Kim has slept for about 2 hrs. she wakes with the help of a gentle rub of her shoulder and the waft of dinner. Looking a bit better for the rest, she tucked into her chicken dippers and chips. She really enjoyed eating something that had not been in a heated trolley for about 30 mins.
As she is finishing her dinner, Shell is running her a bath, the first bath in almost 2 months it. The isolation room only had a shower. Kim slipped into it, not to be seen for the next 20 mins. She really enjoyed it, but then came the drying and creaming. Cue Shell disappear into the bed room with a box of medical gloves and the tub of cream. Then hearing Kim going “ohh, that cold.”
I never creamed Kim after bathing as it was an all over covering, and there is some things a bloke in late twenties should not do to a teenage girl. And this is one of them, due to it being embarrassing enough standing naked in front of her mum let alone me.
Just as they were finishing, Amy* one of Kim's mates turned up. When she find out kim is having cream rubbed in, makes a B line to the bedroom door and starts joking about it should be done by a celebrity that is the heartthrob of the time**
Kim is Laughing at Amy. As most of us do when she is in funny mode. Accidental double entendre, getting the best laughs. God it's nice to see Kim laughing & joking with her life long friend.
The question is how long is this friendship going to carry on.
*Amy, Same age as kim and has a larger then life personally, making her a mood lifter.
**I Can't for the life of me remember who Amy said!
Coming home for christmas
Its the morning of Kim christmas break. And Shell is coming to the end of the cleanathon, by hoovering the beds and washing the sheets. Thank goodness I would be on the road to the hospital when she is dueling with the sofas using a hoover pipe, It a sight to be seen. The Cupboards are stocked and space made for the pills, creams and thermometer.
It was sunny but cold December day. I had been tired up with another matter in Shrewsbury, and got to Kim in the early afternoon. She was sitting on her bed when I arrived, arms crossed complaining I was late*.
With the need for barrier nursing gone I just walk in, It is strange walking in without the apron and hand cleaning. I disconnect the Freeview box and pack up the Xbox. With this done everything is ready to go.
She came with a suitcase, backpack and one plastic shopping bag. And now I think we have the complete luggage set to take back. I resist the urge to joke about women and packing for holidays.
We say bye and see you after Christmas to the nursing staff. We head to the landy, I joke that with all this stuff it could be overloaded. Kim just looks at me with her 'thats a bad joke' look.
Kim settle into the landy wrapping her quilt around herself, As it cold out and the fan is doing the on off game. It amazing how thing start playing silly bugger when you need it. Oh, well. At least she is warm in her quilt.
We arrive home and everyone is in doing what they normal do. The in laws appear from across the road moments after we get in the door. Stuart is complaining that his mate cant come in, but one of them has had diarrhoea the day before. And he cant quite get it idea of bug being bad for kim into his head.
Kim settle on the sofa to watch a Christmas film, turn on the subtitles, Slides her hand up her head , turning off her hearing aids to block out her grandad taking about nothing really to her.
Pat, Shell, Mandy and myself are looking at each other trying not to laugh as we all know that kim has turn her aids off and that he is unaware that she has, He finally stops when kim falls asleep.
*She should know by now that I am not the best of time keepers
It was sunny but cold December day. I had been tired up with another matter in Shrewsbury, and got to Kim in the early afternoon. She was sitting on her bed when I arrived, arms crossed complaining I was late*.
With the need for barrier nursing gone I just walk in, It is strange walking in without the apron and hand cleaning. I disconnect the Freeview box and pack up the Xbox. With this done everything is ready to go.
She came with a suitcase, backpack and one plastic shopping bag. And now I think we have the complete luggage set to take back. I resist the urge to joke about women and packing for holidays.
We say bye and see you after Christmas to the nursing staff. We head to the landy, I joke that with all this stuff it could be overloaded. Kim just looks at me with her 'thats a bad joke' look.
Kim settle into the landy wrapping her quilt around herself, As it cold out and the fan is doing the on off game. It amazing how thing start playing silly bugger when you need it. Oh, well. At least she is warm in her quilt.
We arrive home and everyone is in doing what they normal do. The in laws appear from across the road moments after we get in the door. Stuart is complaining that his mate cant come in, but one of them has had diarrhoea the day before. And he cant quite get it idea of bug being bad for kim into his head.
Kim settle on the sofa to watch a Christmas film, turn on the subtitles, Slides her hand up her head , turning off her hearing aids to block out her grandad taking about nothing really to her.
Pat, Shell, Mandy and myself are looking at each other trying not to laugh as we all know that kim has turn her aids off and that he is unaware that she has, He finally stops when kim falls asleep.
*She should know by now that I am not the best of time keepers
Christmassy Hospital
Glad that I am out of the Santa suit, the lift door open and I step into the entrance area for Kims ward.
Oh great, Christmas decoration hang from the doors and the walls. Great I don't have the Christmas feeling, and Christmas is everywhere.
Kim is lying on the bed watching TV, and on the laptop chatting. As I chat with the nurses about the home rest over Christmas. It going to be for 10 days, hopefully normal enough to feel like the holiday season.
