We arrived in Oxford, New Zealand, after many setbacks in January 2026. Originally, we planned to spend the entire northern hemisphere winter with my daughter and her family on their farm—a new venture that has been a lifelong dream for both Rachael and Chris. But health setbacks got in the way.
In anticipation of our visit, I booked our flights for the end of November, but the universe had other plans.
John has neuroendocrine cancer, with a primary mass attached to his mesentery, too close to blood vessels for surgery. Fortunately, he remains stable with monthly somatostatin injections and excellent care from our compassionate oncologist. However, during the hottest summer on record in Galicia, where we live, John developed significant digestive issues, which made it nearly impossible for him to eat or digest many foods. We tried every diet we could, from FODMAP to gluten-free, but nothing worked. Then, during the sweltering week of August with temperatures reaching 44°C and wildfires raging nearby, John ended up in the hospital, gravely ill. It was a veritable nightmare.
After seven days of exemplary care, a variety of specialists discovered the cause: a poorly functioning gallbladder. The surgeon recommended surgery as the road to recovery. After a final approval from the surgeon, John was placed on the waiting list as “Prefiente 3.”
During a routine visit to his oncologist, she asked if we were still planning to go to New Zealand. We affirmed our plans for after John’s operation. Upon checking her system, she noticed that “Prefiente 3” would mean months of waiting, and so she gave John enough injections for our trip and encouraged us to book our flights.
Excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt. Within minutes, I had booked two tickets to New Zealand for November 25, just two weeks away, and we excitedly planned what to take. However, on November 18, John received a call informing him that his operation was scheduled for December 15. This left us with a dilemma: cancel three flights and navigate the hassle of refunds or cancel the surgery. Needless to say, the flights were cancelled and the hassle for refunds from an online booking agent began.
The planned operation was supposed to be keyhole surgery, with a ten-day recovery period, allowing us to possibly see our family for New Year’s. But that wasn’t meant to be. And all the while the hassle of refunds continued.
To be continued. Meanwhile why not sit back and enjoy Jacqueline’s horsey adventure books. Tap the link for more information and an opportunity to purchase.
Jacqueline P Vincent 
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