a new adventure begins
Crisis on the southern border, well on the southern island anyway. So I hightailed it down to Chirstchurch last night to spend some time with mum and catch up with Stu. Stu has just come out of hospital, he has what he thought was a lung infection after a week of the flu, they found fluid on his lungs so they popped him on IV antibiotics and did a chest x ray. The antibiotics worked and his lungs cleared but they found a shoulder fracture on the X-ray. So they sent him for an MRI and the have done a lumbar puncture and biopsy – upshot is that he has bone cancer and they are trying to find how far advanced and make a treatment plan. It’s Stu’s birthday on sept 1st so I decided to come down now while I can support him through the shock and figuring out how to plan for the inevitable chemo and radiation and manage the 5 kids and working. I will be down for at least a week and then come back again every few weeks. Ian picked me up at the airport and gingerly got out of the car and hobbled to the back for me to put my suitcase in. He has damaged c4 and c5 on his spine helping Stu with the ride on lawn mowers since Stu can’t do it. He is about to go to Ireland for 3 weeks on Friday and can hardly walk let alone sit for hours. 😳wondering what the heck is going on down here. This morning I noticed that the gate into the patio at mums was wide open. Easy I think I will just go lock that up, must have blown open in the storms they have been having down here in between the heavy frosts.
So bear with me, this adventure is going to be more like a saga. Mum has a Dr appt this morning for her foot. I read the message and don’t recognise the Dr name but it’s at Ilam medical which is the place I took her to last time for her podiatrist appt. So bright and early ( after trickle charging the car overnight for a flat battery) I take her to the podiatrist, who is rather puzzled because she can’t find the appointment, but as she has a no show she takes us and it’s all good. Then my sister calls in a panic as she’s just been told mum is a no show at her appointment with the Dr – same Medical Center. Apparently she had made an appt with the Dr who would then refer mum to the podiatrist and I had messed up and taken her straight to the podiatrist. Communication breakdown but fortunately with an efficient result. This is less than 24hrs here, you know there is more to come…. It’s going to get more and more convoluted – stay tuned for the intricate dance steps of southern family drama.
The Traveling Kiwi 