Operation

In early July 2005 the International Olympic Committee announced the city that was to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. The following day that same city suffered four terror attacks. The world's attention was on London for conflicting reasons. That same month John Coates' world was turned upside down when he received a simple text message containing news totally unconnected to that being played out on the world's stage. While struggling to come to terms with his Mother's medical diagnosis, old family issues previously thought forgotten and buried once again rise to the surface seeking for a resolution. After they are gently swept under the carpet yet again, the author discovers that a routine medical check-up of his own has greater consequences than at first thought. The subsequent events have an effect on his immediate family long after the 2012 Summer Olympics. John Coates shares his emotional roller-coaster journey of how cancer had a devastating impact on his family and friends, on how attempts to prepare for the worst did not go to plan and describes that when things couldn't go from bad to worse...they did. As if coping with a death in the family after a long illness isn't enough of a stressful situation, John's wife embarks on IVF treatment and they also decide to move house. Are they trying to overcome all challenges in life in one fell swoop? Dealing with life changing events in your own country and in your own language is more than enough for many people. It's therefore surprising that they didn't give up as many of the events take place in their adopted country of residence of Spain. John Coates takes the reader with him on his personal journey through a period of 18 months in his life. But he doesn't let us off lightly as occasional flashbacks and dark scenarios of his childhood puts the current events into context. Told with humour and sadness, out of the doom and gloom there is happiness ... but it doesn't come easy.