The day finally arrived. Yesterday, Michael and I travelled from Heavenly Beverley to the Big Smoke for the first of his two hip replacements. His right hip had become his nemesis over the last few months. Pain had been his constant companion, causing him frustration and misery.
In spite of his limitations, we enjoyed a marvellous two nights with Callum, Bronwyn and Miss Immy. They stayed at the Beverley Caravan Park Cabin 4 , (named Morbinning after a local area) allowing Immy to have her own room for naps and night time. They spent all Immy's waking hours with us, delighting us with her blossoming personality. Her language has shot up in all directions, making a speech therapy assessment that will finally occur in November (14 months after her referral) probably obsolete.
Callum helped Michael with erecting our new gazebo in our main courtyard, providing much needed shade during the fast approaching summer heat. The lads also visited a nearby farm and loaded a pile of (what a surprise!) rusty metal onto the Trusty Trailer, before returning home and dissecting the items into useful and actual junk. As we left, they were headed for a few nights camping in Toodyay and we turned Lily towards Perth.
Arriving at the Mount at 11 o'clock, as requested, we then sat in the reception lounge... and waited and waited. Only two staff were handling enquiries, completing admissions, answering the phone and delivering patients to wards. The concierge was no more. Plus, I received the usual blank stare when I reminded them I was boarding with Michael in a shared room. Fortunately, the ward staff were expecting both of us, which was a welcome first.
However, by the time we were finally ushered upstairs to Karri Ward, Michael's surgery was fast approaching. His nurse was rushed off her feet preparing him for theatre. She was still recording his myriad drugs when the orderly came to collect him for pre-op. I shaved him whilst she wrote! I can only conclude that poor communication within the hospital led to this entirely avoidable mayhem.
His Pre-op stay was surprisingly brief and very efficient with cheerful and professional staff. For once, the area was not freezing cold. I kissed Michael as he was wheeled off into theatre. Then I returned to Karri ward to unpack and peruse any positive changes.
Alas, there were none. There was still no blanket warming unit on the ward, no microwave in the patients' pantry and I assume the loo seats have not been fixed so they will continue to drop unless held up. We will find out when Michael's catheter is removed and he attempts to piddle one handed. The shared rooms continue to have one ancient airconditioning duct over only one bed, which means one occupant receives plenty of the centrally controlled air and the other occupant has no air whatsoever...
The rooms are still in need of renovation and the bathroom was not as clean as I would have expected. The bed linen and towels need replacing. The water pressure in the bathroom shower was dismal. The warmed cotton blankets. only available in theatre, are tatty and holed. The second bed in the room (my bed) was initially high enough for me to almost need a step to climb onto it. I discovered the bed could not be lowered. Two nurses and a technician failed to diagnose the problem, but the technician did lower my bed with a bit of persuasion. As a result, the bed is now at the same height as my knees and is stuck in that position.
All this luxury for $1900 a day.
Just to add to the fun. I chose to visit the Telstra Shop via taxi whilst Michael was in surgery. All that outing gave me was more headaches. Apparently, the Telstra app on my phone is what I should be using to access all Telstra services, rather than through the laptop. Which is great if one has good coverage. I could not access a payment summary in the centre of Perth on my Samsung Blue Tick phone as the signal dropped out. The $1 charge we had received was to set up a new direct debit. And I discovered we have two accounts with Telstra, because they failed to close one when we set up Michael's iPhone earlier this year. Oh, and nobody hasn't any idea where the $126.09 credits we have been "paid" are going. We certainly aren't receiving them! Apparently I need to contact the Bank (!) to work out where the Telstra credits are going. I strongly suspect cyberspace.
The good news is that surgery was successful and thorough care meant he is back in bed 286 at 4.15pm. The food was more than reasonable and by 9 o'clock, Michael was off to Cloud Cuckoo Land.
So far, the nursing staff have been really fantastic. That has been the highpoint thus far. I hope the rest of our stay continues in this way. On Friday afternoon, I have a meeting scheduled with Alex's workplace to discuss future targeted support for him in the wake of his neuropsychological assessment. Hopefully, come Saturday we will be able to turn Lily eastwards towards home.
Stay tuned for further adventures!
PS I have just confirmed that the toilet seat still falls down on its own accord!
