Monday 24 October 2011

24th October 2011

Hiya,
There may be some changes over the next few days with Steven. We have appointments with solicitor, social security, and hospital doctor. We could be at home for nearly 2 weeks from this Thursday to get all this sorted. The doctor is in Torrevieja hospital, and the hope is that he will arrange for Steven to have his physio' locally allowing us to return home permanently. This meeting is on 2nd November, what happens after that date is anyone's guess, but we could be home the next day, the next week, or next month. I'll keep you updated. All I know is, I get the feeling we're going to be busy!! We have been told that this move will not affect the timing of his operation if and when that is. Steven is already considering living on his own at his own house for a few days. He is coping very well at the rented house, even cooking meals for us, getting his own drinks, washing, shaving, dressing, and doing his own medicines. He can cope, although we have concerns about the possibilty of him stumbling or falling, but sooner or later we have to get used to this, it's going to be difficult, but he is full of confidence. There are doubts as to Steven's eligiblity to any sort of pension, due to our pensions being too big. I can understand this, yet again it's people like us, who have scrimped and saved, and who get penalised by a system which allows lazy people spending their money on booze and being able to claim everything, the same as happened to an Aunty of mine having to sell her house to pay for her care, disgusting. What he and we need desperately is some good news, a date for his operation would suffice.
Best regards Terry

Monday 17 October 2011

17th October 2011

Hiya,

Steven says he is enjoying the freedom of living at the rented house. He has total privacy in his own room where he can play his music to his heart's content. He noticed the difference immediately, no-one walking into his room un-announced, no doors slamming, no people shouting, no routine. He goes to town with us to choose his food, and Pauline provides hot food. His physio' is now only one 3 hour block every morning, and not split into 4 separate blocks throughout the day, much more manageable. This gives Pauline and I time to ourselves, and we all then have time to do our thing every afternoon and evening. Being an out-patient allows Steven to go out into the wider world, including bingo at Alzira where he shouted for a "full house" and won 112 euro. He has also been given permission to be unsupervised when walking to and from the physio' dept', and within it's confines. We'll be there though, it's just nice to know the staff have confidence in Steven's progress. Steven is doing so well, and at the risk of repeating myself, is that the only thing holding him back now is the operation on his hip, of which we still haven't had any news.
Best regards Terry

Thursday 13 October 2011

13th October 2011

Hiya,
Monday evening we attended the local clinic so that Steven could see his doctor. However, as we approached the front door of the clinic, we were met by a woman who said “Steven?” We both said yes (in Spanish). From now on the conversation was in Spanish. The woman said “Steven, accident?” Again we said yes. She then went on to say that she was the main witness to Steven’s accident. Steven swore quite loudly, and immediately apologized. The woman became very emotional and was hugging Steven as she cried. Steven didn’t know her, and has never met her. She had recognised Steven purely from reading this blog, and seeing the photo’s on Facebook. Even though she had read this blog, she couldn’t believe she was actually seeing him. This was an important meeting for Steven because there are huge sections of the last year which he knows nothing about. She said that she saw the offending car travel at speed through a red traffic light, and was able to think at the time, that she hoped nothing was coming from the other junction. She saw the horrific collision and saw the cars spin round. She saw a man get out of the offending car, and she thought, that’s good at least one person is okay, but this person just walked up to Steven’s taxi, he looked in, brushed himself down or checked himself, then ran away, much to her disgust. She saw the Police and ambulance arrive and saw Steven being dragged out of the taxi, and saw the emergency services reviving and caring for Steven. The accident was upsetting for her as she had lost her father in a road traffic accident. She was totally overwhelmed at seeing Steven, and I had to comfort her a few times. We knew some of the facts of the accident, but not people’s thoughts and feelings, which can be just as important. Steven will keep in touch with this lady as an aid to his recovery. A remarkable meeting.
We continued to see Steven’s doctor, however when we reached the surgery, the doctor wasn’t Steven’s doctor, and he knew nothing about Steven. I later found out that for an unknown reason Steven’s doctor had too many patients, and Steven has been given this new doctor, who also didn’t know what was going on!!. The doctor was able to give Steven a prescription for his medicines, but Steven didn’t discuss his case any further because at the time he was hoping to see his own doctor at a future meeting. This will not now be the case, Steven will have to start all over again with his records with the new doctor.
Best regards Terry

