Thursday 9 September 2010

Trev's in Dubai

Well he is, according to him.

We asked him why he thought he was and he told us it was because of all the muslims. 'Not that I have anything against Muslims' he told us. 'And why is the clock going backwards?' then diagnosed the issue as being in the northern hemisphere and the coreolis effect.
He wasn't supposed to be talking but he wouldn't stop and mostly so quiet no one could hear. But when I told him to shush for a while I heard a distinct.
'Fuck the shush'.
He was grumpy as hell. He kept trying to enlist Caleb to get him a drink. We weren't allowed to do it because of the risk it would go straight into his lungs. He was pissed off. 'Why are you all against me?' Glares all round.
'Would you like to be on your left side, or your right side?' the nurse asks.
'I don't care as long as I have a drink in my hand'.
'What would you like to drink?'
'A beer'.
He couldn't understand how he'd got to Dubai, and how we were all there too.
I explained we were in Australia and Tasmania, at the Royal Hospital,
'Oh yeah, we came here to get married'.
He was disabused of that idea pretty quickly.
He was, as we all thought, shocked he'd been in hospital so long. He can't remember much, he thought he'd spent some time at Gary's. But I don't know of any Gary. He also thinks he may have seen the white light.
'Can I have a beer yet?'

Later we see him, we're allowed to rip off the gowns and masks because he no longer needs to be in iso, his swab was negative for swine flu. He keeps repeating, 'I've had tamiflu?'
He's out into the main ward now where he's a little less belligerent and eventually the 'fuckin' clock' is going forward once more and he's able to drink and eat, the best yoghurt ever and pureed icky looking stuff which he tosses back. His face mask is now a nasal prong thing and he hates it. He wants it out. He struggles to get his hand to his face to pull it off, but he is so weak, and his muscles so wasted he physically can't touch his nose. He's warned why it is he can't remove it, but he continues to try. Later he looks like he might make it, and Caleb touches a finger to his arm and restrains him with the pressure of a butterfly. Caleb gets the glare from hell.

Of course all these antics impress us hugely. We have ear to ear grins. I try to impress him about how ill he's been. I read him lots of emails from people and blog comments. I tell him all the wonderful stuff people have been doing for him and us.
'Hmm, I must be an Ok kind of bloke then'.
He looks overwhelmed, his bottom lips trembling.
'You OK Trev?'
'Yeah'.
'I thought you were crying'.
'Yeah, well I'm feeling emotional. Can I have that fuckin' beer now?'

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yay for Trevor! You must all be rapt to be able to talk to him (and have him talk back). Hope he continues to improve quickly.

Nicole Harry said...

Put that beer on the other side of the room and he'll be all good in no time, just to get to it! Good on ya Trevor. I hope you continue to improve at a rapid rate.

Kathryn said...

Well I don't know about Trev, but I got all emotional reading your blog entry! Hurrah for Trev, so great to hear he is getting better. Continued Good Luck!

Anonymous said...

That is the best news what a beauty you are Trev, those old mussels will be all up and about in no time. Good on you Linda & Caleb he could'nt of done it without you, big hugs and kisses. Net

Jo said...

woo hoo!!! hope the up and up continues :D

I don't know if I mentioned this, but when my bro was on life support {about 2 months ago} he held on just for a drink of water... so simple, yet so powerful! Also, he was as grumpy as hell, and totally paranoid, then they worked out that his oxygen needed to go up, and as soon as he was getting better oxygen his mood improved.

Hope that Trev gets those lungs kicking along soon and starts to feel a bit more normal. My thoughts are with you all during this time, and I find myself stopping and wondering often how it's all going. Thanks for the update.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic news that Trev is talking, out in the ward and getting up to tricks. You "guys" don't know a lot of us, but we know a lot about you from your book and blogs and articles. There seem to be a LOT of folk out here wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery for Trev. Best of wishes... Ree

Sharon said...

Yay! that is great news! So glad to hear he has improved so much. Hope he doesn't have to wait too long for his beer, bet it will be the best drink he has ever had!!!

Deanna said...

That is really great news and I am very relieved & happy for you both. Continuing to send good wishes & 'hippy' vibes for a hasty recovery!

Jan Morrison said...

Oh man oh man - this post made my day! Why I should get teary about the grumpy fart I don't know but I am. And the clock thing - my mom was the same! She was insistent that it was going backwards AND she wanted a drink...
good good good. All love to you all!

Anne said...

So happy to read this post, get well soon Trev and back to Living the Good Life.
Anne

Dianne from Rocky said...

Im so happy for all of you. I was just about to turn off the internet and thought I would check your blog, just incase. And I am sooooo glad I did. hope you all have a great day.

Dianne.

simplelife said...

fantastic news. So glad to hear that things are looking up for you all.
Starting to feel like you are family.
So glad that you are able to post about it here too.

cheers Kate

Anonymous said...

What fantastic news that Trev is on the mend, all the best for the coming days, may he have a speedy recovery and be home safe and sound soon. Hugs to you all, Joy.

knutty knitter said...

