h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I hate hospitals
Yesterday afternoon my father was rushed into A&E at the Heath and ended up having an operation in the middle of the night
Whatever the problems of the NHS it does wonderfully in a situation like this
The staff, both nurses and doctors were brilliant
My mother and I must have seen about 10 doctors ranging from a junior when we got to A&E to a consultant surgeon just before the operation
My father is stable and recovering now
But I hate hospitals, I hate waiting around unable to do anything, I hate not knowing whats going on, and I hate not having any control over events
I also hate my parents growing old
My father seems to have aged about 10 years in the last 2
That the people who have always been dependable and there for me are now becoming dependent on me (fortunately for them not just me)is scary

Oh, Blackberry Cat, I hope your father will fully recover!
I just heard on the phone tonight, that my daughter-in-law has a recurrence of a problem she had back in May and will probably need an operation - the only question is exactly what will need to be done... She is a student nurse, so being cared for by colleagues adds an extra dimension of unpleasantness to it for her.
It sounds horrible, but I am sometimes glad my parents didn't make it to old age, and dependence...

Oh Cat. So sorry to hear that your Dad is not well. So happy to hear that he made it to the hospital and that the staff pulled him through. Ani.

I don't really know what else to say...

aww.. kitty


sorry to hear about it.
but i'm glad your fathers recovering.

It must have been a real shock for you and your mum.

Ohhhhh...

ouddles of

x

Ian, we are all thinking of you in work.

Hope your dad makes a full recovery and is home soon

Thankyou for your thoughts
Unfortunately my father suffered a sudden relapse yesterday and died very quickly in the afternoon
I didn't always get on or agree with my father but I grew to like and respect him more and more as the years went on
He grew up in a rough working-class area of Liverpool
His father was unemployed due to illness when my father was still at school but there was no compensation for industrial illnesses back then
My father got into grammar school and did well enough to be offered university places but there were no grants or even student loans back then and the family had no money so after his National Service he joined the Civil Service
He rose to a senior grade that even now is mostly occupied by public school-educated Oxbridge graduates
I;m glad he took early retirement and my parents had some years together doing want they wanted before he died
I shall miss him

Oh my God, Blackberry. So sorry to hear that. My dear soul, I send you big hugs to squeeze all the blood up into your head. I must be off to work now, but keep in touch. My thoughts will be with you today. All the best, Ani.

I'll keep you in my prayers.

Can't imagine how you're feeling, but my heart goes out to you.

He seems to have had a fulfilling life, having clawed his way up from the bottom. Good on him. It's better than many of us do.

Thanks again
Better than I've done, perhaps because he knew what he wanted from life which was a decent standard of living and opportunity for his children
He achieved both of those aims

Ian, call work. Kay can let you know what your entitled 2. We are all very sorry and if there is anything you need or we can do, just let us know.

Hi Ian, we're all thinking of you and your family. What a terrible shock to you all! As I said on the phone, everyone is different and grief affects us all in many and varied ways. Take care of yourself too, and we'll see you when you're ready. Much love from us all Hun x

x

Oh, Blackberry Cat, my condolences... how awful for you and your Mum...




(My Dad was from a similar area of Liverpool as yours.)I am glad your Dad and Mum got to have some time together, and were happy.

Yes...hospitals are horrible, horrible places. My two eldest children spent their first couple of months in one. Staff ranged from brilliant to 'ignorant as feck'. I myself spent six weeks in one last year and found pretty much the same.

My mother was fortunate (!) to die suddenly. My father had a stroke and spent several weeks in hospital before we found a nursing home for him. After 3 days, he died...we think deliberately. He was diabetic and refused food. My mother-in-law, on the other hand, had a very severe stroke some seven years ago and has been without speech and paralysed down one side since. Doctors gave her 12 months to live, and it annoys me that there is no feedback loop to tell them how wrong they were. What *really* annoys me, though, is that she is in a nursing home, separated from her husband. It's a scandal that we can't manage our elderly care to look after the needs of the whole person.

Sorry for being maudlin. I hope things are getting better, Mr Blackberry. It occurred to me only this morning: What *should* we atheists say when we mean something like 'I'll keep you in my prayers'?

Bt the way...where in Liverpool (to you and Adelaide)? My folks were from Bootle and I was born and raised in Waterloo.

<>

What I said (even though I am not atheist): I'll keep you in my thoughts today. Ani.