Tuesday 1 June 2021

Post op day 5

The hospital where I spent the last few days is a major teaching hospital and trauma centre. It was fabulous but I was not in need of that kind of care and so I was transferred to a smaller facility today. Sydney Eye Hospital specialises in eyes and rehab. It is Australia's oldest hospital and has been on the current site since 1811.
The patient transport service picked me up and brought me here. It was a short drive but it passed through some iconic Sydney sites: High St, Randwick, the site where 3 of my 4 went to uni; Anzac Parade a once glorious avenue of enormous fig trees. Many of the trees have been cut down to make way for a light rail but there are enough still there to hint at what was; then into Oxford Street, almost deserted by day but famously a night time party destination for hard core partiers. Then into the heart of the CBD, past the Australian museum and St Mary's cathedral.
I was overjoyed to be out seeing the sky and the trees and my beloved Sydney town.
My attempts to chat with Brian had been discouraged but as I left the hospital he was standing in the corridor and I put out my hand to high five him. He was a bit baffled at this stranger with her hand up but he reached out and took my hand for just a moment and I hoped he sensed my good wishes towards him.
I haven't seen the physios here but I'm hoping that tomorrow I'll get a wheelchair and start some serious skill development. I'm also hoping for my first proper shower in a week.
Thanks all for your lovely support!

20 comments:

  1. I admire your spirit. The Brian episode is touching indeed. All the best in the new environment.

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  2. The sky is a lovely thing to see after so long away from it. Do the figs produce? I could just pick figs and eat them straight off the tree. I hope all goes well in the next phase.

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    1. According to Wikipedia, the figs are edible but not palatable. the fruit bats love them.

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  3. My father was in Sydney Eye Hospital years ago - for serious eye issues. I hope you leave it as triumphantly as he did.
    And thank you for reaching out to Brian.

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    1. I'm getting the idea I won't be leaving here at all if I can't be triumphant!
      I'm glad it went well for your father, it was a long way from home

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    2. It was a very long way from home. One morning early not one but both of his retinas detached. He was behaving like a pig and when my mother asked him why he said he was going blind. She rushed to get dressed and emerged to see his car heading out of the drive way. She followed him to hospital here in Canberra (standing on her horn the whole way). He arrived safely (luckily) and was transported to Sydney by air ambulance later that day. Both retinas were able to be re-attached.
      I will hold you in my heart, knowing that your determination is probably no less than my father's - and confident that your common sense is infinitely greater.

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    3. That is just a wonderful story! Crazy but awesome

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  4. You'll be on the road to recovery once you've had physio.
    So glad you had the chance to say goodbye to Brian.
    I have never had to go to hospital, but when I have visited family there, I could see they had bonded with patients in the same ward: My father and uncles did.
    Seeing Sydney after being hospitalised must be wonderful.
    I wish you had a photo blog like Meike, Tasker and Yorky.
    I must look at more YouTube videos of Sydney neighbourhoods.
    I wish I could buy DVDs of all the best movies filmed around Sydney and Melbourne.
    Jack Haggerty

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    1. On that drive yesterday I wished to take photos. They would have been miserable, taken through a van window but I wanted to capture it all.
      Unfortunately my phone was packed away and even my poor photography was impossible

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  5. You have a great attitude so here's to a great recovery.

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  6. What a lovely thing to get to see some favourite spots on your trip between hospitals. I hope you get that wheelchair posthaste and the physio too. It's so important to keep moving as much as possible. I bet that shower felt good :)

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  7. I'm just catching up with some blog reading and just now hearing about your surgery. I'm sending you my very best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery! 🌻🌼🌿🌹💮🏵🌸🍃

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  8. Good luck with the skill development. And I hope you got your much-needed shower!

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    1. I did! It was beaten only by my first proper meal post surgery

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  9. Good luck with everything Kylie, my own issues pale in comparison, though I know I shouldn't compare.

    I love your attitude.

    XO
    WWW

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    1. Your issues are related to illness. I'm well. It's very different. 💓

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