Monday 10 October 2011

10th October 2011

Hiya,
firstly, Pongo has been located and is at home with us.
Steven is now an out-patient. For the time being we will remain at the rented house next to the hospital, and he will continue to receive physio' at the hospital in a 3 hour block every day, instead of split timings. We will stay there until he has had his operation on his hip. However, this has caused a minor problem in that Steven now has to see his own doctor at home for any future problems or medicines. He sees his doctor tonight, Monday, and then we'll return to the rented house late evening. There's an outside chance that his own doctor may actually suggest coming home to have the operation here, now that would be handy. I'll let you know what happens.
We came home Thursday evening for our normal weekend break, but due to the doctor's appointment the weekend break was extended, and as luck would have it, we were at home when the dog pound 'phoned to say they had the dog. Normally Monday morning we would have been at Valencia. We collected him, he was fine. From the look of him he's been looked after because he was clean and well fed. He was found about 2 miles south along the coast, his chip was checked and now we have him. We're all pleased.
Steven is fine, although he still has social issues, and doesn't like criticism or advice he doesn't like. This makes him very argumentative, he bangs his fist, cries, screams, and froths at the mouth, and looks very frightening. We're hoping that it's just him being the equivalent of a stroppy teenager as he grows, because in effect that's what's happened to Steven all this time, he's had to grow, and learn everything. We think that when he's had his operation, the pain will disappear, thus removing the cause of frustration and anger. We can only hope. Otherwise we've had a good weekend, a couple of Full English breakfasts, evening meal out, played pool with friends, long sleeps, and bingo both Paul and Steven shouting for a line.
best regards
Terry

Wednesday 5 October 2011

5th October 2011

Hiya,
At last Steven has been given permission to leave his hospital room, and be an out-patient. He will live at our rented house, and visit the hospital every day for his physiotherapy. We think that his demeanour will improve once he is out of the noise and routine of a hospital, and of course he will eat better food. However this news also comes with a few surprises. No date has been given for his hip operation, however if we pay privately, it would be done, and more quickly, but at the moment the cost is unknown. We now have to decide whether to pay or to wait. Whether private or the Health Service, we don’t know where the operation will take place. If we stay here, the operation could be nearer home! If we return home, the operation could be here! We are desperately short of useful information. We have also been told, that as an out-patient we are responsible for his medication, and the only way we can get that, is to visit his own doctor at home, who writes a prescription, and we go to the local chemist. However that means a four hour round trip, plus associated problems, to see his doctor. I have arranged for a doctor here to write a prescription until we see Steven’s doctor. We have started to clear his room. There was 10months accumulation of letters, cards, gifts, DVD’s, CD’s, books, games, clothes, all manner of cables for/and electronic gadgets, comfort foods/drinks, toiletries, and general rubbish which should come useful one day!. This then made the rented house resemble the local tip, and it all had to be sorted out again. We have had to weigh up the pros and cons of the move, and we’re still not sure whether we’re doing the right thing. So there could be another change of plan by the time you read this.
Best regards
Terry

Saturday 1 October 2011

1st October 2011

Hiya
very little to add this week. We still complain about the hospital food but nothing is done, despite all other patients saying the same!! We had a productive meeting with Steven's doctors, which revealed that though they have permission for his operation, they haven't got the authorisation?? Spain is going through a monetary crisis the same as others, and some expenses have to be cut and savings made. But we have argued that the longer the delay the more problems created, and the longer the stay in hospital. We cannot do any more but just wait for any reaction, hopefully early this new month. The doctors have admitted that Steven is passing all manner of tests, the results exceeding earlier tests, and that there is little that they can do for him that we can't do at home. So we have yet again asked for Steven to live with us at the rented house near the hospital, and visit the hospital daily as an out-patient for his physio', until his operation. The doctors told us, that Steven's continued improvement now mainly depends on his own abilities. His main problems now, are his speech, which is low and almost slurred, his elbow, which cannot be done until after his hip operation, and his foot, which is improving all the time. His social and emotive issues are improving because he is at last acknowledging that he can be at fault. Basically he's trying so hard to be "normal", and should just slow down a little. He has come such a long way in his stay at the hospital, it's been remarkable, defying all the doctor's expectations. We try to enjoy our weekends at home, but this is difficult sometimes with cleaning and maintenance issues, but we get by. As if we haven't got enough problems, some nice person decided to deprive Paul of his car radio whilst his car was parked outside our house. Still no sign of Steven's dog, despite followers of a local forum looking for him, and us doing regular searches of the area. We must give a big thank you, and a hug, to Lyndsey Lyons of Javea, for her efforts to raise some money to help Steven in his path to recovery.

best regards

Terry