It is 7.45 pm and I have just gotten home from the hospital.
Nancy was seen by the nurse this afternoon. Nancy has a clot/lump on her leg and the nurse was concerned it might be a blood cloth, so she send Nancy to the General at 4 pm this afternoon. Apparently she believed it would take a couple of hours but by 6 Nancy was still sitting in the waiting area in Emergency.
I went over there armed with big pillows and to see if I could at least find a doctor to talk to or maybe make some sense of a very confusing situation. It seems pointless to many of us that Nancy with the time frame we have been looking at for the last 5 days, should be spending time in Hospital in Emergency sitting in a silly old chair.
I got to talk to the intake nurse who couldn't really tell me anything - I told her that with my hospice experience it seems crazy that anyone with very little time left should be spending it like this. That when in hospice any patient has a clot like that, they are given a blood thinner and then that is really it! She couldn't do anything but promised me Nancy was next to have a bed - if nothing more pressing came up.
5 minutes later the RN nurse came by to get Nancy. She needed to look at the lump and to take some blood tests. None of us went with her as it was a small area.
When she came back she told us that she wasn't really sure what it is - but that the tests might show. She suggested that Nancy would be given a bed fairly soon but it could still be a little over an hour.
I had a lovely chat with Nancy - she is still in good spirits but my, is she ever exhausted and I am upset that she is spending any kind of precious time left like this. They are still looking at hours ...
Nancy asked that I left - "it would be silly we all sit here waiting" and I promised her from day one that I will respect any wish she has, so I left. I told Mark to feel free to use the "Birgitte volunteers at May Court Hospice" as it does make people listen that little bit more - because they feel we know what we're talking about.
John needed a nice, long, warm hug and was a bit teary - this is hard on him. I am beyond impressed with him - told him I know it takes everything he has not to lose his temper when he has to sit there with her, helpless as can be. We had laughs but certainly this is the first time I have seen him struggle a bit. He says he is ok so long as I don't come along and start being too nice to him :) He is remarkable around her - there is more love than I think anyone has ever seen from these two and I told him that she will leave this place a very happy woman - feeling very loved by everyone!
I got home to a clean kitchen - my tupperware tidy (hasn't happened for years!) and obviously Dom has a job as a babysitter any time. The kids are just amazing - they know everything that is going on because Dom and I are talking about it in front of them - they are allowed to ask questions but honestly I feel they are all very ok with what is going on.
I will let you know what the outcome is - when I know!
love,
B
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