A Whole New Skillset!


In ship's hospital thinking ... well, you know what

Yesterday, we began my mastery of my walker. That includes "transferring" an added skillset to get from lying in bed, to sitting up, putting on moon boot, standing. Transferring all by itself takes a good 5 minutes after the nurse arrives to help (including strap on moon boot). Meaning: plan way ahead if you think you need to pee!

Walking with walker has taken me to just outside my room door. And then straight back to bed to recover. And I am not allowed to walk alone...must be accompanied by a medical professional...or Tommy. (Hmmm.)

Concentrating each step of the way

The moon boot is a whole skillset of its own. It is enormous and it is heavy. God bless velcro! That's how it layers onto your foot. I have learned the sequencing of things to get it on, but not allowed to try bending over to do it on my own. Tommy is training in actually getting it on me. 

Then there's showering, brushing teeth, using toilet. I think showering is my favorite. They sit you in wheelchair, remove the seat so you are on a "hole" to reach down, well, you know. Momma used to call it cleaning  "possible." Enough of that.

I may get the hang of this... maybe

Tommy has displayed a remarkable capability in organizing and managing details. Trip rerouting. Insurance.  Paying hospital- they accept cash or credit only. (Currently entire bill, including surgeon is about $7000USD.) Unfortunately, Tommy's  skillset growth doesn't always extend to remembering to bring things like my hairbrush. I'm not complaining - right now he's walking to try to find me some ice cream. Yum.

Food has been an adventure in Namibian hospital cuisine. Nuff said!

Skillset mastery has not included mastering "Namibian English." But everyone is friendly and seems to forgive having to work through painful verbal exchanges.

Whitney from PT

It's looking like the fun here will come to an end Friday.  Puddle jumper flight out of Walvis Bay to Cape Town. Change to Delta. 16 hours nonstop to Atlanta. Then change to Charleston, getting home late Saturday morning.  I have a hunch the flights will be a completely new adventure.

Stay tuned!

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 20, 2023 at 1:06 PM

    Our thoughts are with you both you are both on a very steep learning curve and it would appear you are very fast learners!!!! Or rather had to be we don’t envy your journey but the up side is you will get American food!! I bet you will never complain about McDonalds again LOL
    Peter has had his 2nd injection today he seems to be a very large fraud the injection takes 2 minutes every other day and so far no reactions
    The next injections , 1 per week and overnight here for the next 4 weeks. Guys is not easy fot us to get to as you can imagine the traffic particularly pre Christmas is horrendous so we just soldier on and hope the treatment works We are thinking of you I am sure Tommy is using all his logistical and nursing skills
    Pleas keep up the blogs and be assured we are willing you home
    Much love Hilary and Peterxxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. AlmaDecember 20, 2023 at 2:03 PM

    I'm laughing in the face of your trauma. Your funny description of what is going on--you still have your sense of humor. If we did not laugh we would surely cry. I think my brother-in-law may have taken us to Namibia when we were in South Africa, You are fortunate that you were able to find a safe haven hospital in the midst of your problems. And to have someone like Tommy with you who is so able to negotiate what needs to be done. I indeed know what you are going through with your ankle because I did the same thing. I know it will be a long journey home, but it is great you have a nonstop from Cape Town to Atlanta. I don't think they had that when we travelled there. Take heart, take care, and my prayers are with you. With love, Alma

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 20, 2023 at 3:41 PM

    Two observations, E, via your photos. 1) the hospital floor is not dirt, the walls not thatch…2) despite your circumstances, you somehow look both elegant and in control:-). Roxie

    ReplyDelete

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