misadventures

Kia ora all,
here I am standing at an internet kiosk on level 5 of Auckland hospital.. at my feet there is a sign that says clearance sale and underneath this, a few random items for sale - one of which is a wall plaque that reads
"the significant problems that we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them - Albert Einstein"..
how timely to be looking for answers, and finding this little pearl of wisdom at my feet.
Jacky has DVT or blood clots, in laymans terms, in her right leg. The Drs up here believe this is a result of her 2nd and most major surgery. It is their oppinion that Jacky should have been put of blood thinning drugs as a precautionary measure after the big 31at July surgery,and that if so, she would not have ended up in this situation. Just yet another example of how ChCh hospital has failed Jacky. This "over sight" perhaps, has resulted in Jacky being in intense pain from the DVT, laying in her bed in room 6, ward 73 in this very hospital, with blood thinning drip, IV antibiotics and back on pain relief - which as nasty as it can be, is somewhat of a welcome relief.
This morning we were told by a seemingly lovelyDr/specialist named Jonathon "if I were in charge of your care Jacky there would be a number of things that I would be doing that do not appear to have been carried out in ChCh".. I questioned him on this and he gave us some ideas of how to best manage this when we get back south. I questioned "how could it be that ChCh hospital and the "specialists"caring for Jacky there could have missed the DVT when she has had so many scans and even a full body MRI?" The response was "we cannot comment on that". Of course not - how could one DHB comment on the failings of another, it would not be politically correct to do so.
Again the plaque at my feet rings true in my mind:
"The significant problems that we face cannot be resolved by the same level of thinking that created them" Thank you for the confirmation Mr Einstein - Jacky had already decided that the main specialist who has lorded his egotisical power and cold manner over Jackys "care" for months now - will no longer be doing so. Indeed Mr D - it is time for a new level of thinking. You in your own words had your "one bite at the cherry", infact you had two. Time for a new level of thinking to find resolution and a way back to health.
Are we dissappointed in Wolf not picking up the DVT.. yes. However he did pick up that there was a build up in Jackys groin which is where the clot has risen too from her calf muscle. Still there is an element of disappointment that cannot be denied. It does no one any good to wallow in such emotions though.
Jacky told me this morning - "I could go there babe, easily feel like that, but I cannot afford to. What I need to do is to stay calm, breathe and focus on getting through this."
The Drs here have said that Jacky will probably be discharged Monday (tomorrow), if her bloodwork is reacting to the drugs successfully, and have said that the focus is on stopping the DVT rising further - not on getting rid of it altogether. They have also said that there is no problem Jacky flying home to ChCh as long as her blood is thinned sufficiently. Does that make me anxious - hell yes, however anxiety has become a part of our being, so I will listen internally and monitor the level of mine and Jackys anxiety and we will make decisions based on what feels right. Ultimately Jackys decision. Your intuition rarely fails to let you down we have discovered. Listening outwardly, often lets you down. Life - the great balancing act as Dr Suess described it, in one of our favourite childrens books "Oh the places you'll go".
So, herein is the update - where Jacky is at. If you have her number - txt your LOVE to her, she will enjoy hearing from you. If you don't get a reply, it's just that she has a couple of things on at the moment. Rest assured she will be sending her love right back.
We miss you, all. We long for normalness, for laughter, for our own beds, for our friends and southern whanau, for good drinking water from our taps, for our animals, for fresh easterlies and the sound of the surf filtering through the trees at Waikuku.
For now, over and out. Warmly, on behalf of Jacky, me and all of Us xxoo...