Home visit and another first

Home visit was successful in that I returned him in one piece still alive and kicking after two days. I feel that was a good start. From his point of view he sulked a little cos he doesn't have a car yet so can't just get up and go when he wants to. Other than that it was good to be home, with home cooking and friends around and not trailing back and forth to the hospital. A little glimpse into what the first few weeks at home will look like. We were both impressed with the District Nurses and the Carers, all were really nice, efficient and it worked much better than we thought it would. All medical supplies have been delivered ready for him coming home next week - maybe - more later about that.

The day Mark came home they moved a little old man into his space and he was still there when we got back two nights later. Mark wasn't amused. He had to wait until someone in another room left and that room to be cleaned, then the old man moved to the other room before Mark could go to bed, think it was about 9.30 by this time. I had abandoned him about 8.30 thinking it could be long job before he went to bed.

Another first: everyone says you will fall out of your wheelchair at least once before you go home, however Mark was beginning to believe it wouldn't happen to him because it had got so close to coming home and he hadn't fallen out. Ooops, feeling smug a little too soon!! He was in the shower chair over the toilet, bending over doing his ablutions ....... next thing on the floor!! It happened so quick he doesn't know quite how it happened. One of the other inmates rang the emergency buzzer and within seconds he had nurses coming from all directions. Luckily no real damage done, a few scuffs on his knees but on the whole very lucky considering he fell out onto a tiled floor.

Coming home: was due to be next Wednesday, depending on what they find from the MRI which he had Friday afternoon. The area in his back where they think the problem may be is the area where the nerves are that provide sensory and motor control to the upper chest. The spasms (basically cramp) in his chest - they think could be caused by the nerves being pinched or trapped or something has gone wrong with the surgery because despite the increase in his cocktail of drugs this is slowly getting worse. Worse case scenario he may need surgery again - they haven't given us an alternative best case, we'll have to wait for the results.