I am just back from seeing Mark and can report that all went well with the operation. He was trundled down to the theatre waiting area fairly promptly at about 3.30pm and I was allowed to wait with him for a little while. As I sat my eyes fell upon his chart which was an inscrutible list of numbers and drugs. I was suddenly struck by a wave of confusion as I saw the words THE PATIENT IS OF AFRO CARRIBEAN ORIGIN at the bottom of the chart, followed by instructions for drug doses. Slightly alarmed I found myself imagining all sorts of identity horrors and glanced at Mark (very definitely white Scottish) and at the chart, which unquestionably had his name at the top. It was only when I pored over it that I realised, with relief, that a medical line had been obscuring the word IF at the beginning of the sentence....
Just to keep me on my toes, when I returned for evening visiting a good three hours later Mark had still not been returned to the ward and no one seemed to know why... More rampant imaginings ensued on my part. In the end it was simply that the operation before his had taken much longer than anticipated and Mark's had been quick and straightforward.
There was talk today of him coming home on Tuesday so he is feeling altogether much more positive and, when I left, was putting goals in place for standing, showering and walking over the next 24/48 hours. These last few days have been quite a rollercoaster and we hope that, in the words of many an unexciting school report, he simply continues to makes 'good steady progress'.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
2 days on
I have just come back from visiting Mark. He is much more stable and the breathing problems and infection appear to be under control. He has been very tired and lacking in energy since Tuesday' s episode but managed to stand today for the first time. He is due to have an operation tomorrow at 3.30pm which is causing him some anxiety-he doesn't have a happy record as far as these things go. It is to fit a stent into his kidney (I thought he already had one, such is the limitation of my medical understanding, apparently that was just a tube (?)...) He is also a bit fed up and beginning to feel that he'll never escape from the bed and the ward but hopefully if he continues to improve in the same way his 'release' will become a more tangible prospect. He is anxious for me to pass on his thanks for texts etc. He is finding it difficult to respond at the moment- the focus and dexterity required is quite demanding.
If I can tear Martha away from Glee she will now put up some photos of the weekend so watch this space..!
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Morning Call
In the midst of the usual morning mayhem in our house I received a phone call today from the staff nurse asking if I would come into the ward. He said that Mark had had a very difficult night and that I didn't need to rush, but should come as soon as I could. . . Unsure exactly what this meant, or what to expect I pressed on with packed lunches, calls to work, school buses and traffic and arrived about 45 minutes later to comparative calm on W 31.
It seems that Mark had indeed been in some trouble. His temperature had spiked up again and his heart rate was very high. He had been given extra fluid to help the problem with the kidneys ( a successful approach) but that had led to an excess going into his lungs which was making his breathing very laboured and wheezy.
By the time I arrived the immediate crisis was over and the problems were largely under control. I stayed until late afternoon as Mark slept and people quietly drifted in and out measuring, writing and examining. I was reassured that 'Things are going in the right direction again,' although clearly he is still vulnerable.
On a slightly cheerier note all of us managed to make it to the big house for the Golden Wedding celebration and, although painfully aware of Mark's absence, a good time was had by all. The girls greeted me with stories of Saturday afternoon football and rounders games and were clearly delighted to be with their larger family again. Joel was slightly put out that there wasn't a swimming pool (as there had been in 'the other holiday house') but managed to take some comfort from eating large amounts of sticky toffee pudding...
Hoping here for a little less drama over the coming days. Thanks as ever for visiting the blog.
It seems that Mark had indeed been in some trouble. His temperature had spiked up again and his heart rate was very high. He had been given extra fluid to help the problem with the kidneys ( a successful approach) but that had led to an excess going into his lungs which was making his breathing very laboured and wheezy.
By the time I arrived the immediate crisis was over and the problems were largely under control. I stayed until late afternoon as Mark slept and people quietly drifted in and out measuring, writing and examining. I was reassured that 'Things are going in the right direction again,' although clearly he is still vulnerable.
On a slightly cheerier note all of us managed to make it to the big house for the Golden Wedding celebration and, although painfully aware of Mark's absence, a good time was had by all. The girls greeted me with stories of Saturday afternoon football and rounders games and were clearly delighted to be with their larger family again. Joel was slightly put out that there wasn't a swimming pool (as there had been in 'the other holiday house') but managed to take some comfort from eating large amounts of sticky toffee pudding...
Hoping here for a little less drama over the coming days. Thanks as ever for visiting the blog.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Returning to Ward 31
Firstly, sorry that I'm a bit behind with this. The last couple of days have been quite full on. As the title indicates Mark is back in hospital with some kind of infection, same ward, same staff, same patient in one case, different bed. He had felt that something was brewing for a few days and we went to see the G.P earlier in the week, but as there was nothing obvious and no rise in temperature she didn't recommend any action.
On Thursday morning, from about 5 a.m Mark was very restless and confused. Also being quite confused at that time in the morning, I wasn't very pro active, but after an hour or so I took his temperature, which at that point was ok. We continued with the morning school/work routines, although Mark was continuing to be very confused which was becoming worrying. He was then sick and the next temperature reading was 39.5. At this point I opted for the local GPs, who know Marks case well, and, once I'd managed to get through, the doctor appeared quite promptly. He decided that hospitalisation was necessary and an ambulance duly appeared which caused a little curtain twitching in our quiet street. Once he was in, the temperature came down and he was put on various drugs and drips. I felt relieved that he was in good hands and could only sit and ponder the limitation of my own instincts and inadequate fumblings with a Boots thermometer.
