Surgery was early hours of Sunday morning. Dave got through the rest of the night with the help of morphine. The surgeon arrived about 8.30am that morning to talk with us and to explain how very seriously ill Dave had been and how serious the operation was, it was a bit scary for me. Dave slept for most of Sunday with regular visits from various nurses and doctors throughout the day, he also got regular morphine injections and one of his Four bags changed for a full one, this seemed to happen every hour or so. The day passed full of visitors for him, starting as always with Steve and Irene-Maria, although Dave was unaware of most :O) I had a very disturbed night looking after poor Dave who had a lot of pain and felt very sick. No sleep at all.
Monday:
The following Day was a Monday and Dave’s improvement was evident to all. At six am the nurses would arrive to take blood. The surgeon arrived about 8.30 am to examine Dave’s tummy and explain all that was going on. He was amazed to see Dave sitting up and looking so healthy and happy. He kept saying “How you so well?” The blood results were also very good; the jaundice was disappearing faster than the surgeon could believe.
Later that morning Steve and Irene-Maria arrived and prayed with us, Steve explained that he had put Dave on a prayer chain (along with Poo) also the church were going to hold a prayer time for Dave, and have done so ever since. Joan (Dave’s sister) phoned to tell us that Dave has been put on their prayer chain and the Church body were also praying for him. Sunday passed with lots of food and drink for me, poor Dave was not allowed to eat at all.
We had visitor after visitor all that day, many Church family who prayed for us, but at the end of Monday Dave and I were exhausted. We were both ready for sleep. I had not slept of course since going to Hospital Friday.
Tuesday:
As usual the nurses woke us at 6 am for blood etc. and at about 8.30 the surgeon arrived to say that Dave’s jaundice had gone and his temperature was back to normal, again he kept saying how amazed he was at Dave’s recovery rate, impossible but it is true. He told us not so many visitors today as Dave must keep walking around the room to stop blood clots. He had so many drains and tubes that he wore only a very short hospital gown that done up badly at the back! What a sight he was lol. The surgeon removed the dressing to look at the wound. “Fantastic” I took a quick shot
he told Dave how pleased he was with his recover and that the ‘weeks’ may turn to days in the hospital” Dave immediately jumped in to say could he go to casa tomorrow. The surgeon said with a shrug of his shoulders “Maybe, you have a miraculous recovery rate, maybe indeed” He also said that today you have no visitors so you can walk around room. We said OK.
When Steve and Irene Maria arrived with all the goodies (it always included a plate of cakes and chocolates, and a yogurt.) We asked them to let the Church know how very grateful we were to them but we have been told by the doctor that we were to have no visitors until we returned home. This Steve did and apart from Jeanette and Brian and
Liz the day was visitor free.
It was also my 64th Birthday :O). Only Jay knew this and she brought a card and present of sweets. A bag of liquorish allsorts (Dave’s favourite) so I gave them to him for when he got better. A chunky kit Kat- a bag of liquorish fruit sweets, and a very miniature carrier bag that held a musical ‘happy birthday’ tune.
Jeanette had gone to our post box and brought all my birthday cards up to me. You can see them in the background on the bed photo. Poor Dave only had two get well
cards! (He has now got five: O) The Church brought him a lovely one and all signed it with well wishes. (That was his first)
Later that morning Ernie came up with a beautiful birthday card with a message that It made me cry. It said
He also shocked us by telling us that Mary had been discharged, we were all confused as one minute she had surgery booked to unblock or replace the large artery that they could not manage to unblock before, and now suddenly she was going home!
I popped down to see Mary and she was very worried and not at all happy at being suddenly released like that. I do not think that Ernie could understand why or make him self understood. We were indeed blessed that our surgeon spoke perfect English with a little struggle.
After seeing Mary and Ernie off with the help of Liz I returned to my room to spend the rest of the day with Dave.
