Back to Hospital Week 1 (Starts with Bora Bora)
Monday 5th March 2012 Papeete Hospital Day 7, a Public Holiday
Seems that I am allowed at the hospital anytime, Anne rang me at 9:30 am saying she had been showered and could I come over (I have found shorter way to her bed), now only 4 minutes from my front door to her bed. She spent till about 11 am in the chair, before returning to bed.
Doctors say she can go home next Sunday or Monday. Insurance rang and they are talking about Monday also.
Trying to work with the international dateline, if we left here at 9 am Monday, 12 hrs travelling, we would arrive Sydney 9 pm on Monday Papeete time which would be 6 pm on Tuesday Sydney time.
Good day overall, tonight was the first time she did not have a headache.
Hospital supplied dinner for Kevin again tonight, he has bought two meals plus breakfast cereal all week.
Tuesday 6th March 2012 Papeete Hospital Day 8
An up, down and up again day today.
First, we finally got the message translated that we needed to supply a towel for Anne’s shower, so I was over the Hospital early with a towel “borrowed” from the hotel before setting out to the supermarket to buy us one, and a couple of extra tops for Anne.
I have spent most of the day at the hospital, Anne had too busy a morning and at about 11 am, felt sick and went white, blood pressure went down to 82 something, but she recovered well, all she needed was being put into bed with feet raised.
Quite a fright for me.
She sleep for an hour or two and then wanted her desert but did not want the mush that for her is called the main course. So she had a container each of Yogurt, Custard and peach puree. Lunch supplied to Kevin AGAIN real food not mushed food but I only get a yogurt for desert.
She recovered so quick the Physiotherapist was able to do some physiotherapy at 2:30 pm, her first. The Physiotherapist could feel little but some muscle movement in both arm and leg and I have seen her knee move today.
Next surprise for the day, she is moving to a private ward, and guess what, very weak but some Internet access through the same company I am paying for at the Hotel. Will not be good enough for Skype and will I think will be too weak for Ipad and Iphone, as they cannot find the signal.
I am writing this in her room and will upload later. Anne is asleep now, getting ready for dinner.
Have not meet our new nurses yet, the one in the old room were fantastic, we could get our message across easily.
Next a nurse has told us we are going home F
riday, no confirmation yet from Insurance company.
Doctor is happy with this morning’s CT scan and he is talking about going Friday or Saturday. I expect it will depend on flights, paramedics are coming from Melbourne and need 24 hrs rest here first.
Another day closer to coming home.
You should note an improvement in the English tonight as Anne has been well enough to do some editing.
Her French has improved also.
Our dinners, you can see Kevin’s on the left and mush on the right.
Wednesday 7th March 2012 Papeete Hospital Day 9
Early wake up call at 3:30 am from Anne to say she could not sleep shoulder was sore.
I had my breakfast and arrived at her room at 7:30 am, she had been washed and was waiting for me.
A confusing day re, return home, we were due to leave Friday the 9th, but because of the blood pressure “episode” yesterday, Doctors and Insurance had put it back till a 2am flight on Friday 16th. I now have agreement with doctor for the 12th, Insurance are seeing what they can arrange. So no definite news.
Anne had her physio today and was taken down to level 1 for it. About 45 minutes. The nurse was very happy with Anne’s bike ride. I do not understand but she quoted left leg providing 44% percent. Seems to high, we can feel her pushing but I did not think it was that strong.
Fourth blackout this week, luckily Hospital has a good cross breeze when the windows are open.
Lunch and dinner for Kevin again and mush for Anne.
Skyped from Anne’s room, there is one spot under the window with the louvers open that we can get enough WiFi signal to Skype. The iPad and iPhone have no signal unless I take then out into the courtyard. Anne was able to talk to Trudi and we left a message for Sally.
Plan to catch up at the weekend when we can catch family and friends during the day, 5 pm in Sydney is 8 pm here when visiting finishes, so hard to catch anybody who is working.
Thursday 8th March 2012 Papeete Hospital Day 10
What is becoming the norm, 7:30 am call asking when I am coming over.
She played with the iPad for a few minutes then slept for a short time while waiting for the 10 am Physio (bike 15 mim plus arm exercises in front of mirror). Ok at Physio but stopped after (40 min) as blood pressure dropped a little
Demo - How to move Anne up to top of bed, invert bed and she can do it herself.
Kevin went back to the supermarket for Anne, wanted to do some drawing, so he got her some paper and pencils.
Hospital asked us to get compression stockings for Anne, hers are on the ship. For some strange reason, they cannot supply them like everything else, so they gave me a prescription and a map, about 10 minutes walk the other way than to supermarket was a chemist. I had to pay $160 for two pairs.
Anne did some iPadding then a drawing
Note three feet above
Big news of the Day
We have our flight details for return home
Leave Wednesday morning next week at 8 am, fly to Auckland then to Sydney at 8 pm Thursday night. I am requesting no Airport welcome as I suspect we will be transferred directly to Concord Hospital.
