A Day At VGH

A DAY AT VGH

This is an account of yet another day during my magical hospital stay.

First, let me digress as I set the scene. I was transferred to VGH on Monday, Jan 11th after spending 5 days at the Richmond Hospital waiting for a bed at VGH. As I sat with Ralph in VGH emergency waiting room during the transferring process with a number written on a piece of paper above my head – it was busy in that moment. A patient escort came to take me for an X-ray. Coming back I walked back with an escort that was taking a patient on a gurney back to the emergency dep’t, saving her a trip. The timing was perfect, as another escort was looking for me to take me up to my room.

I settled in at the exact bed I would have picked if I had had my choice, I might add. The nurse had said she thought that the TV / phone hook up guy had already left for the day – and yet he magically appeared. Not knowing how long I would be there, we decided to pay for 4 days. And guess what, that was exactly what we needed as I was released on the Friday.

Ralph left for home to send out emails that I had been transferred. It is now Monday evening and the nurse tells me they are coming to take me for a CT Scan. (Another story in itself) Once there, I learn that the CT machine is brand new, state of the art, in use for the 1st time that day. Guess that answered the question “Why I waited at Rmd for so long”. The Universe knew what it was doing. I sent up a prayer of thanks.

Restless night, up and down to the bathroom, hard to return to sleep – the Soc story saves the day and giggling, I fall asleep again.

I have given Ralph the Tuesday off. He stays home to rest. (again another story in itself, as his day is one of struggling to hook up the new Shaw box that will give us 30 more channels for just $2.95/month – long story short, he has packed the thing up and is sending it back. As well as, phoning around to find a rebuilt Carb for the van, preparing for that evenings monthly Strata Council meeting, and doing a huge decluttering clean up of our apartment.

So, Tuesday comes and goes. I think that was the day that sister in law Lorrie visited at the same time Mary C. from the Relaxation group. That night even thinking of the Socks didn’t get me back to sleep. Lists of thoughts filled my head. Decided to get up and write things down. I went out to the nurses desk about 5 a.m. to ask for some paper. Ended up talking to the nurse about things I wanted the doctor to know. She said she would make a note on my chart. She heard and got me. I felt understood. Later that morning a Chaplain from the Spiritual Services dep’t arrived saying that the doctor had asked her to visit. We had a wonderful long conversation. She too ‘got’ me and we really made a connection. Karen had peeked in during this visit and I had asked her, if she could come back in a little bit. She could and did, just as the Chaplain and I were nearing the end of our visit. Then Mary K arrived. I introduced them to Caryn (notice same name as Karen, just spelled different – coincidence?) The 4 of us had a wonderful conversation. Caryn left, and after a short visit, Karen and Mary said their goodbyes before giving me a session of Reiki.

An aside here – Karen had brought a bouquet of flowers that is a magical story in itself.

Obviously more stories to come.
Love Lynn k
Jan 21/10