The usual investigations are ongoing as to the exact nature of the infection but it appears to be in the blood and the kidneys. Yesterday he had a small operation to put in a stent. This appears to have been successful although, as is typical with Mark's misfortune with pain relief, the anaesthetist didn't get it quite right and he was struggling during the latter part of the procedure.
It is rather sad timing for all the Hallidays as it is Mark's parents' Golden Wedding celebration this weekend and all the brothers and families are over in a big house (which Mark booked) near the lakes. The girls have gone up and I will do an overnight with Joel after visiting this afternoon, but Mark's absence will be keenly felt, most of all by him.
Thank you for your interest and support; I will try my best to keep you updated.
Mary
On Thursday morning, from about 5 a.m Mark was very restless and confused. Also being quite confused at that time in the morning, I wasn't very pro active, but after an hour or so I took his temperature, which at that point was ok. We continued with the morning school/work routines, although Mark was continuing to be very confused which was becoming worrying. He was then sick and the next temperature reading was 39.5. At this point I opted for the local GPs, who know Marks case well, and, once I'd managed to get through, the doctor appeared quite promptly. He decided that hospitalisation was necessary and an ambulance duly appeared which caused a little curtain twitching in our quiet street. Once he was in, the temperature came down and he was put on various drugs and drips. I felt relieved that he was in good hands and could only sit and ponder the limitation of my own instincts and inadequate fumblings with a Boots thermometer.
The usual investigations are ongoing as to the exact nature of the infection but it appears to be in the blood and the kidneys. Yesterday he had a small operation to put in a stent. This appears to have been successful although, as is typical with Mark's misfortune with pain relief, the anaesthetist didn't get it quite right and he was struggling during the latter part of the procedure.
It is rather sad timing for all the Hallidays as it is Mark's parents' Golden Wedding celebration this weekend and all the brothers and families are over in a big house (which Mark booked) near the lakes. The girls have gone up and I will do an overnight with Joel after visiting this afternoon, but Mark's absence will be keenly felt, most of all by him.
Thank you for your interest and support; I will try my best to keep you updated.
Mary
Monday, 12 April 2010
Well, happily I am still infection free. My health has been good since leaving hospital and I have been able to get out and about. It's not all plain sailing, however. My consultant confirmed that the scan showed deterioration. There are more tumours in my lungs and a new one on my sternum, which is painful and slightly raised. The ones in my pelvis are also larger. For this reason, he is voting to discontinue all treatement - certainly for now and probably for good, unless I turn up suddenly incredibly improved. It is difficult news, to be honest. At least when you are having treatment you feel that you are doing something that might work! We now have a sense of just waiting for things to get worse.
To raise stress levels further, my school has just undergone an Ofsted inspection. I decided with the Governors that it was best if I didn't go in. I have been off since the end of January and have therefore lost touch with the new initiatives that have been introduced. It was very difficult! I had to more or less strap myself to the sofa. We were judged to be a 'Good' school with some 'Outstanding' features. It was what we were all hoping for and so it is relief all round.
Lastly, Mary and I enjoyed a fantastic couple of days in a luxury hotel, as my brother Phil and his wife Rosemary were over to look after our children. It was a great time and we returned feeling much more relaxed. Fantastic!
I will leave you with a couple of poems that I have written in the past month. Thanks again for visiting the blog:
Sorting
Down to counting months,
we sort through my wardrobe.
I try to call judgment from the bed
on running shoes, tracksuit,
redundant items
bought for a healthy body.
They hover above the charity sack
wide beside us
before being laid back
in their place.
Dropping in a few token tops,
a shirt too baggy for my shrunken frame,
we make space for the clothes you’ve just bought me-
that jumper for next year’s winter,
a shirt for the summer holiday we are planning.
Ward 31
Exhibited in a ward,
mounted on a mattress.
His rack of ribs shrouded
in a light blue gown.
Half words
carried on a draught of breath
fall
out
between dropped-marble-tin coughs.
A son leans in to catch,
disentangling meaning from
the rambling bramble-bind
of pain relief.
His face remains
a mosaic mask
as a nurse relates loudly
the non-events of the day.
I look, as the one-time
son, lover, husband,
grafter, manager, coper,
disappears behind
a slowly-drawn curtain.
To raise stress levels further, my school has just undergone an Ofsted inspection. I decided with the Governors that it was best if I didn't go in. I have been off since the end of January and have therefore lost touch with the new initiatives that have been introduced. It was very difficult! I had to more or less strap myself to the sofa. We were judged to be a 'Good' school with some 'Outstanding' features. It was what we were all hoping for and so it is relief all round.
Lastly, Mary and I enjoyed a fantastic couple of days in a luxury hotel, as my brother Phil and his wife Rosemary were over to look after our children. It was a great time and we returned feeling much more relaxed. Fantastic!
I will leave you with a couple of poems that I have written in the past month. Thanks again for visiting the blog:
Sorting
Down to counting months,
we sort through my wardrobe.
I try to call judgment from the bed
on running shoes, tracksuit,
redundant items
bought for a healthy body.
They hover above the charity sack
wide beside us
before being laid back
in their place.
Dropping in a few token tops,
a shirt too baggy for my shrunken frame,
we make space for the clothes you’ve just bought me-
that jumper for next year’s winter,
a shirt for the summer holiday we are planning.
Ward 31
Exhibited in a ward,
mounted on a mattress.
His rack of ribs shrouded
in a light blue gown.
Half words
carried on a draught of breath
fall
out
between dropped-marble-tin coughs.
A son leans in to catch,
disentangling meaning from
the rambling bramble-bind
of pain relief.
His face remains
a mosaic mask
as a nurse relates loudly
the non-events of the day.
I look, as the one-time
son, lover, husband,
grafter, manager, coper,
disappears behind
a slowly-drawn curtain.
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