitter comments, not forgetting the ones on here for my previous posts. 
My fingers are still 'fizzy' from the radiotherapy, so forgive me if I haven't answered you. 
But I have read each one and cherished each word. Thank you for being SO amazing. 
Love and light is shining like a beam from my smile today. Emma xxx
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2 Comments

Fresh air!

8/7/2017

3 Comments

 
Hello folks!

​This morning I made it out for a walk with Mum and Herbie! I cannot tell you how incredible it felt to be out in the air and able to enjoy the beauty of Powerscourt river walk again. 
I'm very bloated as you can see, but I'm getting better each day. Slowly and steadily I'm making progress. This time last month I was in hideous pain and the tumours were thriving. Today, they are shrinking and I'm on the mend. 
If you're battling cancer like I am, keep hope alive. Don't loose faith in your ability to bounce back. If I can do it, so can you. 
I have to thank you all again, my precious readers, for all the astonishing support you are still sending in my direction. Messages, cards, prayers, emails and candles being lit all over the place, you've been wonderful. You kept me afloat when I needed it most (that rhymes🤣). I have never underestimated the power of positive thinking but this last month has shown me that it has a very real physical effect. So anyone who is currently undergoing treatment, I send you love and light and I hope that you are going in the right direction like I am. 
I'm off to watch Beauty and the Beast with my daughter! I'm so excited, I've been waiting for months to watch it. Have a great bank holiday! 
Love and light 
Emma 
3 Comments

All To Live For

8/4/2017

4 Comments

 
​Greetings one and all!
I am so proud to present my latest book 'All To Live For.' It's out in Ireland now and in the UK and world wide next week. 
It's my updated memoir and the only non-fiction work I've done to date.
It's called 'All To Live For' as I feel the title kind of sums me up! 
For those of you who have read my original memoir 'Talk to the Headscarf' this book contains that same material to start off with. My publishers and I came to the decision that it would be a shame to loose all the original material as there are so many people who haven't read it yet.
Besides, I'd only had cancer six times at that point (so last year), so I wanted to update the story. But, if you recognise the first part of the book, you're not going insane, I simply wanted to make sure that any newbies were there with me from the start before I brought everybody up to the present day! 
As I added the last four diagnoses and the life that I've led during that time I was blown away (in a good way) by how much cancer treatments have advanced. 
I am so anxious that you all know that this isn't a misery memoir! 
When I was diagnosed with cancer for the first time I searched for a book written with positivity by an ordinary person who I could relate to. Everything I picked up scared the living daylights out of me. Either they were too medically based and I couldn't understand them or else they emanated negativity. I can appreciate that cancer isn't fun. I know it's damn scary to receive a diagnosis but so many books left me feeling as I were doomed from the start. 
So I promise you that 'All To Live For,' won't depress you! There are parts where I shed a tear or two, but for the most part, I laughed out loud more often as I wrote this book than any other! I hope the only darkness you'll find is my often left-of-centre humour. 
I've also added a section at the back with some tips and hints that have helped me along the way. Those peer-to-peer snippets of advice that might get you through a moment of frustration or angst. 
I still don't have any medical training, I didn't manage to fit in the medical school and oncology exams I'm afraid... I still can't offer you any cures for cancer, I wish I could. But what I am presenting is my story in words that I hope will resonate with others. 
Nobody going through cancer should feel as if they are alone. 
When my books hit the shelves I'm usually on TV and radio chatting and promoting. Unfortunately I'm too weak to do that right now. But as soon as I build a bit of strength - which is returning each day, I'll be back to annoy you all! 
But for now, if you manage to pick up a copy of 'All To Live For,' I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. 
Love and light
Emma
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