We spent a very quite afternoon with my help taking a slow walk down the corridors and around our room. What a funny site we must have made, I was wheeling one of his bag holder and his pee pee bag at the same time trying to hold his gown together and Dave was holding the other wheelie thing with a bag attached and his drainage bag whilst at the same time trying to get me to guide his catheter towards where it came from!!!! I kept lagging behind to clench his robe together! He said he would rather show off his bum than have his catheter pulled!!!!
We got a very early night, I had a sound sleep but Dave evidently did not. I was very upset at six when the nurse woke us to find that Dave had got out and into the armchair as he was in pain and then could not get back to bed. He did not wake me to help. I was so upset that I had slept through it.
Wednesday:
After the usual blood etc Steve and Irene-Maria arrived with goodies and then Jeanette and Brian with a salad and potato in jacket, Liz came later with sandwiches and a thermos, I had enough food to last me for ever. So different from my ten day stay in Vega Baja hospital where I had NO visitors at all, no money no food and no bed or bed clothing for me! A room was shared between two families, the other bed was occupied by an elderly man who looked and sounded as though he was 102 years old! About ten members of his family were there at any one time and as with most Spanish they were extremely loud with the Spanish radio blaring full blast.
Oooh nasty memories, back to today :O)
In this room I had a beautiful bed with a pillow supplied with crisp white sheets and a lovely blue velvety blanket, bliss! My bed folds away and becomes the wall to the large shelve.
I will take you on a quick tour of the room (although for some reason my mobile phone camera would only take sort of close up’s, I stood as far away as possible yet when I put the camera up it zoomed in, I could not show you how big the room was because of this.
This is the shower room (again it was quite large with shelving up inside.)
other photos.
This was a large TV (only Spanish of course!)
bed has been tucked away
The surgeon arrived for his visit much later than usual, He was very pleased with Dave and said a few more days, maybe three or four. Dave said he would be happier at home and heal much quicker. The surgeon asked if he was unhappy with the hospital, Dave assured him that we were delighted with everything but home is home.
Eventually he said lets see how you manage with this out, he pointed to the catheter. After he left the nurse came in within minutes to remove it. I said to Dave I was taking a little walk and left them to it. When I came back he had NO tubes of any kind. All gone!
I was amazed, Dave said “I am free at last” not long after they brought him his first proper meal
I ate my wonderful salad and warm potato. It was simple delicious.
The surgeon came back to speak to Dave, he once again asked if he was sure about going home, it has been a very short visit. Dave assured him he would be fine. He shook Dave’s hand and said come back if you are feeling unwell at all, if you vomit or have pain. Dave said yes and he was gone with a smile and a ‘wonderful’
Once the forms were all filled in and the surgeon returned to check Dave out he said OK you can go but you are very welcome to stay a few more days, Dave thanked him and said he would be happier at home. We phoned for a lift and Jeanette and Brian arrived to take us home.
The doggies were delighted to see us, we were home! Over the next two days our home was like Piccadilly Circus, the phone never stopped ringing, I think every member of our family as well as every member of our Church family phoned. The visitors were also none Stop. Every neighbour and friend visited Dave along with members of our Church.
This carried on for Thursday and Friday until we pulled down the blinds and turned the camera on the TV to monitor the visitors.
Saturday went by with hardly any visitors at all.
Sunday I decided to go to Church on my own as Dave was not up to it. I welcomed everyone in and stayed by the door as usual for 15 minutes after the service started to welcome late comers in. I had just sat down when I heard the door go, I decided to leave them to come in alone as it would be less disruption. I noticed someone walking down to the front and taking the platform, I thought it looked a lot like Dave. Suddenly he turned to face the front and to everyone’s amazement it was Dave. He asked Steve if he could say a few words. Steve was delighted to see him and said please.
Dave thanked every one for their prayers and said the surgeon had told Tina and me that I was very seriously ill and I had emergency surgery that ended with dialysis and the ICU ward and three days later I was walking from the hospital! God is good. He was so excited he was almost jumping!
We did not stay after the service as someone gave Dave a big hug and almost had him screaming in tears!
The rest you know. Thank you all for your well wishes and love.
Tina and Dave x