Friday 9th March 2012 Papeete Hospital Day 11
Saturday in Sydney, so we Skyped the kids, Anne was excited to see the grandchildren on Skype.
Good hour at Physico today, no blood pressure problems
Anne was not impressed by the lunch today, just look at her expression.
Kevin had to buy lunch today, different lady on meals, but at $AU8, good value.
Anne was even less impressed when she saw this picture.
Kevin has a second women to look after, from Adelaide, stroke, off cruise ship (Oriana) but no one with her. I have talked to her son in Sydney, filled him in, and he is trying to organise for himself or sister to fly over.
Raining, so cannot get Internet from Anne’s window even with the shutters open. Surprised how sensitive the wifi is.
We must be getting our message across, two real meals supplied tonight, no mush.
Saturday 10th March 2012 Papeete Hospital Day 12
5:30 wake up call from Anne, but I still waited till 7 am before going over. I do not want to outstay my welcome, I think 12 hrs plus is long enough considering visiting is 12-2 pm and 4-8 pm.
Anne has had a very positive day, sat in the chair for over four hours including a trip in the wheelchair to the WeeFee zone (Atrium) with her iPad.
As a treat, I bought Anne a cake from the canteen ($AU2), at least half the price we would pay at a hospital in Australia. We are both getting so much food I will have to change the weight I gave to transfer people.
View from Anne’s room
Kevin felt like he was back at work today, the fire brigade were training nurses on what to do in a fire. Anne was behind the closed fire door for a while. They had a notebook, projector, speakers and PowerPoint, but no idea how to connect and get working. Kevin to the rescue.
Loved the useless fire door, an office allowed you to walk around the fire door
Anne has asked for real food, and it came, she had particularly wanted to chew on a chicken bone, beautiful meal but melon for desert.
Chicken Dinner Anne’s and mine on the right (never seen such a big leg on a chicken).
I am waiting tonight for the son and daughter of the Australian lady to arrive (plane lands at 9:50) so I expect to see them around 11 pm at hotel. I have organised to bring them across to see their mother.
Meet the at 11pm, and we found our way to the ward. 
Sunday 11th March 2012 Papeete Hospital Day 13
Anne had a good morning, shower before doing a tour of the atrium and checking her mail, Facebook and Internet games.
Lunch and dinner for both of us again, and no mush.
Anne finished the day very tired and I left her sleeping at 7:15 pm.
Monday 12th March 2012 Papeete Hospital Day 14
Internet first in the atrium.
Physio again this morning, Anne did bike and stood in a frame.
She was worn out after lunch, especially after the desert I bought at the Canteen.
She sleep after lunch so deeply she thought it was the next day.
Blood test all OK, Anne met the male nurse who is travelling with us while I was at the shops with the other Australians.
Two lunches and dinners again today.
Hope to have a night tonight without Anne calling me. She has been given a sleeping tablet.
Tuesday 13th March 2012 Papeete Hospital Day 15
Started with 4:30 am message from Anne, “need a Tissue”, told her to call nurse, heavy rain so first morning without 4 am rosters.
Last day in Paradise
Physio in the morning, no lunch or dinner for Kevin (but he does not need it)
Packed bags and ready for 5:30 am departure from Hospital
Wednesday 14th March Fly home
Wednesday 14th March Fly home
Left on time with our male nurse Guine , from Papeete, we were taken aside at immigration, “there was no entry stamp”, so how could we leave if we never entered. Delayed us 10 minutes while we explained to the big chief in his office.
Anne at Hospital Ambulance Onto flight via back of truck
Tahiti Nui let me sit with Anne in Business class after they had served the meal, they wanted $750 for me to upgrade at check in, so I knew there was a spare seat, I took my chances, feeding and helping Anne, and it worked.
At Auckland we have a 6 hour stopover, all the airport could offer was a set of chairs with no arms , they said Anne could lie across some. Emirates Lounge (we are flying to Sydney with them) were closed so I popped my head into Qantas Business lounge asking for any suggestions.
They welcomed us with open arms (even though we were not flying Qantas). Reserved a corner with couch, blankets pillows, food and Internet. Even offered a phone to call home if we needed it.
Qantas we love you.
Next Emirates to Sydney
Emirate came and organised things with us in the Qantas Lounge, checking where we were sitting, again I had economy ticket and Anne and Nurse were in Business.
We are on their newest A380, Business class is cubicles instead of seats. I am asked to sit in “the bar” on the A380 while they “find” me a seat. Yes they sympathised with my position and upgrade me to business class two rows behind Anne. I just will be served dinner last.
Impressed with Emirates, cubicles are great, biggest TV I have seen in a plane, even a tail camera so you can watch the airport comings closer. I must admit I shed a few tears, to be back home.
We were taken through the crew exit at immigration and straight out through customs. After finding Ambulance we were soon at Concord, explaining everything again.