Spine Tingling Suspense, Part 5. AKA - The Latte and the Leg.

So, this was not the best of days. Yesterday afternoon, after I had left him, the staff decided to move TLOML from the tiny, two person, quiet room at the entrance to the ward, to a spacious, private room...right next door to the nurse's station and the associated, continued barrage of buzzer sounds.

So this morning, before I left for the hospital, I knew that TLOML was not in a good place. I hastily packed my backpack to the brim so that I was ready for a full day at the hospital, and raced off to the bus station (no bus strike today - yay!).

After yesterday's trip with Nathan, I knew that I needed to get off the bus at the stop after Buranda, so I was less stressed about getting off at the right station. I was so confidant that I decided that I was a bus virtuoso...or that was until...I got off.

Don't worry, I did remember which station to get off at; I did remember to press the button to stop the bus; I did remember to grab my bag; I did remember to tag off. What I forgot was the big old burn mark on my wrist that got caught on my backpack and turned into a bleeding mess.

Undaunted, I headed off to the Coffee Club and ordered the necessary latte for TLOML and a cup of hot water for me to make my own cuppa with. Despite the look of horror at the sight of my gloopy wrist, the barista tried her best to accommodate my unusual order, but when I asked for yet another, empty cup (in my haste to leave, I had forgotten my traveling mug, which I use to mix my goat's milk with my non barista style, instant coffee before I add the hot water), her reply was "Sorry, but I can't do that".

Then, while I was waiting, and applying first aid to my wrist, I saw that they SOLD travelling mugs! Excellent. So when the latte was ready, I asked for one of those too. "Sure, you can have a traveling mug. What free coffee would you like with that?" I tried so hard to explain that I didn't want an extra coffee but she simply couldn't understand that I just wanted the mug. She needed to call the manager, who ultimately agreed to sell me the mug if I promised to come back before 2:30 pm to collect the free coffee!

At last I was ready to head off to the ward to meet TLOML and help him get over his rotten night. After yesterday's wanderings, I had found a more convenient entry to the hospital, just next to the Coffee Club. So I went in, entered the lift and pressed the button for the 6th floor...and waited...and waited...and waited.

Nothing! I was not moving. The door was closed.

MXLLS

Truly this is one of those horrible nightmares that you never speak of because it might just come true! And there I was, latte, water and travel mug in hand. STUCK IN THE LIFT! What could I do? In a last ditch attempt to save my sanity, I tried something foolish...I pressed the "Open Door" button...and wonder of wonders, I was free!

I saw an off duty nurse as I plunged out of the lift and desperately told her of my ordeal. In her kindness, she offered to take me on a safer journey to Brendan's ward, which involved following the yellow brick road (actually it was a yellow painted path, but that doesn't sound nearly as dramatic).

She had never followed this route, but assured me that I would get safely to TLOML if I just followed the signs...and...sure enough, that's exactly what happened. I even dared to get inside another lift...without incident!

When I saw him, TLOML was in the lounge area and he did not look well. Even my tales of woe and wonderment and walking down yellow brick roads did not lift his spirits. He had slept poorly, had a temperature and was in pain.

As the day progressed, he didn't perk up much at all. In fact I was concerned because his wound looked really red and angry and felt hot. As well as this, the pain in his calf was getting more intense. Finally one of the afternoon nurses decided to call the doctor, who ordered an ultrasound of his calf.

Unfortunately, not long after this, I needed to go home because it's not safe for me to be driving once night falls. Thankfully, our friend from church - Max had arrived just before I needed to go and promised to look after him.

It was a scary wait, making my time in the elevator seem like a relaxing holiday. However, many people were praying, so I knew that God was in control. Then finally, after I got home, TLOML rang with the news...but you'll have to wait for the next post to find out what the result of the ultrasound was. (This is especially for Bonnie, who likes a good cliff hanger!).

Okay, okay! I won't keep you waiting. The results came back clear! In fact, he might just be able to come home tomorrow. Woooohoooo!