Day 25 – Sunday 22nd May

A mixed day today. Laughter and Tears.

Let’s shed the tears first.

Karen got very upset today. She said she had been crying a lot of the night as well. I think she is realising the extent of her predicament.

Every day I read out the comments people have put on this website and as I read last night’s comment, Karen started crying. She is so touched by people’s concern and the overwhelming response she has had both in the form of text messages and blog comments. I don’t think she understands how well thought of she is. And the comments last night (which were all wonderfully encouraging) touched her.

It’s funny, in hindsight, I should have seen the signs. When I offer to read out the texts I have had (over 150), she can only take a few being read out. When I read out the cards from her colleagues at the blood service, I do a few and she says “enough”. She also received a single (large) card from Blood Service colleagues which must have about 30-40 good will messages (20 either page). I could only read the left hand page out before she said “enough”. So, apologies to the colleagues who signed the right hand page – as far as Karen is concerned, you don’t care about her !! That is a joke btw !!!! Karen is only too well aware of how much everyone is rooting for her !!

For the first time today, I read out the previous day’s blog entry that I had written and this upset her also. I won’t be doing that again. Karen, one day, will appreciate the blog, but its too early for her to hear her predicament (even though yesterday’s entry was all positive).

The reading out of the blog prompted the following conversation :-

kp (upset) :- I am 40 and I have had a stroke. That isn’t good is it.
dp :- Actually you’re 42, but I like the way you knocked a couple of years off. Very slick !

So, let’s end the tears. Karen is realising that she is not a well woman, but we tried to reassure how far she has come, and that she is doing remarkably well and everyone is SOOOO proud of her.

On the laughter front. Karen had some GREAT moments today.

One of the auxiliary nurses was reading out the menu for lunch.

Alan (aux.nurse) :- “Would you like Soup or Orange Juice………….Cottage Pie or Vol au Vents”
Now Alan pronounced Vol Au Vents in true english fashion. He pronounced Vents as “he vents his anger”

Karen spotted this straight away and the biggest smirk appeared on her face as Alan carried on reading the desserts out. I was nudging her arm when she smirked confirming the mispronunciation.

kp:- I don’t want the “vol au vents” (copying Alan’s mispronunciation) and I don’t want “Vol au vents” either (kp pronouncing it correctly).

Alan was laughing. kp was laughing holding her belly because she was so amused.

Poor Alan copped it for the rest of the day and kp kept calling him Mr “Vol au Vents”. Alan is the same chap (mentioned in an earlier blog) who was involved in the “getting her leg over” incident.

Karen had a good feed today. They have stopped feeding her intravenously and through her nose so from today, she has to eat real food. She ate a 1/4 of a plate of cottage pie and a couple of tubs of ice cream !! :-)

Another incident that provoked a painful kp belly laugh was when I was describing to Karen how at the other hospital I had seen a 14 year old girl in the waiting room who had jeans that just about covered the hip and her knickers were showing well above the jeans. (Very fashionable apparently). So I showed Karen with my “knickers” what she looked like but pulling my sexy Y-fronts up above my jeans. The Queen was amused !

Another time Karen had us in stitches is when she did an impression of one of the Asian Doctors (Dr Krishna). Apparently he had come over to her bed and said “How are you Karen ?” but with a very asian accent. He pronounced Karen as “Kaaaaaarennnn” ? So Dr Krishna was around her bed with a couple of nurses hovering as well, and she did an impression of how Dr Krishna had woken her up with his “How are you Kaaaaaaarennnnnn ?”

Dr Krishna, the nurses, Karen and family were laughing.

So, in summary, Karen had her down moments today and her up moments. It was quite an exhausting day for karen today and the upset took it out of her. We left her with one of the nose oxygen masks (that you see on Casualty) to keep her oxygen levels up (because they were a little on the low side) (nothing to worry about !).

When I went to leave at 8pm, she was fast asleep. Of course, I had to kiss her good night and she woke up. But only a sleepy awakeness. I said “Good Night, go back to sleep” and her eyelids went heavy again.

