Day +162 ( Sat 18th July)
Hi to everyone and welcome back to Manchester. Ella and I are here on Saturday evening, about 9.00pm and we are trying to get ourselves settled for the night. At the moment with only a little success.
As you may remember, I have been home for a few days to look after Rachael, and her brood, following her stay in hospital. It has been a very busy time but very enjoyable, I must say. A complete change from being here, having four boisterous monkeys chasing around the place all the time, not to mention school and nursery runs. Rachael has done really well and is up and about, almost as usual. She’s not allowed to do anything strenuous for a while yet, but day to day things she is managing now. Sally is there at present, so we have swapped over again.
When I arrived back this afternoon I caught up on today’s news, from Daddy and the nurses, on how Ella has been today, and all the news was great! She had a super morning which included a big walk almost to the end of the unit. Ella looks a lot better as well, even in the 5 days I’ve not been here.
Last Monday Dr Wynn called a case meeting for everyone involved in Ella’s care to attend and give their input. It was very lively and informative and basically said that Ella’s care needs to be specialised in many ways, to make sure that she is pain free and is able to move about the hospital as much as possible, for example to the restaurant or physio gym, whilst still being on her lines. ( there has been some doubt as to whether or not she is allowed off the unit). Since the meeting, things have been tightened up with regard to Ella’s regime during the day. She now has a timetable to work to……times to be up and dressed by, physio appointments, teaching times etc…..in order to restructure her days and build up her self confidence and self esteem. The gastro surgeon was there too and he is going to have another look into her tummy, probably one day next week. In the meantime he is happy for her to continue with little tastes of what she fancies, as it will encourage her bowel to want to start functioning again.
Since Ella has been ‘encouraged’ not to be a nudist any more the problem of comfortable outfits has come into play. Obviously anything snug around her tummy is completely out of the question, so we have resorted to aged 12/13 yrs t.shirts and shorts to keep her going with for the time being. It has been lovely going out to choose her some nice summery things to wear, although like all 8yr olds (going on 18yr olds ) she still has a lot to grumble about if they’re not just right! Ella is such a dear little girl…. it is increasingly more difficult to be cross with her when she argues back..it must seem to her that she has lost control almost everything in her life at the moment.
It has been Jack’s birthday today, he is now 6yrs. We all had a party at Kid’s Play in Birkdale and I made sure to bring Ella a party bag back with me. Of course it included all the usual ‘boy’stuff in it……sweets, airplane kit, bouncy ball and a whoopee cushion! Nurse Rachel fell for that one, when she came in earlier. It brought a smile to Ella’s face for a while, anyway.
I’m just eating a little bit of feta salad at the moment. I’m not really supposed to in the room, but I guess a cold snack isn’t too much to ask, is it? I’ve just been told that the blinds opening onto the corridor, from all the rooms, have to be left open at all times according to the ‘matron’. Wonderful! I mean they are in and out of the room all the time anyway, and know that we will call them the moment we need them!! It makes one wonder why the rooms were fitted with blinds in the first place, doesn’t it?
On a brighter note I would like to say hello to Janet! Hi there, so glad to hear that you are OK and lots of love and best wishes from us all in your new job!
I am going to close now and do some reading to finish my night off. Ella is fast asleep but the machines are beeping so Jo is in and out a lot at the moment. Oh…..spoke too soon….she’s awake. Got to go.
Night night to everyone and we send you lots of love and all our thanks for your loving concern, support and prayers.
Ella and Annette.xx