DAY 8: Friday 09 July 2010

Maretha showed me how to go to the bathroom.  Since the catheter was removed, I have to go when I got to go...  Last night I even brushed my teeth, but then felt really dizzy and Sister Bets had to come and help out, water in my face and all...It gave me a bit of a dent in my confidence.  This morning, I'm feeling a bit down.  I cried when they gave me my anti-blood clotting injection (which is a bit better now that its in my thigh and not around my belly button anymore).   I am missing my roommate... At least I am standing up having my breakfast.  I was told that I have to sway from side to side (the Madiba shuffle) to ensure that my calf muscles keeps the blood pumping back up.  Not a happy chappy today.

DAY 7: Thursday 08 July 2010

Today my roommate goes home!  She came over to me to say goodbye herself.  She bought me a fluffy bunny - thanks Chante!!!  You were really special to me and my inspiration to get up and walk the walk as you did it.  Without you and Maretha, I am sure it would have taken me much longer to get going...

Although Chante can almost walk to the hospital entrance, you have one last ride in your bed.  Chante waves us goodbye...

Nurse Louisa, Staff Candy and Nurse Tiny making up fresh beds for us.  If they only know how good it feels to have fresh linen on the beds... They also helped bath us in bed - now, that is a strange feeling.

DAY 6: Wednesday 07 July 2010

Today the catheter was removed - for my roommate it was over before she knew it. For me it was a big thing!  But now that its removed, its great - so look, Ma... no attachments!!!

After my first "no attachments" walk, I have an eye to eye straight-up meeting with Chante for the first time.  She is so tall!

Although I did not really feel too much pain, my mom sensed that I become fidgety and uncomfortable and said that I should rather use the pain medication available.  Sister Rita administering some pain meds.  Look at all the cuddly toys that I've received...

This photo was taken on the first day out of ICU, look at that HUGE plaster.

Sister Rita starts to remove the old plasters - very high up!!!  No wonder they washed my hair in ICU... 

Look at that scar...!  Guess how many staples???  I did not want to know (my mom told me afterwards there were 62!!).  You can also see the small incisions on the bottom right (excuse the pun!), that is where they took some bone from my hips to help cement the rods to the rest of my spine.

With the fresh plasters.

Monday 05 July 2010

Tuesday 06July10

DAY 5 - Tuesday 06 July 2010

Hanli's sleeps with a cushions under her knees and another under her calves.  This takes pressure off her heels that avoids real discomfort.  Even with half a sleeping pill she struggled to settle down.

This morning, Hanli's infection indicators were down to acceptable levels. That means she may have the drip removed from her shoulder/chest area.  She sang a heart-rendering "I'ts The Climb" from Miley Cirus to keep her mind occupied while Sister Rita expertly removed it - we were all almost in tears.  The adrenalin that flows makes Hanli feel really hot and a bit exhausted afterwards.  With a sip of juice and a cold facecloth she's soon back to her usual self.

This morning, Hanli went for another even longer walk without the drip.  We call it the Long Walk To ...???? (one day its the Fire Hydrant, the next day its the Nurses Station, the day after it will be the Ward's Door and then hopefully The Long Walk to Freedom!!!!).  Here Maretha helps Hanli out of bed and stabilises her first (this Maretha's daily quad exercises).

hanli's first tender attempt on Monday with the drip

Look at the hair style ... kraaines of muisnes???

"dancing" with Maretha...

Ordering Dinner - is this a hotel or what??

Hanli's first dinner, cottage pie, butternut followed by jelly and custard, designed to eat while lying down.

Hanli's roommate back on the road again and waving us goodbye...well she did come back!  We've decided to call the passage the "Cat Walk".  It seems more girls have scoliosis operations???

We've been told that these two girls have grown by about 4cm after this op.

Monday 05 July 2010

Monday 05 July 2010

Dr Venter, the paediatrician, visiting Hanli.

Maretha doing "warming up" exercises before Hanli gets up for the first time after the op.

AND SHE'S UP....!!! Well done, Hanlibunch!

The student nurses are excellent and kind, helping change sheets, etc...  some powder before the socks go on again..

Sister Laetitia checking up...

Sister Annapat encouraging...

Our Ward.  The mom's and their laptops catching up between our beds.

And then in the afternoon, Hanli got up and actually went for a short (very short) walk!  Amazing...!!

