Saw her twice today, and she is continuing to look more like her old self. Her left shoulder hurts, naturally, given what it's been through, but she is enjoying life as the centre of attention in Critical Care. That's been due mostly to her abnormally low blood pressure, but I think 90/60 is about her normal anyway, something the staff are getting used to. She should be off to a normal ward tomorrow, but will be in until at least the end of the week, possibly into the end of next week. Overall, though, I'm quite happy that she is receiving the best of care, and that in the long run this will be good for her.
As I was leaving, I said hello to a fellow visitor, and he was obviously lonely and desperate for someone to talk to, so I did so for ten minutes. The poor guy's wife has been seriously ill for the last nine weeks, the first two in severe danger of dying. This was her third hospital, having been moved for space reasons twice. At Queen Anne, she's a good thirty miles from home, and he has been through a lot, but as she is now in Critical Care level 2, down from 3 and from imminent death before, I'm sure life is looking up at Christmas rather than down. It is amazing, though, how such a small amount of human contact can make a difference.
Here's to a weird, but somehow human and comforting and grateful Christmas,
dave
