Long post for those interested. :-) I got to Lismore hospital less than an hour after mum and dad were admitted. They have adjoining beds in a ward of four, which is great for them. While they cant really see each other when they are in bed because they cant turn their heads, they can at least hear each other - well, they can when mum puts her hearing aid in..... That was why the move was so sudden, the hospital doesnt often get two beds together in the right ward. The place could do with some maintenance but there is no faulting the staff I saw, not enough of them of course but very kind and patient. They got mum up into a chair for dinner, which took two staff and me, and she was glad to be sitting up, but when she started eating she leaned her head too far forward and got a horrendously bad headache from stressing the neck fracture. She went quite white. When she started to recover I chopped up the food for her and helped her. She doesnt need a lot of actual medical attention now, just time to heal and some rehab. Dad was trying to be cheerful but hes clearly very unhappy with his condition. His hands are braced so the fingers dont curl in and he was getting a bit confused and thinking he was holding something. He was also dozing on and off and I think he was dreaming and carrying the dreams into waking, the way one does. He says the pain isnt too bad when he lies still, but its agony when they move him, which of course they have to do. His breathing is also somewhat labored. Both of them are off the drips and on oral pain relief, which is a good sign and great progress after just 10 days. Mum is still getting some residual nightmares and hallucinations but for the elderly it can take a couple of weeks for the stuff to leave the brain. She is not as out of it as Colin says she was before and is starting to retain the things the ketamine was making her forget. Colin is fantastic with them, supporting dad and teasing mum. Hes been shaving dad and feeding him, and says its been very healing for him emotionally. Its certainly bringing out a nurturing side which is pleasing to see. It will be good to take some of the burden off him so he can get a bit of a break. I left the hospital yesterday at 7pm since my body is on US time and I needed to sleep. Colin was waiting to talk to dads new doctors. Of course I woke very early but thats OK, Ill adjust. :-)
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 19:48:01 +0000
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