Part 22 - Me n my bonce

No tubes out my neck or nose now also meant I could see my niece and nephew who i still hadn't seen since my nephews birthday on 4th June! They were coming to see me at the weekend! The next few days I went from strength to strength! Such a boost finally having that damn tube out of my throat! Also knowing I was going to see 2 little people who meant the world to me! I got stronger and stronger at physio, walking out of my room and part way down the corridor, nurses would be so encouraging and have big smiles to see me and my zimmer frame coming down the corridor! Excited to see mum and dad and tell them just what I had done that day was a great feeling! I was still having trouble with my catheta it kept backing up and getting blocked! It was changed yet again and I also had a flip valve fitted this time to it to retrain my bladder as I had now had a catheta for over 3.5 months! The valve was ok for about the first 4 hours then just became blocked again, I was given no option the nurses removed it as it was now stressing me out too much, crying each time feeling like I had lost control of my bladder now too! 31 and wetting myself as well as ruining the sexy surgical stockings which there was now a national shortage of! (The shortage wasn't caused by me though!) I was really anxious, would I know if I needed a wee? Would I make it in time? The daytime peeing went great, using a commode in my room and it was left in my room overnight much to the disgust of the hitler cleaner manager that came round everyday! (Hey I suppose I finally had that ensuite!) I still had to be supervised getting to and from the commode and the nurses had to let the side of my bed down so I could actually get out! I managed to make it every time! Yeah me! One night I was awoken thinking I could hear something, well!!! An older fella from down the corridor had got out of his room and was trying to get on my commode (still with his jammies on may I add!) I pressed my bell and fortunately the nurses came apologised and removed him! Phew that was strange but funny looking back now everyone saying no xxxx, xxxx go back to your bed! Apparently he got out of his bed one day and he was asked where he was going? His reply.... To the other side of my bed! Now I know the beds were a little bigger than your average single bed but probably only by a fag paper! A couple of nights later he came and visited me again in the middle of the night just standing over me saying no no no no no like the man from Vicar of Dibley! Again the nurses came to my rescue!
Saturday came and I was so looking forward to seeing my niece and nephew, they were dubious at first staring at the whacking great big plaster on my neck! My nephew didn't say anything just gave me big kisses and cuddles! My niece on the other hand came in gave me kisses and a cuddle and straight away questioned DL (that's what they called me!) why have you got a plaster on your neck? Because I have a sore throat I replied! Well after that my zimmer frame, bed and wheelchair were so much fun it didn't really matter and it was just like we were at home! On the Sunday we had another family meal a KFC! It was nice to eat with mum and dad as we always had dinner together I missed it probably more than eating! Well ok maybe not more than eating but I did miss it! My neck plaster also had to be changed also on this day! And I take my hat off to the nurse that did this and will forever be apologetic to her! A normal plaster being taken off hurt enough, let alone a big square plaster with no pad/non sticky bit on it on the hole created by my tracheostomy! I may have spoke a little loudly with a little tap possibly to the arm of my chair! Wow that hurt!!! She also put my new plaster on for me, I hope that didn't need to be done too frequently I remember thinking!
As i now had no tracheostomy I was now able to go to neuro rehab but I had to wait for a bed! I was visited by Frank Cooksey which was part of King's as well as a private rehab in Blackheath! Frank Cooksey had previously accepted me but was waiting for my trackie to be removed now I had to wait for a bed, Blackheath were having a meeting the following day to see whether they would accept me. Days came and went and still no news! During an UNO session with mum and dad the sister of Kinnier Wilson came in and broke the news Frank Cooksey has a bed, scariest news - your going tomorrow!