Sometime before being taken to the ward my sister, Sue, phoned me from the UK. The neighbour who had helped me had phoned Helen in Adelaide and Helen had phoned Sue. I think that I was recovering some of my speaking ability as I was able to speak to her for a little while.
When I finally was able to make out things in the ward I discovered that I was sharing a ward with three ladies. Two were 83 years old and the third 65. In spite of my speech difficulties it didn't stop them pulling my leg. The sprightly 83 old told me to be a good boy as she was "taken" while the other, somewhat incapacitated 83 year old said that they should have contraceptive pills issued in mixed gender wards!
Next the senior sister came in to tell us that we were all in quarantine as a previous patient in the ward had just received notification that she tested positive to a highly resistant bug. All visitors and staff had to wear gowns and a nil contact regime put in place.
During the morning and early afternoon I was prodded and tested by various Doctors and Therapists to determine the extent of my stroke. I was beginning to feel quite good but my heart rhythms were still causing concern. I was transferred to a single isolation room in the Stroke Unit.
I was told that Helen was trying to get from Adelaide to Brisbane but most of the flights had been cancelled due to ash from the Chilean volcano eruption. After trying several airlines she got on a Virgin flight via Sydney to Brisbane. Here S, our next-door Airport bus driver, arranged for another driver to drop her off at the hospital. It was after 10.30pm when she arrived and I was asleep. The hospital arranged for her to stay a the Red Cross Hostel near the hospital and provided her with security guard to escort her to her room.
During the day I failed the simplest cognition test when I could only remember one of the four words I had to remember for a few minutes. I was also having trouble remembering words so my speech was a bit slow but not slurred.
I went to sleep on day two of my changed life lonely and a little afraid.
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