Ward 14 ChCh hospital,

Tomorrow morning Thursday 26th November - Jacky is going to be re admitted to ward 14 Christchurch public hospital. She has chosen to do this herself (in consultation with our family GP) as she really desperately needs to get her health sorted,or more specifically right now her leg sorted. It seems that the wait to see a specialist privately is a longer journey that it is to be readmitted into the public system to hopefully get the clarity she needs on her health - to plan a way forward. Jacky has lost the use of her right leg and is, as predicted by the Auckland Drs, in agony with it. She had a scan on Monday that confirmed the DVT is "persisting" - or hasn't gone away. The fact that this DVT could have ended Jackys life was a huge blow to us both. How many times does one have to face mortality? I was told today that we face our mortality each day when we awake - perhaps - but not as my Jacky is having to face hers seemingly over and over and over. And I detest it! Damn this situation. Damn this cruel pain for haunting my love, whom I still believe IS the kindest person in the world. How can this be fair? It can't. That is the plain and simple truth of it. It cannot.
Today I found the elusive Maori advocate health worker - infact I found an entire team of advocates there to awhi and tautoko (support) Maori patients in ChCh hospital. Jacky and I were told the last time she was in hospital that there was no Maori health advocate in ChCh hospital. I had a lengthy conversation with a woman named Fiona who was staunch, proud and convicted in her manner. All traits that I respect. She assured me and reassured me that her and her team would look after Jacky if she were admitted again, and that they would make sure that all of Jackys needs would be met and, that this time there would be "no bullshit". Her colourful use of language only came about in response to my own as I relayed the reasons why Jacky already has cause for a huge health and disability case against the CDHB.
I pray with every part of my being that this time the medical oath of "first cause no harm" and the word "care" will come literally into play. At least in ward 14 under the charge of superbly professional charge nurse Ann, there is a team of genuinely lovely people who do genuinely care for our Jacky, Pirika and Martha and our whanau.
My mum used to say "where there is a will there is a way". Jacky and I have lived our lives by that simple mantra. Plenty of will - just gotta find the way.
As always - Jacky enters this next part of her journey with positive enthusiasm and is looking forward to moving forward, and to being well again.
Warmly loving you all and eternally grateful for the aroha and support you give us.

xo