Australia Day Weekend
I had been rather dreading this weekend as it appeared that
it would be the height of boredom – no appointments, just hanging around in
hospital waiting for the final radiotherapy session on Tuesday.
However, life is full of surprises and I ended up having
a lovely time enjoying visits from family and friends.
On Sunday I had a particular hankering for eggs for
breakfast, but let’s just say that the Geelong hospital does not enjoy a good
reputation as far as hospital food and flexibility goes, so this wish could not
be accommodated.
Enter Jeanie (sister), Pete and Imogen. When they popped
in to visit at lunch-time, we located a wheelchair and headed out of doors. We
navigated uneven footpaths, held up traffic as the wheelchair bottomed out going
through intersections, but eventually arrived at a delightful sidewalk café where
we sat outside and I heartily ate every last crumb of my Eggs Benedict – pretty
impressive as my appetite had been a bit dodgy prior to this!
It was also most enjoyable with visits from other
Melbourne family members as well as Adrian, and also some wonderful time spent
with two couples from Portland.
Not the boring weekend I had anticipated.
Meanwhile Sonya reported that my young grand-daughter
Lauren has converted her doll’s high chair into a walking frame, “just like
Nanna”!!
Back to Portland
As Brian mentioned earlier, I was beside myself with
excitement on being told that I would be returning to Portland by road
ambulance at 3pm on Tuesday (yesterday). With my final radiotherapy session
under my belt, and a handing over of my case to the Warrnambool-based oncology
unit, I waited with much anticipation for the ambulance to arrive… and waited… and
waited…
Finally at 5:30pm it arrived – about one minute before the
meal trolley arrived with an evening meal. Oh well, I didn’t mind going hungry,
as long as I was heading home. Then it emerged that the ambulance was
transferring two patients, so we would be travelling to Portland via Hamilton,
lengthening the time spent lying on the trolley to 5 hours. This was not the
most comfortable ride I have ever had, and everything I had heard about
ambulances having truck suspension appeared only too true. Then there was the
matter of my poor fellow patient who had gut difficulties and broke wind
frequently as we negotiated the rough Western District roads. I was very happy
to finally arrive in Portland, tired, sore, thirsty and hungry but I was met
with some familiar friendly faces at the Portland hospital and they soon had me
settled and comfortable.
Today was spent talking to a variety of support people
who are looking at ways to enable me to return home. We will have a few
hand-rails etc to sort out so it will be easier for me to manage (on one leg).
I haven’t met yet with the Warrnambool team, to determine
the next regime of treatment. Perhaps I can just enjoy being close to home and
catching up with ‘the locals’. Certainly it is much easier for Brian to be back
home and to potter around catching up on the chores.
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