Blue badge blues 5

 The World Cup has been on while I’ve been in hospital. Amazingly I may get through it without seeing a game! Although if I’m out for the final then I will succumb. But it’s left me with a head full of football analogies. And if I can be allowed one, this week has been a game of two half’s! 

I was emerging from the trauma of ICU etc and had got a bed on a ward to aim towards discharge. Everyone was saying how well I was doing especially after such extensive surgery. So give me a goal and I will try to exceed it! I was going to recover in record time, until I slid preparing for my shower, my foot went under me and I fractured my ankle. I felt the click but still hoped it was only a sprain. But X-rays confirmed a spiral fracture; my surgeon said I don’t do anything by halves. I know this to be true.

So the rest of this week has been getting acquainted with a moonboot, regaining my confidence and trying to get mobile again. It’s been messy and I’ve shed lots of tears if I’m honest. It’s  made me doubt ever getting home or being on top of pain. I got the chance to see Cara, our dog, and I wept buckets. She on the other hand was only interested in whether she could share in the gluten free sausages my sister had especially prepared for me! But the tears have been a release too and they’ve helped me take of the « I’m fine » mask for a wee while at least. 

Today’s outing was to the Royal Infirmary Fracture Clinic. It was a long drive in a warm taxi but on the bright side we went right through this beautiful city and it made me yearn to be out and about and taking part in life again. That said I came back to the Ward, went straight to bed and slept. 

I remain impressed by the level of care offered to such a wide cross section of need by the staff. What’s even more impressive in some ways is the compassion that is shared so widely and wisely. Compassion is not only the bedrock of care but it’s also the fundamental component of trust and support in the relationship you have with the carers of all types. 

There’s a warmth and personal touch in this ward which gives me enormous hope for the future of our services.