Sunday 04July10

DAY 3 - Sunday 04 July 10

Hanli's sharing her ward with Chante, 13 yrs old, She's also had a scoliosis repair with Dr Koos Louw, 2 days prior to Hanli's.  She is a real inspiration - she gave Hanli a lot of tips and we could see what its like when she gets up to walk or have stuff removed (and there's a lot of stuff that has to be removed from the body!!!).  Hanli and Chante can't see another, so we suggested they take a cellphone photo and sms it to each other.  But they chat - its like being on internet.

 Dr Koos Louw, the man with the golden "scalpel" touch.  When does this man sleep?  It was his birthday on Sunday 04 July - Happy Birthday...!!!  Mmm...Only 24 today..???  Hanli's been Dr Louw's patient since she was 6 years old.  It's really nice to see how he's mellowed a bit with time - I think it must be that good wife of his, Amanda.

 Dad, Johann, and Jacques (9) visiting.

A goodbye kiss from my bro...Don't bump the bed!!!

 Yay, visitors!!  My mom's sister Celia and her family, Schalk x 2, Lizelle visiting - it was such a surprise and nice to see them.  Hanli feeling a bit hot so the wet face cloth over her forehead helps to bring down the temp.

My mom's cousing, Cecilia, visiting.  We had a good chat.

 My mom's brother Theo and his family Runicka, Tristan, Cayla and Rheece van Rooyen.  They were so well behaved when visiting Hanli in the ward.

My dad's family, Ouma Frieda, Stefan, Elize, Christo, Lize and Munro Kruger.  I felt so special, thank you all for driving so far to visit.  Love y'all.

 

Jacques makes a friend, Kyle, in the hospital's coffee shop.

Hanli's first drink in 4 days arrive - joy of joys!!

Look at that face!!  She says the interflora pill tasted like breakfast cereal - no food yet though!!

Surgical Ward 2 is an adult ward, so they say Room B looks like Disneyland...

Thank you for all the sms'es - my mom wrote the messages on the balloons - it is really special, thank you everyone....

Saturday 03 July 2010

DAY 2 - Saturday 03 July 2010

Hanli has been moved out of the ICU by 12h00 to the Surgical Ward 2 of the Pretoria East Hospital.  It is great to have a TV to watch and take your mind elsewhere.  Maretha, the physio came to help Hanli do her daily exercises.  There are special pumps on her calves to help circulate blood.

Friday 02 July 10

DAY ONE - Friday 02 July 2010

Hanli had a very busy night in ICU.  Lots of noises of fellow patients and constant bleeping of the monitors for her breathing, heart beat, temperature, dosages of antibiotics, NaCl solutions, etc.  I think she appreciated being in charge of your her pain medication.  They gave her her own pain dosage pump that she keeps in her hand and when she feels pain she can administer it herself.  It is metered so she cannot overdose herself.   She was very scared of being turned when her bed needs to be changed and she has to be washed.  She became very hot and they gave her a fan.  She was very pale and we found her oxygen pipe disconnected.  After it was reconnected, she started getting a bit of colour back in her cheeks.  Every day they take a blood sample to check for infection and administer an injection around her belly button to avoid blood clots.  On Friday night they washed her hair and she felt much better. The sister in charge allowed her to have a cuddly toy with her.  I took some photos of soft toys and she chose the one she wanted - a small white maltese poodle, which she has decided to call Ceily. 
We were not allowed to take some photos in ICU.   The sms's Hanli has received is amazing and she really appreciates me reading it to her.  We also read her some jokes from a Readers Digest.

Thursday 01 July 10

DAY ZERO - Thursday 01 July 2010

Cecilia updating Hanli's blog: They allowed me to sleep with Hanli on Wednesday night.  At 05h00 on Thursday 01 July they woke us and asked me to bathe Hanli with a special soap.  Then she had to put on the theatre jacket and special anti-embolism socks that will ensure that her blood keeps circulating properly.

Then is was time for the last blood pressure monitor. 

Dr Ras, the anaethetist examins Hanli.

She hears that they're not giving her gas but an injection, and she becomes really anxious.

Here we are waiting in the area just in front of the theatre.  Look at that brave face, she was crying and asking me to take her home, but whenever the camera clicks she gives her smile.

Being wheeled into theatre.  The Theatre Sisters are really good and making you jokes and trying to put everyone at ease.

Where your life changes in a blink of the eye (for the patient anyway!)

The operation lasted from 07h30-about 12h15, when dr Koos Louw called me to show Hanli's new x-rays with 2 long rods and 19 screws.  Amazingly straight and amazingly foreign!

Here Hanli's being wheeled out of the theatre - the nurse shouts "no photos!" when she sees me taking the pic.  She was taken to ICU and her face was very bloated.  She was operated in a kneeling position with her face down.