I am sitting in our newly painted kitchen and thinking how Jill will love it. The last couple of weeks seem to have flown. We woke up early last Tuesday morning and had showers by 6am. Neither of us had slept well and in nervous preparation for the day ahead we packed Jill’s case into the car for the short 5minute drive to the hospital. I’m not sure how Jill was feeling at that time but she kept saying I don’t have any alternative. We parked directly in front of the hospital entrance and I got Jill’s wheel chair, case and X-rays out. Then with Jill in her wheel chair, me carrying her case and the x-ray folder on her lap we pushed through the doors to the lift and up to the surgical department.
The nurse met us and took us down to a room with several empty beds and told Jill to undress and get into one of those lovely hospital gowns – except this one was nylon. She then proceeded to take blood for grouping and match, followed by blood pressure. Dr Horton Jill’s anaesthetist came in and spoke to Jill reassuring her that he had every thing under control; he was followed by the orthopaedic assistant who proceeded to make an arrow with texta colour on Jill’s left knee and made some comment about getting the correct knee replaced. By this time it was 8am and the phone rang re requesting Jill’s presence in the operating room. We headed out and down the passage into a pre operating room and the transfer between nurses took place making sure they got the correct patient. We had time for a last kiss and hug before she disappeared through the door.
Every one was saying how this is a standard procedure and every thing will go well. My thoughts and I am sure those of Jill were about the reaction of the MSA on this operation.
I left the hospital having been given a pep talk by the admitting nurse and the direct phone number for the Critical Care department where Jill was to spend a couple of days after the operation. Don’t ring until 11am was the last thing the nurse said.
I drove home to find the cabinet maker and his apprentice putting in the new kitchen cupboards. After a couple of calls to the kids I got my self a coffee and watched them assemble the cupboards. The next couple of hours dragged and at 10.30am I decided to ring, only to be told they had not received her yet, “ring back in an hour”. 11am came so I rang again, “no not here yet”. After two more calls I was told she had just arrived and I could come up to the ward. It was fantastic to see her face and her eyes showed me she was glad to see me. She had several IV drips connected as well as a blood drain and catheter inserted. I sat and watched her over the next couple of hours as she slipped in and out of sleep. Later in the afternoon they removed the bag of blood and began reinfusing her own blood back into her via the IV. The doctor had explained this and said it was much better where possible to do this. They checked her every 30 minutes taking, blood pressure, temperature and samples of blood. I stayed with her until 10.30 pm and then was told to I should go home. I didn’t sleep much.
Day 2 – another full day at the hospital – blood pressure very low and they showed some concern increasing the fluid intake via the IV. They had told me they would have Jill on her feet but the low blood pressure stopped that and Jill lay in bed for the day still sleepy from the drugs. The only thing she kept repeating was she wanted to go home. Late in the afternoon the BP had improved but she was still hooked up to the IV when I left at 11 pm.
Day 3 – I rang early to see what sort of night she had had only to be told she had been moved to the surgical ward as an emergency had come in around midnight. I went up and found her in a private room and she smiled as I came in – still wants to go home. The surgeon had been in and was very happy with the operation, the physio came in and had Jill stand out from the bed and explain a series of exercises they will have her do. Lunch was served and we had a visit from the manager of the rehabilitation ward and told us they were going to move Jill later in the afternoon. So at 3pm with me carrying the case etc Jill was transferred to room 11 Thomas Hogan ward. She was settled into the room and introduced to her nurse. The pain was still causing her a lot of discomfort so they kept adding the pain control medication. I left around 9.30pm.
Day 4 – A new day and Jill still has a fairly low Bp and is constipated from the morphine etc. They are pushing the fluids into her and we are hoping things will improve. Physio visited and watched Jill do her bed exercises which consist of several different leg exercises. Jill surprised her with her ability to do all the exercises, including bending at the knee and lifting her leg up from the bed. This was followed by getting Jill to stand up.
She stood and the physios wanted her to move her feet, but it was as if her feet were frozen to the floor. Jill was upset by this but the physio said they would try again tomorrow. After lunch I arrived back to a different wife – a smile and a beautiful bunch of flowers for her sister Jeannette and Gavin – Thanks Jeannette it made her day. We have been waiting to hear from Michael as he was having Laser surgery late in the afternoon to correct his stigmatism which has been with him from his early childhood.
Day 5 – the kitchen painting has been finished and I arrived at the hospital about 9am. Jill had finished breakfast and was waiting for a shower and a visit from the physio. While
she was in the shower – being transferred there aboard a “steady”, another box of flowers arrived from the kids. The room looks like a florist shop. While sitting with Jill my mobile rang and I quickly answered it as the hospital is a “NO PHONE ZONE” It was a very excited Michael. He had the results of his Laser eye operation he had late on Friday. He now has 20/20 vision and could hardly stop talking. He could read the street signs and lots of other things without his contact lenses or glasses. He spoke to Jill and I think they both had broad smile son their faces. More physio but still no movement. Late in the afternoon she had some more excitement with Chris and Nicole arriving to see her. Nicole sat close to Jill so that Jill could reach out and feel Nicole’s stomach and our future grandchild moving.
My apology for the delay in the Blog – I find I am at the hospital all day and getting home around 9pm . I will make an effort to catch up to date in the next few days
See you soon on the net
