Where do I begin with this one?
All I can say is it’s brought home to me how much I do myself instead of getting my family to help. We are a family business after all. But when one person does the majority of the work, and that person becomes ill, well, it all goes a bit pear shaped.
Anyway, this tale of the life of a small business owner began on 27/9/24, when I started to feel a little unwell just before heading out for my part time job in a local primary. I soldiered on until I couldn’t anymore, got sent home and was at the urgent treatment centre by 8 pm, in pain and being sick. I’ll spare you too many yucky details, but it was the worst pain I’ve had aside from childbirth.
After treatment we were sent back home with instructions to return if things didn’t improve. Over the weekend, although the pain and sickness were under control I wasn’t improving, so on the first of October we got a last minute appointment with my GP.
It didn’t take her long to arrange a transfer to hospital, where I had treatment for sepsis – lots of antibiotics in one arm and bloods taken from the other. It transpires that I have gallstones (joy) and had perforated my gall bladder which had then got infected – I was poorly!
During this time, all you wonderful lot started shopping for Christmas. Our system works where I print all paperwork, find the items and relevant box to send them out, and my hubby packs the order as he’s very good at that. But with me out of action I quickly had to help my daughter learn how to send/find items etc, all via text message while feeling out of it. She’s done an outstanding job but I know not all the paperwork went in with your orders so I apologise for that.
I’m back home now, still on antibiotics but gaining strength every day. I’m now putting robust systems in place so that should I ever get ill again, or need time off for my operation, the business should run smoothly without me. Is your business able to keep trading without you?
Cari xx
