Homecoming

While walking the dog yesterday morning, I came across this advertisement on one of our characteristically filthy public phone boxes. Marijuana is not legal in the UK except for certain prescribed medical uses, as I understand it -- so I'm not sure what "legal weed" means. But I thought the doobie-smoking Santa was kind of amusing.

So, YES! Dave is home! I went to the hospital after lunch yesterday and collected him. One of his co-workers very kindly sent him a wedge pillow and a blanket via Amazon, which arrived at his hospital bed in a gigantic box yesterday morning. Of course Dave can't carry anything, so that meant I had to carry Dave's backpack containing his clothing and personal effects, that big box and my own stuff from work. Plus I had the poor foresight to buy a cup of coffee just before we left the hospital. So my hands were more than full.

We said goodbye to John, Dave's terminally ill roommate. I heard John telling someone on the phone that the doctors told him he would be lucky to see January. Given his condition, I'm not sure that would actually be lucky. The medical staff are apparently trying to find him a Hospice bed.

Somehow we got everything into an Uber and home. Dave rested for a few minutes in his chair before taking a shower, which he pronounced a "glorious" experience.

Olga, meanwhile, was happy to see him but not inordinately so. She acts like he left yesterday. I don't think she has any sense of time.

My main concern now is getting him to eat. He's supposed to have soft food, like soups, Jell-O, mashed potatoes and stuff like that. He's just not very hungry, though. I made him some chicken broth and white toast last night, and he ate a little of it but not much. He did eat an ice cream bar for dessert, though, so at least he got some calories. He said he might try an egg this morning.

He has to go back to the hospital outpatient clinic on Monday for a checkup and to get his drain removed. This drain is a sort of vacuum bottle that is meant to collect fluid from his wound, and everywhere Dave goes he has to carry it in his hand. It's about the grossest thing in the world -- I call it "the tomato" -- and I will be glad to see it gone.

I finally got caught up on some blogs last night and answered some comments. I'm hopeful I can keep abreast of things better now that I don't have to make my way to the hospital every night. Meanwhile, if Dave needs medical marijuana, we know who to contact!