TWO-time cancer survivor, Petula Long had been hoping to return home to comfort and familiarity on Monday this week after almost two weeks in hospital.

Instead the mother of four was greeted with the news that her water supply had been affected as a result of the NI Water industrial action. Yesterday, the industrial dispute at NI Water was suspended with unions recommending the latest offer to their members.

The Kesh woman had spent time in South West Acute Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit after an operation to help her beat cancer for the second time ran into complications.

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter on Tuesday this week as she waited in the hope that her water supply would be restored that evening, Petula said the disruption was making her post-op recovery particularly difficult.

“I was very upset when I came home yesterday.

“I was in hospital since January 8 and came home yesterday to no water supply, with no warning beforehand. It was very unsettling.

“I was left wondering: ‘How am I going to wash? How can I fill the kettle?’ “All those simple things would make life that bit easier for me at the moment.

“My wound still has to be washed and cleaned and I can’t go over to someone else’s house for a shower because I am housebound at the moment.

“Bringing water here is grand but how can you shower with cold water?

“That one hot shower in the morning would make all the difference, but what can you do?” Her eldest daughter, Ashling has returned from Manchester to care for her mother while she is on the road to recovery.

“It’s not just me in the house,” Petula explains, “There is Ash, my son Graham who is a mechanic, Tina who is 12 and Denver who is nine.

“Imagine Graham coming home from a day’s work as a mechanic -- he needs a shower too.

“The children are trying so hard to help out in any way they can for me, they are being so good.”