Hard Week

This has been a difficult week for a few people.

Steve left by train on Monday morning, 8am.  He arrived in Cohuna at 9am on Tuesday.  He found his Mother in a lot of pain and not able to walk easily.  He took her to the doctor and then immediately to the hospital, where she is now.

Her diabetic/heart/vascular condition has worsened significantly.

We wait every day for a bed to become available in Box Hill Hospital.  Betty's GP in Cohuna has contacted a vascular surgeon who is willing to perform a particular operation for public patients.  There is a vascular surgeon in Echuca who can do this fiddly op but he will only treat private patients.  Same for a number of other vascular surgeons in Melbourne.  

Box Hill hospital is well out of the way for my SIL, Debbie and her family, which is a shame, but what can we do?   

Betty's GP was irate about the situation, particularly about the doctor in Echuca.   He no doubt wants a country life but with a city pay and I suppose I couldn't blame him for that.  But the European GP is a humanitarian and he insists that we country people urgently need DOCTORS, not someone catering only to people who can afford private health insurance.

I am alone in the caravan and missing Steve.  He is alone in our very cold house and missing me.  Tonight, he told me of his plans to come up and take me and the van home this weekend, if Betty doesn't go to Melbourne on Friday.  Such over-the-top adventurous plans which would be super exhausting, especially as we would have to be prepared to leave early on Monday if Betty's hospital bed becomes available.  I've persuaded him to wait until Betty has had the op and is completely settled, preferably back in Cohuna.

We did a big lot of shopping before Steve left but my fresh vegies are getting low so I might get a taxi into town at the weekend.   I need to "fly under the radar" to do this, as the family will be alerted when I go to find the taxi number and then I'll have 5 different offers of help.  I do appreciate the help but I like to be independent.

It's consoling that Betty is happily settled into the Cohuna hospital and not in need of pain relief.  As long as she has her feet up, the pain stays away.

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