Today

First, I want give you a sense of the effect of the pandemic on my hospital experience. In some ways its surreal. No visitors in the hospital, a covid test before being omitted, masks everywhere, and furious hand washing by the staff constantly. As I sit in my bed or room, each time a person enters, they kit up and I reach for my mask and mask up. I am not in a public ward but imagine that I would even be able to take my mask off if this were the case. The staff are so fastidious and I do feel safe. I also feel somewhat better knowing that the pandemic does seem to be easing off a little in the Western Cape. I understand that both private and public facilities are less stretched than has been the case. In addition, and thank goodness for this, medical science and experience has enabled more effective life-saving treatment and seemingly less deaths. Off course, we don’t know the long term effects of the virus and I am not being polly-anna but that is good news.

 

Today has been quite a day. Many firsts in one day. A full day in the bone marrow transplant ward. I am not here for a transplant but rather because the haematology unit is full and I am privileged to have been allocated the luxury of a private room. There’s a fridge, lots of cupboard space, a private and well equipped shower with lashings of hot water and an exercise bike. It’s a simple exercise bike. The type that is well designed as a clothes dryer for home use. But here it will be used I am sure. Mostly because it offers the only exercise possible, aside from a short passage walk, I guess. I am also fortunate to have a port inserted so the meds follow but I am much freer to move than if they were intravenously trickled in via my arm. This is not freedom like Roger Daltry called for in his movie Tommy. “Free me, free me, Cant your hear that’s what I say, Free me, anyhow or anyway”. Not that kind of free. Rather relative freedom. The restriction of the arm infused intravenous is very restrictive. So I am happy.

So, I awoke, nay, was awoken at 6h00 to be weighed and served with morning meds. As one thoughtful soul reminded me, “that sounds more like boot camp”, which by the way is where I probably rather be. The nursing staff could not be more caring, helpful, well trained, efficient and capable. This node of excellence is hugely noteworthy. Anyway, fortunately I am able to slip back to sleep and dozed peacefully until 8h00. Again, woken for meds. Not a bad thing as one cant sleep the day away. I also noted that the day was a little gloomy but that lifted and made for a great Cape Town outdoors day I am sure. What followed was a period of just being in contact with my world of wonderful friends and family. The support, the love, the care is truly overwhelming and I confess to being brought to tears a little too often. But then, as all that know me, I am a sucker for emotions. If there’s an emotion going round, I’ll pick it up. As we edged towards 11h00, I became a little fidgety about the chemo that hadn’t started. I have 2 sessions today so wanted to get going. Patience James! Anyway, Jill the diminutive and highly efficient pharmacist delivered and by 11h15 was on my way. Session 1 for today has just finished and today’s next session begins around 23h00 tonight. So I guess sleep will be a little disturbed but am confident that it will be fine.

While I sit here, I must confess ot finding it difficult to keep myself occupied. This is my challenge, always. In the normal course of events I simply jump up and do something. Now, I judiciously just think. What now? I am definitely improving and have had no bouts of related anxiety. That is progress, I assure you.

Around, 12h30, I realized that I was bloody hungry. This is not a pang that often befalls me. Fortunately, the lunch arrived soon thereafter. Otherwise, this note may a moan about hunger. Not that I’d elicit much sympathy. I am one of those food eating enthusiasts that has spent my life a chunk fellow. Beginning as simply fat, then graduating to simply less fat and now probably fairly described as a thinner fat person. Anyway, a tasty lunch was interrupted by a window visit from Laura and Brittany. No visitors allowed in the ward due to the current pandemic but we spoke through the closed window and it was wonderful to see and speak to two of my favorite people in all the world. Brittany is going to be in CT for a month. I am so pleased about that because I have missed her terribly. We were in the habit of meeting up in Jhb almost weekly for dinner as I travelled for business each week. That was such a wonderful connection. Andrew and Pips are house / flat hunting today. I am so pleased that they are on their road. Both are really enjoying what they are doing. Amazing if you consider the times we are living through.

Well, the day isn’t finished but hats enough now. Cheers!