Ward 7 (day 12)
Anita is now well enough to be out of intensive care, but beds on wards are in short supply. I need to get back to work so that I can escape this madness for a while. Hopefully they will be able to transfer her soon but it’s likely there will be a period when she won’t have me sitting by the bedside.
She is up in the chair, shivering like mad from her infections. I help feed her; she is eating with no problems whatsoever. Her temperature is coming down and like before they are having a problem getting lines into her veins. They give oral medicine instead. People are always able to see the warmth in Anita wherever she goes and she can still be very funny. She says she is feeling pain in her face, how ironic would it be if the trigeminal neuralgia returned.
Suddenly the transfer to a ward occurs and I remember the window view from when I was a patient many years back. When she talks it’s loud, shouting out ‘I am immortal and nothing can kill me’ not good for the old dears in the next bed. She may well get her own room soon. I would like to thank the staff in Intensive Care for their wonderful work with her and most of all their understanding.
The drama that happens with her always seems to fit into a pattern. It’s amazing how she has moved to a ward just as I am due back to work. Like life is saying, OK, you can go back now, drama over.