We older folk spend every day from morning to dusk talking about getting old or its effect on our abilities. However, this was different.
In early 2023 we had been on a cruise to one of my top bucket list venues. Whether there were still types of COVID, we started in the early summer feeling ill, feeling sick and feeling every other miserable cloak that life dropped on us!
I was damned with blood disorders which prevented my second knee operation; my wife was struggling with her inability to do normal things. Then, she was diagnosed with polymyalgia, which completely messed up her mind. From then on, things just spiralled downwards, and more and more pain, plus her long-term back muscle kept flaring up. Each day got harder and harder for her until she hardly ever wanted to get up in the morning. 2024 was a daily grind, me taking over the home and caring for a demanding patient.
Where and how the months went by we know not we were wallowing in misery daily. Then, Bideford Hospital got involved; we knew little about the NHS and less about the care and rehabitation schemes. We were entirely out of our depth and beginning to think it was time for us die.
But then things started to change. A wonderful lady, Paula, began to reform our lives, sorting this, that and everything. She knew everyone, everything and even more. The Care at Home was transformed by her and her team. Material aids were obtained where they were appropriate, and they were shown how to be used.
Alongside the hospital team were sections and organisations we didn’t know existed, but all took part in my wife's recovery. My wife struggled through each phase, especially the hospital operation to replace her hip after months of investigations into why things were so bad. It was a difficult journey that tested everyone’s patience to re-habit her life.
Still, the great team of nurses who were always gentle and understanding with her depths of despair, all her care and assistance, have paid off as hurdles are being slowly mastered. Still, it was really how much effort Paula made to befriend the lost soul that we both will be forever thankful for. This year has targets to strive for, but we see the glass half full, not notice half empty.
We admire and thank Paula and the professional team at the Bideford Hospital’s rehab section.
Thank you.
"My Wife’s nightmare"
About: Community Services - North Devon / Community Rehabilitation Community Services - North Devon Community Rehabilitation Exeter EX2 5DW
Posted by Exhausted husband (as ),
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference
››
Responses
See more responses from Susan Izzard