Operation Day

Hubby and I decided on going out for the evening instead of cooking at home. We went into Alberton to the Piatto where we both had an excellent meal. I had my usual red wine with a sirloin and calamari combo while Hubby had a pork chop with veg and chips. The meal was finished off with our usual cappuccino. It was a very pleasant evening with general chatting leaving us both feeling a lot better about the pending op. We were home about half eight where we watched TV with Hubby having a last drink just before ten.
Wednesday morning we were up before five to get ready for the hospital. After having my morning coffee I fed the dogs and we were on the way just after half five. It was still dark and I was most surprised to find the highway already busy. The amount of people on the way to work so early is surprising – it must make for a very long day. The streets of Alberton were also very busy. We checked in at the hospital on the dot of six. Reception organised Hubby’s file and he had some last minute signing of forms to do. While they were finishing off he left me to collect the file while he went for a quick trip to the gents. When he came out I was waiting with his file and we went round the corner to Section Five to get admitted. There was no-one at the desk and no sign to state if this was Section Five so when I saw a Sister down the passage I asked her if this was the right place. It was and she came to take the file from me telling us to follow her. We were led into a ward with four beds. Two were occupied by ladies still sleeping. I was surprised and thought that they must have mixed wards now. Hubby sat on the bed indicated while she left with the file. Next thing she was back with another Sister apologising as she had thought I was the one being admitted. We were taken to the other side of the section where Hubby was put in a room with only the one bed. He was very thankful as he had also thought he was to be in a mixed ward. He was told to put on the gown and disposables and get into bed for the necessary check-ups. They must have found the biggest pair of disposables possible and the smallest size gown. The gown only just managed to tie at the back and was a real mini. While the Sisters were still busy taking his vitals the theatre staff came for him only to be told they weren’t quite finished. They disappeared and still hadn’t come back when he was all finished. We waited a while before they came back. They organised the bed and pushed it towards the door. The Sister said it wouldn’t fit through the door but they were sure it would. Sure enough the Sister was right so they pushed the bed back and reorganised it before disappearing to fetch a trolley. Hubby said he could walk but they said he couldn’t do that and they wouldn’t be long. While we were waiting for them to return the Dr arrived to say Hi and see why he wasn’t in theatre yet. We explained things which did not impress him at all and as he left the room to see where they were Hubby said it wasn’t a problem for him to walk there. The Dr was in a rush so told him `Come’ and off they went meeting up with the trolley at the end of the passage. Hubby climbed on and they disappeared into the lift. It was now ten past seven and as the cafeteria was open I went in for some breakfast. I had a bacon and egg breakfast with coffee before going back to Hubby’s room to wait for him to come out. Seeing as both feet were being worked on I expected him to be quite a while. But I was pleasantly surprised when they pushed him back in at eight fifteen. He was sitting up chatting and laughing with them. They put him back into his bed and disappeared with the trolley. The first thing Hubby did was make me get his pyjamas so he could take the gown and disposables off. Both his feet were completely covered in a thick bandage and he was convinced the Dr hadn’t removed his toe as he could feel it there. He prodded at the bandage and was relieved to feel it was gone. The Sisters came to see how he was and to see if he needed painkillers. He was fine and didn’t need anything yet so they disappeared after telling him he would only be allowed out of bed tomorrow. No sooner had they left when another Sister appeared with some breakfast for him. He was delighted and tucked in to a bacon and egg breakfast with yoghurt on the side. Once breakfast was over he wanted to get up and go to the loo. He insisted I push the drip stand around to the other side of his bed so he could walk off with it. Luckily his ward had its own loo so it was only a few steps for him to hobble along. I spent the morning with him waiting for the Dr to come to hear how long he must stay off work etc. His lunch came around twelve and Gino popped in to visit just after. I left just before one to go home quickly to see to the dogs and feed the gardener. It was three when I got back and the Dr still hadn’t been. Godfrey came in to visit just after four and we sat chatting until they rang the bell at about four forty five. I left to go and pick Diane up from work. She finished at five and we decided to go down to Mike’s Kitchen and have something to eat before going back to the hospital. We were both very thirsty as it had been a hot day and had shandies before having something to eat. Diane had a mushroom starter followed by a chocolate mousse while I had a calamari and rice starter followed by a cheesecake. Both were delicious. It was half six when we got back to the hospital to find Godfrey was still there. Hubby said the Dr had been to see him. With the amputation the remaining skin was not in too good a condition so instead of a neat stitching up he has left it partly open to help with the drainage. On the second foot the infection was worse than suspected and he had to cut more than expected. All we can do now is monitor carefully and hope for the best. The Dr was not too happy to hear that Hubby had been up to the loo and said that that was the limit to his walking as he MUST stay off his feet if he wants to heal. The Stubborn Man had better do as he is told. I just know we are going to have clashes once he is home as he can’t handle lying around doing nothing. He is already planning on making extensions on his clutch and making a piece on the back of the mini-trail starter pedal so he can use his heel to start and not toes. What do you do with such a Stubborn Twit? I can see fun and games lie ahead!
Doug arrived soon after and we had a merry visiting hour. Diane and I left half seven and after dropping her off I got home to a noisy reception from the dogs. I spent the evening watching TV and starting the blog.
Bye for now. All the messages and calls are greatly appreciated