Wow! So many people care!!!

[Guest guest]

Firstly a BIG thank you to SO many people who responded!!!

What a day!!!

Firstly got woken up at 5am to a text from Jeff saying he is scared and he

loves me so much which made me cry! Being pumped full of so many drugs I have

put up with so many emotions (good and bad). Some one who so lovingly responded

to one of my previous emails said that if Jeff shows emotions like that he means

that he is strong and he really wants this to work and that he is strong and

determined!!! I promised him that I would be there for him when he went down to

surgery and as he was booked for the first opp of the day this meant an early

start. Got to the hospital at 7.30 and saw the hospital wake up, which is such

a funny/strange thing as doctors/student doctors do their rounds first thing in

the morning. The reason why I say this is funny, is because you see experienced

doctors who know what they are talking about doing their job and then you see

the student doctors almost brown nosing, like in the class room saying oh, oh

sir (almost putting their hand up as

far as it can possibly reach) saying " I know the answer!! "

He was taken down at 9am and taken to the coldest room ever where I had to say

goodbye.

At this point I was guided back up to the 8th floor where he normally is, by

the kindest, nicest student nurse there could possibly be!!! Then I left....

My Mum at this point said that she was at her day centre for the elderly where

she volunteers today and why don't I come along just to " waste some time! " ?

Back in the day when I used to do care work also, I was Lucky enough to have

every Tuesday off so I used to help out also. I love these ladies and

gentlemen!! They asked me what I had been up to (the very few of them who were

left who remember me from those days). I had a blast! They all knew my

situation, and gave me so much love and laughter!!! (Like having 20 Granny's and

Grandpa's all of your own). We did quiz's together and lost horribly, but it

was fun!!!

I was advised the day before by the hospital that I was to call the ward at

2pm as Jeff should be back by then and they shall be able to give me an update.

I rang at 2pm (almost on the dot!) and was told that he was not back yet and he

was still in recovery due to pain killing problems. My timetable was smashed!

All of a sudden it wasn't going to routine. I was advised to call back in a

couple of hours at 4pm (considering that he went down at 9am this was a long

time!!) My Mum looked after me at this point, fed me and we did gardening

together, why? because we could and it filled in time. I called back at 4pm and

a poorly English speaking nurse answered the phone saying that he wasn't on the

ward and couldn't give me any more information. (lost the plot again, so did

more gardening!!!!!!!!) I called back at 5pm (8 hours after he went down and

luckily, by chance spoke to the Sister on the ward and she advised me that

someone was literally going down now to collect

him. I got their at about 5.45pm as had just starting eating dinner which my

mother so lovingly " ordered " for us!!

I got their and saw three doctors and a nurse around his bed dealing with him.

They soon dispersed as the problem was that he was freaking out whilst on planet

Mars!!! Because he wanted to see me and I know from experience(!) how to deal

with him freaking out, he soon (well about half an hour) calmed down. I have

never felt the need and want for me to mother him!! It was like dealing with a

man who has had far too much too drink, but wasn't angry, and really wanted me

to help. I asked the nurse who was dealing with him at the time did it go ok?

and she said yes, but we are worried about him reacting to the amount of

painkillers he is receiving. Most people have an epidural plus drugs to deal

with the pain relief, but because Jeff with his Kyphosis fusion surgery (and

depending upon different doctors you speak to just Achondroplasia) he couldn't

have an epidural.

The amount of pain relief and coming around from anaesthetic sent Jeff to

another planet!! Like I said once he calmed down, he was in and out of

consciousness. When he was awake he was talking absolute gibberish!! He wanted

to go out side and go cycling with a guy called Ken. Both Jeff and I have never

known a guy called Ken!! This was one of the many things which I was gradually

found the funny side of, which he kept going on about.

He has two cannula's in his arm feeding him with different drugs a tube from

his nose which drains all excess fluids created by the operation from his

stomach. He is also catheterised as obviously in this state he is in he is

unable to get up and go for a pee!!! All of which he tried to pull out! Whilst

I was calming him down I was training this man from Mars not to pull these tubes

out, which also trying to keep the oxygen mask on his face as due to his apnoea

going in and out of consciousness he was not getting enough oxygen.

Finally by about 8.30pm he was properly going to sleep and whilst teaching him

not to fight sleep he was able to settle. The havoc he is creating on the ward

at the moment is not my problem until I see him tomorrow!!! I pray to God he is

sleeping as even his incredible snoring shall be more soothing to the others on

that ward (and the nurses - god bless them!) than the fuss he was creating when

I walked into that ward.

Right now, I am afraid to say that I am enjoying a well deserved glass of wine

as if I don't I may scream at the top of my voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again thank you to so many people who gave me their love, thoughts and

prayers. I truly feel loved by you all and you know what I don't care what life

throws at me any more, as together we can deal with it, alone I can't!!!

Love you all!!

Sonja and Jeff (the man from Mars, hitching a free ride!!!)