Wednesday 2 – Wednesday 9 November
The air taxi had been booked for five days. Mum was very very sick and we were wondering if she would make the five days to get to Melbourne. It is just that it all came at the wrong time. It was Friday when the decision was made to send her to a specialist in Melbourne but the specialist didn't work weekends and then there was the Melbourne Cup on the following Tuesday so most of the state were taking a long long weekend and taking the Monday off as well. Once again the specialist was no exception so the earliest she could get in to see him was the Wednesday. An appointment was booked for 12.15 and the air ambulance arranged to pick her up and deliver her there. It sounds so simple doesn't it. But that is not the way it went.
Air taxi
Office chair
Mobile phone in return for wheelchair
Orderly returns wheel chair.
Some thoughts and memories of a week at the royal Melbourne hospital
How like a small child parents become when they are unwell. Mum has to eat and drink so she will be strong enough and fit enough to have her procedure done in Melbourne when we go on Wednesday.
Sitting in the cafeteria for lunch break and having a coffee and doing a bit of people watching. Have noticed that big people eat like big people, what would be three or four mouthfuls for me is one for them. They seem to roll it around in their mouths one two three times then swallow. What happened to chew. Huge plates of food disappear in a matter of minutes. No it wasn’t only big people that had huge meals. Had a lovely young girl sitting at the table next to me dressed in trendy tight clothes hair and face immaculate but she smelt like a garbage truck.
Mum has a window bed and the view of the Melbourne skyline is beautiful especially at night when the night lights come on. Also have a view of Flemington rd, trams, life, colourful umbrellas on a rainy day, demolished remains of the old dental hospital.
My lunches consisted of mums hospital meals she would eat a bite or two and I would have the rest. Until she started getting the renal meals, then I started buying my own meals as the renal meals were inedible.
Staying at David’s in Thornbury. He picks me up when I call in the evening and drops me off at 7 am on his way to work. He goes past the hospital in the mornings to go to work but he turns down Gratton st and drops me off. Think he likes telling people that he goes out of his way to drop me off in the morning. Lol. Took David to dinner at an Indian restaurant to say thanks.
Disabled toilets near the lifts have a small sign on the door. When red dot is visible do not open. When green dot is visible toilet is unoccupied. I went to use the toilet one day and half the red dot and half the green dot was showing. Stood there for a couple of minutes not knowing what to do. There were no instructions for that one. Eventually I found another toilet and decided to let someone else work that one out.
Everyone coming to visit. Mum loved seeing everyone. I felt very emotional when Jarrod came. Guess that is because he is the one that is still at home.
My cousin Len called and asked how I was and asked me if I was coping. Made me feel weepy that someone thought of me. I am tired and finding it hard to manage. Emotionally exhausted.
Smokers are the messiest dirtiest people in the world. Outside the hospital there are cigarette butts everywhere as well as empty coffee cups and other discarded rubbish from where the smokers sit on a low wall. On a Friday and Saturday night when the emergency department is at it’s busiest the mess is the worst. There are rubbish bins but guess that is too much like hard work to walk over and use them. Maybe they should have roving rubbish bins. One day I walked up to mums bed and looked down. There was a cigeratte butt on the floor by the bed. Guess it must have stuck to the bottom of my shoe. Don’t tell me their habit only affects them. On a wet day they will stay within the no smoking zone and puff away. No regard for other people who have to use the entrance as well. I was standing in a corner away from everyone getting a bit of sun and fresh air and catching up on my text messages when a woman stood next to me and lit up. Thanks you lady just what I wanted. The air fouled by your habit.
Talking on my mobile while walking down the stairs from level three. Came to a sudden halt as something was blocking my way. There were several rubbish bins in my way. I had walked down into the basement. Oops
Sitting in my usual spot in the Zouki café trying to do a sudoko but my mind not on it. Must have dozed off as I realised that someone had plonked themselves down next to me. It was my sister come in to see mum but the ward was in lunch sleep mode. How embarrassing. Hope I wasn’t dribbling or sitting there with my mouth open.
Ninjabread men
Only mum booked to return in ambulance they let me on as well. Said I might have to get off if they had to pick someone else up. I can understand that and am ok with that.
Return trip redirected to Alfred hospital
Oops I might have to find my own way already.
False alarm and the patient cancelled their trip, I can keep my seat on the ambulance.
Laid on stretcher in back and dozed most of the way from Bendigo. Could see the storm clouds and there were two bright blue eyes in the clouds.
Sat in seat to Bendigo
Laid in stretcher to Robinvale had sleep ambulance guys dozed.
Got in around 6 pm, headachy by time I got home. Mum didn’t like the mattress in ambulance I didn’t mind it. She was padded out with pillows as well and Melissa said she should feel like she was travelling on a cloud. Jarrod was the other ambo from Bendigo and they were both lovely.
We left last Wednesday and returned on Wednesday. It has been a long week. I’m mentally worn out and physically not in good shape. Doing too little for too long has left me tired and weary I need to do some physical work to get the body and mind working again
