Six weeks away from home

Six weeks ago, this is what I started to write.  "It is now 4:02 p.m. and thus far no call from the drug store who will deliver the items prescribed by the physio therapist.  I am hoping that they will come today. CCAC was contacted by the Emergency doctor at the Juravinski Hospital when they did not admit me.  For those outside of Ontario, CCAC means Community Care Access Center and is the agency who oversees the medical needs of the people in Ontario.  For an example, they can send a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, personal care worker and many, many other things for

housebound people.  It is like an umbrella - with many spokes.

I have had a lovely day with lots of good company.  David, from the library came over with my "holds" and we had a wonderful chat.  He is an older person but I don't know his age. A very interesting person to talk to and to listen to."

Those were my words of six weeks ago.  A great lapse of time has passed since I put this into the "save" position on blogger so I could finish it. To be exact, six weeks of hospital and convalescent care.

Sometimes it is good that we cannot see into the future.That way we do not fret about it but just carry on when trouble strikes.

How does one describe six weeks which go by in a flash, never to return again?   Three weeks in the Juravinski  hospital in two different wards, then another three weeks in St. Joseph's Villa in Dundas recuperating.

To make a long story short, all the pain that I was enduring was because of a broken bone in the tail-bone.  Suffice it to say, I would not wish the pain and suffering that this brings onto anyone.

I met some lovely people in the hospital, both patients and staff. On the whole, I would say it was a positive experience.

The most positive part was at St. Joseph's Villa where I could receive the care I needed but had more freedom.  There was plenty of routine there as well, but at least I could sit outside in the beautiful grounds or sit on the screened in veranda on my floor.

The grounds there are lovely, it is in a more rural part of Hamilton which I really enjoyed.

Here are a few pictures.

My most favourite spot - the balcony on the 5th floor
I sat out here after breakfast and before physiotherapy and then in the early part of the evenings.

I loved this little welcome sign

The history of the place

Rhona brought me these lovely flowers

This was my little room - I really liked the bed rails - they were so helpful

Part of the recreation room

A lovely picture in the Physiotherapy room.  We had a class of exercises plus four different machines to work on.  I actually enjoyed all of them as it made me stronger.  I also liked the staff there as well.

A larger view of my room

The front of the building where I was

The other side of the building where long term care is provided

The Bill of Rights

Gerri - one of my table mates

Eileen - one of my table mates

Annie - my table mate

My final full day - they had a concert.  I was just lucky to have heard about it so I went.

Part of the recreation room - we had singsongs provided by Frank once or twice a week
Frank is a wonderful man who is a Personal Support Worker.

Two of the highlights for me of my stay at St. Joseph's Villa was when my pal Jeff picked me up and took me to Pier 8 and treated me for lunch and then we sat and chatted while enjoying the water.  I enjoyed this quiet time with a good friend.  Another one was with Jeff also when he picked me up at the Villa and brought me to our annual picnic for the Whitehern guys and gals.  It was a big surprise and we all had a great time.  Jeff played his ukulele and sang which was very enjoyable.

I had emailed him asking permission to put his version of both these events onto my blog as he did such a good job of writing them, but could not find them on facebook anymore.  It is really too bad as I had a good laugh when I read them and wanted to share them with you so you could be amused as well.

Ah well, perhaps I will find them another day but I will publish this now.  Hope you have a good evening and a good sleep.