Rest In Peace Dad

 My lovely Dad died at 8:30 am yesterday morning.  I spoke with him on Sunday and he was his usually chirpy self saying that he was sure he would be home by the end of the week and would enjoy reading the blog from his phone in the hospital.  Sadly on Monday he had another heart episode, which necessitated sedation and shock treatment and due to the sudden collapse he also bashed his head quite badly.  A CT scan showed a fracture on the skull with an accompanying small bleed on the brain.  Due to the uncertainty of his condition my brother Col and I were allowed to be with him.  I arrived at the hospital at 8pm Monday evening as Col had arrived a few hours before me.  A priest was called and Dad was given the Sacrament of The Sick.  Since he was fairly peaceful due to the sedative Col and I returned to Mum and Dad's house at 11pm only to be woken by a telelphone call from the hospital at 1am.

It was a long night and Dad's heart and oxygen rate kept dipping and then he seemed to rally but as the night turned into day his heart became really irregular and we knew it wouldn't be long.  Just before he died the sedation had worn off slightly -enough for him to open his eyes and recognise we were with him and that was a real comfort.  Col and I had prayed with him and for him during the night and at the very end we were able to encourage him to make that step in to eternity - a very painful and humbling priviledge.  

Dad it hurts not to have you here and you have left a massive hole, may you rest in peace, San xx 

Last Week

Another school year and a ...

... not back to school silly car selfie and our first coffee stop since March.  We dropped off some items for Dave and our usual route home was blocked so we made it home via the motorway and a pitstop at Costa as a treat.

Elderberry Foraging

On Friday we went foraging for elderberries with Nanna.  Not only were they thin on the ground but small in size probably due to a combination of a very dry spring and a poor summer.  With a bit of luck we might manage to make one jar of elderberry syrup from our meagre pickings.

Crochet

I finished the blanket for my customer and she promptly placed an order for another one, this time in blue.  I have all the necessary colours which left over from the coast colourway bunting so I cast on immediately and have made good progress.

Hospital Number Three

My lovely dad was admitted to the High Dependency Unit late on Friday night. It was a grace of God that my brother and his wife were staying for the weekend as he had to administer CPR whilst waiting for the ambulance.  At one point there was some concern regarding a stroke but thankfully the CT scan was clear.  I spoke with Dad's nurse yesterday morning for a progress report and once Dad had his phone dropped of yesterday afternoon, I had a quick chat with him at the tea time.  The cardiologist in the local hospital will be speaking with Dad's cardiologist at Blackpool at some point today.  He does have heart failure but with careful monitoring and a possible change in medication he should hopefully be home later this week. 

 I will not lie, I had a jolly good cry yesterday morning whilst watching online mass.  I think the whole situation with Dave, trying to support the kids, my own health and concern for my parents just got on top of me. God is a very good listener and so He listened whilst I blubbered!!  I do miss mass too and I'm trying to find a way to attend, I think I'll speak with Fr Geoffrey our priest about the best day to visit. 

Update

 Dave was transferred to the Sue Ryder Neurological Rehab Centre a week today.  Pip and I were allowed to see him the day before his transfer as we were unsure whether we would be allowed to visit at the new place.  We can visit once his seven day quarantine is over which ends to today providing his second Covid test is clear.

He has settled in well and has a lovely ground floor room with an en suite bathroom. All the staff are not only very competent but very caring and at least four of the clinical support workers are Catholic/Orthodox so contact has been made with the local Parish Priest regarding Holy Communion.  Dave is now thankfully on the correct diet as a result of a visit from the dietician and head chef; not only is the food nourishing it is well presented and appetising. Most importantly of all however Dave is now accessing intensive physio rehab five times a week with additional occupational therapy support of at least twice a week.

The kids and I are bumbling along.  I won't lie my health is pretty rubbish right now and I'm using disability aids in the home and outside to help me get about.  Ben is majorly stressed about a return to college, (we have this every single year but this time it is much worse as a result of Covid)  and activities that Pip would normally attend, are either not running or it is tricky to access due to my own health inadequacies.

 My lovely friend Eva wrote a thorough and detailed list of a home school plan and I had intended to put the suggestions in place over the summer break.  Well that old saying "If you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans" certainly heled true this year!  I have however signed Pip up for a Year 7 English class courtesy of Oxford Home Learning so at least we have Maths and English sorted. Little by little we'll get there :-)

First time seeing Dad in five weeks

A room not only with a view but a place ...

... to dine al fresco!

Wildflower meadow on the estate :-)

Sarah who took Dave for a tour around the grounds yesterday :-)