Tuesday, September 09, 2014

Back From Another Place


Looking back on my last post, it is entitled "Off To The Seaside" and it simply says "Off to the seaside, back soon". As it happened, little of this turned out to be true. Compressing down what feels like one of the longest couple of weeks of my life, the facts are as follows. A couple of days before we were due to go to Cornwall I had a hospital appointment about the nasty eye infection I had been suffering from for five or six weeks. They warned me that it was more serious than we thought and that I needed an intensive period of antibiotic and steroid treatment and appointments with further specialists. On their advice, we cancelled the holiday. A few days later, my wife, Isobel, returned from a short shopping trip with severe abdominal pains. Within an hour she was rushed to hospital and she finished up having emergency surgery in the middle of the night. She was on Intensive Care for a few days, but then gradually recovered and finally came out of hospital yesterday. In between visiting the hospital to see her, I saw various other specialists and I am glad to report that my eye problem is equally responding to treatment. Alexander was given the week off work to help look after us and his care and support, and that of his new wife Heather, have been something we will never forget. Hopefully things will continue to improve over the next couple of weeks and I can return to my regular blogging schedule, but until then posts to my various blogs might be few and far between.

Two years ago, the Olympic Games were held in London and the film director Danny Boyle was given the task of putting together an opening ceremony which would somehow showcase the achievements of the host nation. In a move of genius, he decided to base the main part of the ceremony around a celebration of what the programme described as "the institution that more than any other, unites our nation - the National Health Service". In a fortnight in which that same NHS and its dedicated staff have saved my wifes' life and helped save my sight, I cannot do other than express my sincere thanks to it and rededicate myself to help ensuring its continued survival as a free and first class service available to all.

Alan

17 comments:

  1. Gosh, what a fortnight you have all had! Sorry to hear about this, but it now sounds like you are both on the mend, which is good news. Wishing you both a speedy and continued recovery :)

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  2. What a nightmarish couple of weeks, Alan. I'm so sorry to hear this. Here's wishing you both a quick return to full health.

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  3. Very sorry to hear about your misfortunes, and best wishes to you both for a speedy recovery.

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  4. Let's hope the bad stuff is behind you and things get better in the coming weeks.

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  5. I'm sorry to hear that the both of you have had serious health issues, but very happy indeed to hear that things are much better now. I'm looking forward to the day when return to wandering the countryside and bring back photographic gems. Oh yeah, and the pubs, too! To your health!

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  6. It's not good, being sick. Here's to your NHS and your lovely children for getting you up and running again,

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  7. Sometimes the News From Nowhere can be very distressing. I wish you both a speedy recovery.

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  8. I am glad you two are getting better. I ended up with Lyme's disease a couple months back and life and the future sure looked differently for a while. I am better but there are things still needing to be better. I hope the eye thing does get back to normal for you. You son and his wife did a great job. Welcome back.

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  9. It never rains but it pours. So sorry to hear about your traumas. I'm glad things are improving and hope you both continue to recover well.

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  10. Blog when you can. Concentrate on getting better. (Both of you.)

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  11. I'm sorry you both has some serious problems and I hope you both fully recover. I'm sure you are thinking, "What if I'd gone on the trip?"

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  12. Sorry to hear of health issues that postponed your travels...indeed "nowhere" ended up being a destination of health, what we call a "stay-cation." Take it easy and come back here when you feel like it.

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  13. My best to you and Isobel too! Good think your Lad is a Doctor! Here all this time I was envious of your time at the Seashore... take good care of each other:)

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  14. That is shocking news. How horrible for you both. I hope you both make a quick and full recovery.

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  15. I'm Really Sorry To Hear This Alan.I;m glad your both Mending.Love to Isobel. Ditto re NHS.Best Wishes,T.

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  16. Alan how horrible for you both. Glad to know you are both feeling better x

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  17. So glad that you are both better as I am reading this several days on. I have to say that my past interactions with the NHS can only be described as amazing. I am here today only because of fantastic care some years ago.

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