Time to Stop and Smell the Roses

Hello dear friends...

Since my last post, almost four months ago, the following has transpired...

July 14. Arrived home from holiday in Honolulu, Hawaii with my carer, Roberta. I was not well, due to chest infection... confirmed in Bendigo Hospital a few days later (while I was 'away with the fairies') as legionnaires disease.

August 6. Transferred to Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, where I underwent an operation to repair a bleeding duodenum (stomach ulcer) - opened up twice and given a 50% chance of survival (relatives summoned to my bedside) - but I wasn't ready to go - still got too much unfinished business to do on this planet! The skills of the doctors and nursing staff at the Austin obviously saved my life and I will forever be thankful to them. The morphine that went through my system, however, gave me the most horrible nightmares... which I still can't put out of my mind.
Due to kidney failure, I also had a 'fistula' fitted to my right arm in preparation for dialysis treatment, which commenced almost immediately.

Sept. 18. Transferred to Rehabilitation Hospital, Heidelberg, after several weeks of recuperation, needles, tablets, tests and dialysis treatments (which are to continue twice weekly for the rest of my life).

Nov. 1. Back home at last. Initially, because Bendigo Hospital has no spare dialysis machines I have to travel by ambulance back to the Austin in Melbourne each Monday and Friday for treatment... leaving at 7 a.m. and returning home about 5 p.m. A loooong day, but I have no alternative until Bendigo has more machines available (hopefully by mid December).

To those of you who sent me cards, phoned and/or visited me while I was in hospital, thank you from the bottom of my heart... your good wishes and prayers really kept me going and now that I'm back home I will do all in my power to keep in touch.

The photos taken on our trip to Hawaii will have to wait a little while until I get a bit more energy back in my system (and learn how to post them on to this site), so please bear with me in that area... I'm getting there, but not quite yet.

All I can ask at the moment is PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH... I need all my friends right now.

Warm wishes, love and good thoughts from Colin.