I called the ICu today, and the doctor handed the phone over to Chukka. It was a little awkward -- what could I say over the phone -- especially when I wasn't expecting it? I almost started to cry, but I realized that wasn't going to help. So instead I asked her if there was anything she wanted me to say on the blog and she said
"Tell them I'm doing well. I may be out [i.e. coming back] in as little as a couple weeks -- although that's not confirmed. I appreciate the cards and letters and I miss everybody terribly much."
Her voice was a little scratchy, but it was certainly her! She should deinitely be out of the ICU very soon.
Mum writes that a lot of the tubes have been taken out and Chukka has eaten strawberries and a nectarine. Yesterday she asked for Star and Mum has brought Star to her.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Quick call to ICU
Not many changes. There is still some fever, but it seems to be getting better. They are starting to talk about transfering her out of the ICU in a few days. She still needs some surgery and will be there a while yet, even after the transfer. She still has to lie flat, that must be very boring after a while.
The lull is good, I've finally manged to get some work done, which is good, because I'm a freelancer, and if I don't work , I don't get paid. But not running around ealing with this every minute also means there's more time to try an take in the enormity of it, which I really haven't gotten my head around. I've been I've been pretty depressed the past couple of days -- that's just everything catching up to me. I even missed my weekly horseback riding lesson, which is one of my main sources of support. Dut when grief/depression gets so physical, there comes a point where it no longer feels safe to ride... I'm better nw, but I have to take it slow.
The lull is good, I've finally manged to get some work done, which is good, because I'm a freelancer, and if I don't work , I don't get paid. But not running around ealing with this every minute also means there's more time to try an take in the enormity of it, which I really haven't gotten my head around. I've been I've been pretty depressed the past couple of days -- that's just everything catching up to me. I even missed my weekly horseback riding lesson, which is one of my main sources of support. Dut when grief/depression gets so physical, there comes a point where it no longer feels safe to ride... I'm better nw, but I have to take it slow.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
European Photographs
Chukka took a lot of photographs on her European trip. She suggested some of them could be posted on this blog, so I had a look at what was there . . .
With 635 photographs, which to choose? The first one speaks for itself. I had to include it. Then there are some fairly standard tourist photographs, such as you might see in guide books. I have included just a few of these to convey some sort of flavour of Chukka's holiday. However, I think more interesting are some more obscure little pictures. Chukka has a habit of noticing odd little fragments and latching on to them: often such trivia that most of us would walk past without noticing them. I had to include a few of these: they really say a great deal about who Chukka is. Then there are a couple of pictures of Star, who travels everywhere with Chukka, and is photographed at each stage of the journey. Chukka specifically asked for a picture of Star. And finally, the only image of Chukka to be found among these photos. I think it has something special about it.
Michael
Cambridge
Prague
Prague
Prague
Venice
Venice
Innsbruck
With 635 photographs, which to choose? The first one speaks for itself. I had to include it. Then there are some fairly standard tourist photographs, such as you might see in guide books. I have included just a few of these to convey some sort of flavour of Chukka's holiday. However, I think more interesting are some more obscure little pictures. Chukka has a habit of noticing odd little fragments and latching on to them: often such trivia that most of us would walk past without noticing them. I had to include a few of these: they really say a great deal about who Chukka is. Then there are a couple of pictures of Star, who travels everywhere with Chukka, and is photographed at each stage of the journey. Chukka specifically asked for a picture of Star. And finally, the only image of Chukka to be found among these photos. I think it has something special about it.
Michael
Cambridge
Prague
Prague
Prague
Venice
Venice
Innsbruck
Monday, May 21, 2007
Eating! Reading!
More from Mum:
"Sunday when I arrived she was eating a cup of soup with small noodles. Solid food. I brought her a pear and she ate about a third of it in slices. Later she requested yogurt. She spooned it out herself, no small feat when lying almost flat.'''
"Two doctors on Saturday spoke to Magda, Chukka and me about her condition. Generally positive.
"She is not giving up. Although she cannot see a nurse when she undertakes breathing therapy, and this sense of abandonment has caused panic, she follows the regimen. An hour a day. She also has a little hand-held apparatus to enhance breathing. This is to prevent pneumonia.
"There are two elastic bands at the foot tof the bed. She asks me to give them to her and she uses them for resistence exercise. Sunday she opened a card by herself and read it."
"Sunday when I arrived she was eating a cup of soup with small noodles. Solid food. I brought her a pear and she ate about a third of it in slices. Later she requested yogurt. She spooned it out herself, no small feat when lying almost flat.'''
"Two doctors on Saturday spoke to Magda, Chukka and me about her condition. Generally positive.
"She is not giving up. Although she cannot see a nurse when she undertakes breathing therapy, and this sense of abandonment has caused panic, she follows the regimen. An hour a day. She also has a little hand-held apparatus to enhance breathing. This is to prevent pneumonia.
"There are two elastic bands at the foot tof the bed. She asks me to give them to her and she uses them for resistence exercise. Sunday she opened a card by herself and read it."
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