Midnight at the Casualty Ward

Last night, I brought AnneMarie into Hospital.

She was sore all last night and pretty much all week, but last night it just got really bad. We were out for dinner with my aunt and uncle (owners of Bayview House) who were over visiting Perth for a holiday, and afterwards we came home. AnneMarie was still in pain after all the pain killers she took so we decided that she needed to go to hospital. Last year she had an abscess that had to get operated on, and it seems it has returned. Although, it never really healed to be honest.

We went into casualty at about 1am. We saw the nurse soon enough and he took down her symptoms and told us to go see the other lady behind the glass window, who took down contact details and personal information. This was all in the space of about 15 minutes so we figured we'd be seen to fairly fast.

Unfortunately, more and more people came in after us with more severe injuries. We could see the ambulance pull up, bringing in people who had been in car crashes, or fights, or that had broken bones and heart attacks. Fair enough, they were worse off. It would still be nice to get home to a bed though, especially since I had work in the morning.

After a few more hours, we were called in. It was about 4.30am. AnneMarie was put into the bed and the on call doctor looked at it. She decided it needed to be operated on. She could have drained it there and then and sent us home, but she didn't want to, for some reason.

After another hour, the surgical consult came around and he said he'd operate in a few hours. I had been drinking a few too many beers so was starting to sober up at this stage. Unfortunately, the on-set of the hangover, and lack of sleep forced me into getting sick in the toilet in the Casualty ward, within earshot of all the sick people! I even woke some women up with my sick noises!! oops! :(

Anyway, I went home for some sleep at about 6am and called work telling them I won't be in today and explained the situation.

AnneMarie sent me a text when I woke up. She was moved into a ward to await the operation. However, it didn't go ahead as planned. They said they'd operate early Friday morning, but then said Friday evening. She was in pain all this time so I wasn't happy.

Friday evening came and they said they can't operate yet. She hadn't eaten since the dinner the previous night so they gave her some jelly, fruit and a small sandwich to keep her going until the morning, when she was promised the operation again.

Next morning, still no sign of the operation. I was in visiting her again. I spent most of the 2 days beside her keeping her company. She was still in pain.

Eventually, that evening she was brought in, about 6pm. She was waiting for half an hour and then went into theatre. 45 minutes later she got the nurse to phone me to tell me to come back in, as she was out of the operation. It only took about half an hour!

Anyway, she has to stay in overnight. Hopefully she'll be home soon enough.

The problem now is, if she can't move her right arm coz of the abscess, how is she meant to do rural work to get our 2nd year visa? Will I be home in the 365 days stated in this blog title? Or will I get to stay a little longer??? I honestly don't know...