The Isolation is not a strict as normal as her white cell count is up and she is fairly stable. So she takes great Pride is telling me that she has been decoration the ward, and the tree. Kim loves Christmas, and is really looking forward to it, seeing the family and good food.
She was going on about her Nans Christmas dinner and how much she would enjoy it. Compared to the not very nice food* the hospital proves. As she did she was eating a bag of crisps I brought in.
She ends the visit by trying to talk one of the nurse that came in to check her temp, blood pressure, etc. in to letting her go now a day or so early. Much to the nurse's amusement.
As I am heading off I talk to the nurses, They enjoy her being there when she is like this, almost back to her old cheeky funny self. I take one last look. The next time I see her I will be a pack horse as we leave to come home together.
A Christmas with Kim being funny and cheeky. Maybe Christmas is not going to be too bad after all.
*well I can't repeat the exact words
Oh great, Christmas decoration hang from the doors and the walls. Great I don't have the Christmas feeling, and Christmas is everywhere.
Kim is lying on the bed watching TV, and on the laptop chatting. As I chat with the nurses about the home rest over Christmas. It going to be for 10 days, hopefully normal enough to feel like the holiday season.
The Isolation is not a strict as normal as her white cell count is up and she is fairly stable. So she takes great Pride is telling me that she has been decoration the ward, and the tree. Kim loves Christmas, and is really looking forward to it, seeing the family and good food.
She was going on about her Nans Christmas dinner and how much she would enjoy it. Compared to the not very nice food* the hospital proves. As she did she was eating a bag of crisps I brought in.
She ends the visit by trying to talk one of the nurse that came in to check her temp, blood pressure, etc. in to letting her go now a day or so early. Much to the nurse's amusement.
As I am heading off I talk to the nurses, They enjoy her being there when she is like this, almost back to her old cheeky funny self. I take one last look. The next time I see her I will be a pack horse as we leave to come home together.
A Christmas with Kim being funny and cheeky. Maybe Christmas is not going to be too bad after all.
*well I can't repeat the exact words
Tradition
Bloody hell its almost Christmas. Where did that come from? And guess who has been 'volunteered'* for a tradition in my department at work. Yes you guessed it ME!!
I have to dress up as Father Christmas and hand out present to nursery children, something I would have trouble with even if my mind was not else where. But Sharron one of the drivers said she would help, and she was already dressed for it.
Standing in the reception area dressed in a ill fitting Santa suit, bad fake beard,. Sharron stands next to me wearing a much better looking outfit. Black Boots with white fur trim, black legging, Santa Smock, Green wig, jester style Santa hat, rosie cheeks (make up) and a big smile.
As the Kids arrive we take ours seats, and start handing out the presents. I am glad Sharron is there, as I am not that talkative, but she is cover for it well. My thoughts where with Kim,wondering what she would be doing now, If she had visitors? Not the sea of children in front of me, fresh faced without a care in the world , so innocent and naïve to the horrors of the world.
Sometimes I wished I could be like that, and not scarred by life and death.
*everyone bar me knew what was coming and legged it, thanks guys
I have to dress up as Father Christmas and hand out present to nursery children, something I would have trouble with even if my mind was not else where. But Sharron one of the drivers said she would help, and she was already dressed for it.
Standing in the reception area dressed in a ill fitting Santa suit, bad fake beard,. Sharron stands next to me wearing a much better looking outfit. Black Boots with white fur trim, black legging, Santa Smock, Green wig, jester style Santa hat, rosie cheeks (make up) and a big smile.
As the Kids arrive we take ours seats, and start handing out the presents. I am glad Sharron is there, as I am not that talkative, but she is cover for it well. My thoughts where with Kim,wondering what she would be doing now, If she had visitors? Not the sea of children in front of me, fresh faced without a care in the world , so innocent and naïve to the horrors of the world.
Sometimes I wished I could be like that, and not scarred by life and death.
*everyone bar me knew what was coming and legged it, thanks guys
Drained Piggy Bank
Having a ill child in hospital is not only physically and emotionally draining, it is also draining on the old bank balance. Especially during the recession, and the fuel prices going up, my trips to the hopstial are bring my mileage up. I have gone from 300 miles a month (75 miles a week) up to 800 to 1200 a month (200 to 300 miles a week). Oh, yes the knock on effect of high fuel prices is a raise in food prices.
Hospital Parking charges are draining too, £2 a visit, there is a system for getting it cheaper, but only if you can go there during the working day. No chance of getting it if you work all day.
The hard part is balancing going down to regularly visit Kim and staying in the black.
And before anyone says “Stop complaining” I will. Plus point, Vat down to 15% for 13 months
See you next week, when I get back on track.
Hospital Parking charges are draining too, £2 a visit, there is a system for getting it cheaper, but only if you can go there during the working day. No chance of getting it if you work all day.
The hard part is balancing going down to regularly visit Kim and staying in the black.
And before anyone says “Stop complaining” I will. Plus point, Vat down to 15% for 13 months
See you next week, when I get back on track.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)