Good Night kp

In the next edition of Karen’s blog we should have some interesting reading !!!!

The nurses have suggested I bring in our 3 German Shepherds to see Karen tomorrow. (The meeting with the dogs will take place outside. kp will be wheeled out on her bed). I am sh+tting myself because they will be so excited to see her, they will jump on her bed and open up all her wounds !!!! I will bring them to see her one by one, but still it will be an interesting day tomorrow. Expect there to be some part-eaten nurses and a kp that has more wounds than today.

6 Responses to “Day 25 – Sunday 22nd May”

  1. Anonymous says:

    Now you know KP is realy on the mend when they are telling you to bring the dogs in.I wouldnt be in your shoes David if we go to the shops our dogs think we have been gone for a week,they pee all over the place so take plenty kitchen roll HE HE. Sounds like you are getting well fed Karen but wait till you get home and Marie gets her hands on you, She thinks every time she looks at you she has to feed you. She is the same with everyone so why should you escape?
    just cause you have been ill.SLEEP WELL BOTH OF YOU Margo

  2. Anonymous says:

    We check on Karens news every day and are over the moon with her progress so far. Tell Karen to get better soon or she will miss the wedding that she said she was coming too! Just want you to know that we are thinking of you every day. Keep fighting and keep up the Karen sense of humour that we all know (and have suffered!). You’re doing great David!

    Take care, Tracy and Lee

  3. Anonymous says:

    its great news to hear that Karen is progressing so well,looking foreward to the day when she can cope with a visit from her marra from blyth Harry.Well done David your doing a great job….
    best wishes from Harry & Kelly

    ps tell Karen i started typing this at 9.30pm

  4. Anonymous says:

    great work KP…kep it up… see you havent lost your sense of humor either….

    great work david.you can tell kp that there’s even people down south reading your blog….so she’s well famous…
    take care hun..love Marshy…x

  5. Russell says:

    HI Dave & Karen, Nige just told me about this website today and I have spent a fair amount of time reading (from the bottom) up. I can’t believe the humour that all of you are managing to keep in times as tough as they must have been. This site will be a daily visit for me now mate. Nige had given me your mobile no, but to be honest words failed me in terms of what I could put in a txt message. It is fantastic to read the progress Karen is making(only up to day 21 but wanted to post you this message). You are right in what you say Dave; at some point what you have published on the internet will land you in hot water when Karen is better I would imagine, but the way you have written this site it is almost as though you are taking to people. I don’t think she will remain too angry at you for long. I give Karen and you both my best wishes, keep up the good work and never loose that sense of humour you both seem to share. Russ

  6. vdfromboro says:

    Hi Karen
    I’m back blogging and feeling much better that I can have a chat with you – so listen none of us can really understand what you have been going through and are still going through – but you know what with everyones love, you’ll get there. Having said that there’s no excuse for flowers on your nightie – very sweet I must say!

    Jane rang, Saturday afternoon to tell me you’d completed the great escape to the outside world and I wondered when the bloody dogs would be arriving, then I go on your blog site and theres’ David making arrangements FOR THE DOGS! They will go mental, wonder which dogs visiting first – think I can guess, lets wait and see.
    So get munching on that wonderful hospital food. Irene said “has she asked for a bacon sandwich yet?” So its obvious, is it not, once you’ve had a bacon sarnie Irene will then think you are well on the way to recovery.
    So listen, chin up, if you are telling the nurses you want your leg over you must think things are on the up.
    I can’t wait to make arrangements for the “clinic”, even though its not Eshwing, I bet the hospital environment will really suit Dr. K Pollard and Dr. J Burns. Surprised you haven’t knciked some white coats and offered some free consultations to people. No I was joking, don’t do it, please. I’ll sign off now. I’m currently in Manchester (you know that place where people steal 4×4′s) and they are closing the office.
    Take Care
    Lots of Love
    Ronnie
    P.S David sorry about my texts and messages yesterday re-my bloggin problems
    Take Care
    Lots of Love
    Ronnie

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