On the mend

So, after another day when we were fairly frazzled yesterday, John is finally on the mend and there is a rumour of discharging him from hospital shortly.

John was particularly upset again yesterday in the ward of ‘all hell let loose’, where the staff had failed to offer a tranquiliser, despite my confidence that it was now on his drug list following on from the pharmacy phone call the previous day.

I wondered what to do. How to get the staff to take his mental health seriously? I really didn’t know what the best thing to do was.

Fortunately, we have two rather helpful sons on hand. Both Paul and Michael visited yesterday. Michael had a quiet word with the nurse in charge of John’s care; Paul had a word, too. If nothing else, surely they could move him to a quieter part of the ward or even take him to another ward?

Within half an hour they had located another, quieter ward and John was on the move. Thank the Lord for that!! He’s now ensconced in a diabetic ward, where the beds are spaced out, it is very quiet and the nursing staff seem, for the most part, to be more numerous, attentive and kind.

I was pleased that John seemed to have had a better night and not so bad this morning. Although I could tell that he was still very anxious. He had a visit from the Chaplain this morning which helped a bit, but still, it seemed that the tranquilisers weren’t doing their bit.

I phoned him at lunchtime, just as the nurse was giving him his lunchtime tablets. We asked the question about the important little pill. “You are not written up for it John,” said the nurse. Oh crikey – here we go again.

When I got there this afternoon that was my first priority to ask about it. It transpires that it was on the list but as a requested item. In other words, if John asks he can have it. Fortunately, now that he is a bit better he has the capacity to ask, so he’s asking. Fingers crossed his anxiety will abate a bit overnight.

On the medical front, the news is that the markers in the blood samples are showing a significant decrease in infection levels and the kidneys seem to have sorted themselves out. The doctor instructed that the IV antibiotic be ceased as of lunchtime, and replaced with an oral tablet instead and see how he goes overnight. Blood tests tomorrow will tell us whether he can come home in the afternoon or not. I am very hopeful.

Hope. That’s the ticket, isn’t it?

In the meantime, we are very grateful for everyone’s good wishes, healing thoughts and prayers – it means such a lot to us and helps a great deal. From my Goddaughter, Lizzie, offering home communion through to a lush bag of chocolates arriving from Sue and Chris today, it is so wonderful to know people are rooting for us. Thank the Lord.

Take care everyone. God bless.