Can't separate a good man from his beer :) Glad to hear he is recovering enough to be grumpy!

viv in nz

Anonymous said...

So happy for you Linda. It must be such a relief to finally hear him talk. Hope he improves quickly and the three of you can get back to 'living the good life' at home. Best Wishes, Kylie and family.

Willow Ravenswood said...

Thank God for Dubai...
I just rushed out into the garden yelling at Rod the other half, he's alive..he's alive!!!!
Great news. You can all let out the greatest sigh of relief as can we out here who have been thinking of you all constantly.
Still more energy coming though for the next hurdle before that yearned for full recovery just around the corner.
Warm wishes to you all, Willow from Scottsdale.

Anonymous said...

This is wonderful news guys, I want to send him a beer.

Well done Trev, also well done to Caleb and you Linda.

MUZZY ALS

Tania said...

So glad to hear that Trevor is improving day by day.

Thank you for letting us know, I had been wondering how he was coming along...

Take care,

Tania

Emma said...

Yay for Trev! Hope that beer comes your way soon ;)

Bev said...

Yaaaaay!

That's the post I've been waiting for!. Go Trev!

Linda, you and Caleb and Ehren must be walking on cloud 9! So happy for you all.

Farmgirl said...

Excellent news.. we will have a couple of beers for him

dixiebelle said...

Oh, thank goodness! I am so relieved, and after a day looking after patients without such a good diagnosis, this is making me all teary and I am so, so glad you guys got the happy ending...

Keep it up, Trev, be nice to the nurses, do what the doctors say, and soon enough, you'll be having that beer in your own home!

Best wishes for a smooth and speedy recovery. Thank you for updating us Linda!

Anonymous said...

Wow. That is such fantastic news, not to mention funny. A perfect finish to the week to hear he's on the mend. Hope the next stage of recovery is quick and that his first beer is like liquid gold.

Unknown said...

Give the bloke a beer! Fantastic news for you all. Glad he is concious and in the normal ward now. I bet you and Caleb are so happy you could have a beer yourselves!

Gav & Kim x

pipnvik said...

I know exactly how Trev feels...
Very happy that he is on the mend..will keep sending the healing thoughts and love to you all.

Phil

han_ysic said...

How exciting. Now I'll be thinking of you and caleb, as I'm sure that conscious trev is a terrible patient. So good to hear he is awake and progressing to improve!

calamitysue said...

YAY!!!

Little Terraced House said...

Brilliant news ! Get the beer on ice ready for when he comes home !

Love and hugs all round
Babs

mountainwildlife said...

Hooray! Fantastic news for all of you (although it sounds like Trev doesn't quite feel the joy yet!)

I feel like I know him through your book Linda and your blog, and yeah, he does sound like "an ok kind of bloke" !!

Hope his recovery continues quickly and you are all back home together soon :-)

Margo said...

WOOHOO TREV!!!!...

...So happy to read that you are on the path to a full recovery. Enjoy that beer (in moderation, of course!) and wishing you all the best for a speedy return to full health.

Watch out strawbale house...here comes Trevor!

..and as a non beer-drinker (I know, blasphemous words to the ears of the beer drinker) I will even indulge in a beer with dinner tonight for you, Trev.


Margo

The Lady Bakes said...

Wowsers! Silver Eyes are gathering in our yard, a new government has been installed!
Peas are-a-sproutin!
Wishing you all the Unbelievable Best... And Then Some!!!
Us in Launceston are happy to provide the home brews free of charge!

Keep it real Trev, you are an inspiration xx mike n n boob xx

Sylvia said...

Glad to hear some good news. May it keep getting better.

Anonymous said...

Hi Linda and Trevor! Great to hear that Trevor is back with you all again. I'm sure Trevs recovery will be swift now and with a few good English beers he'll be right as rain. not sure where you're gonna get good English but I'm sure some of his home brew will do! Come on Trev!!
From Glyn and Joe x

Denise said...

Hi Linda,

Been away and only just checked emails and was horrified to read of Trev's illness. Got all teary and called husband in to read it as well. Like many others we feel like you are friends although we have never met. We read of your ups and downs and relate to what is happening on our piece of land so reading about Trev felt like someone in our own family was ill and knowing what you and Caleb must be going through. It is so heartwarming to read all the comments from so many people who follow your story. I am so glad Trev sounds like he is on the road to recovery although he went through a tough time and may not be fighting fit for a little while yet. I am sure when you get him home and dose him up on good food and maybe that beer he will be 100%once again. We will be thinking of you. Take care.

Vicki said...

Have just caught up on your blogs, am really glad to hear that Trev is on the mend. Hope that you, Caleb & Ehren are coping OK. Hopefully Trev can get that beer he's hanging out for, maybe it'll give him some extra gumption :)
Hang in there guys, our positive thoughts are always with you.

Lee said...

Am so, so glad he's well again. Yep, give him a beer.

I think you might deserve one too :-)

Anonymous said...

All good will drop b y and see him when he is less beligerent.Stay warm all and stay well.