All was progressing swimmingly towards the end of last week. We had scored some free insulation batts from our friend Zelda on Tuesday and stopped for dinner with Lucky and Sandra. All seemed unexciting. Wednesday was the usual house and Gallery cleaning prior to the beginning of our working week.
Our new home was powering on. The slab had been laid, the house frame had been started. We remained slightly nervous that we haven't received our loan documents in writing yet. But we had been given the go ahead to proceed with the house. Suddenly, the Station Estate (preliminary title) had come to life. Rooms were recognisable, courtyards were obvious and our enthusiasm was high.
The first inkling that all was not well was on Saturday afternoon. Michael's appeared in the Gallery, washed and dressed, urgently seeking my attention. Sandra had rung. Lucky was unwell and was in Emergency at the Midland Hospital. We closed the Gallery early and left for the Big Smoke.
The news wasn't good. Lucky is an elderly ninety year old gentleman with a number of health issues. His breathing had been laboured and his blood pressure had dropped through the floor. We were told to expect the worst. After several hours, he was moved into the Intensive Care Unit. Then remarkably, he rallied and we decided to come home.
Sunday morning's prognosis was mixed. We discussed our options. We decided to leave the dogs locked up inside the Residence, ask our friends Jan and Greg to feed them and stay close by the hospital for the duration. And so, we returned to Midland, to the hospital, to confusion and uncertainty and prepared to sit it out.
The following day, I drove Vanessa up to Beverley to hold the fort and look after the animals. We hoped that beyond all odds, Lucky was actually improving. So we hoped we'd only be away one more night and Lucky would be well enough to be promoted to a ward.
Monday night I was wrecked. I had driven all afternoon to take Vanessa up to Beverley. I was horizontal by eight thirty. Michael and I shared a king single bed once more. This was not conducive to a sound sleep.
Tuesday I was becoming more aware of the hospital, ICU and the staff. I started asking questions. Hospitals are terrifying places and family members of those was are very ill tend to sit passively. There were some puzzling issues. Lucky was repeating himself, was crotchety and insistent he had not said statements we'd attributed to him. He was cranky he'd only sat in a chair for a short time. And he was still having chest grumblings and clearing his throat frequently.
All was explained after I voiced my queries to the staff. He had developed a urinary tract infect - that explained his fuzzy forgetfulness. He also had a chest infection which they had been treating and was the reason the staff wanted him more upright. However, when he was sitting in the chair, his blood pressure had dropped away so he needed to be returned to a more horizontal position. And there were issues about weaning him off a drug that was helping to support his blood pressure.
After the nurse coordinator Chris advised us that Lucky was unwell but stable, and encouraged us to have a break, we came home last night. The dogs were ecstatic. Vanessa had taken Ground Control. Our bed had never felt so good. We were still restless but we slept.
Today has been a recovery day. We have done very little. We have attempted to be kept in the loop by contacting ICU twice. This has been less than ideal. So we are making the trek down the hill again in the morning and gauge the situation first hand.
And hope for the best outcome for Lucky.
The Sofoulis Squat's progress.
And what we hope for Lucky in the near future.
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