No discharge today... until there was

30 Jul

For those following Georgia's journey, earlier this year she fractured her ankle in three places after a fall, requiring emergency surgery. Recovery was progressing, until her body began struggling to accept the metalwork from that surgery. Last week, what began as a routine outpatient appointment became an unexpected hospital admission. Many of you have been checking in ever since. Here's what happened next.

The admission itself was a day of waiting - for beds, for bloods, for news. But as always, Georgia handled it with her own quiet grace. By the time we reached the ward, the nurses remembered her. It turns out she's quite famous there.

I wrote this on Thursday evening but never posted it.

Although it was uncertain, we got good news on Friday. We were heading home. By the time we got there I was simply too exhausted to write an update. I also became conscious of just how many people have been checking in on Georgia. The kindness, particularly from our own local community, has been overwhelming.

So here's what I wrote that night...

Thursday

Georgia continues to amaze me.

She leans into the hospital routine better than anyone I've ever seen. It's as though she instinctively knows what to do. She follows the rules, cooperates with everyone, and gets on with it. It's almost as if she knows each step brings her closer to going home.

It's remarkable.

Today we didn't hear the word we were hoping for.

Discharge.

I'm normally giving out about tech bugs. This week it's bacterial ones.

The infection wasn't where the team wanted it to be, so it meant more IV antibiotics and at least another night in hospital.

While Georgia continued to be as good as gold, I couldn't pretend I wasn't frustrated.

The people were lovely.

The staff were exceptional.

Georgia was receiving great care, and we were both well fed and well watered.

I know I am stating the obvious, but hospitals are hard places to be, especially when you aren't the patient.

I have three other children, all in different places. Keeping in touch and feeling connected is almost impossible.

I have a mattress to sleep on, but I'm not the patient. I hear everything through the night. It goes without saying that I'd rather not.

Privacy is non-existent. Conversations drift across the beds/bays despite everyone's efforts not to hear them. The days have a rhythm of observations, medications, meal trolleys, tea, visiting family, physios and physicians, more tea...

Everyone is doing their job.

But after a while, patience begins to wear thin and resilience has to kick in. It's so hard to have a conversation beyond small talk.

Thursday felt particularly long.

At a time when we're so focused on building inCharge, life has a habit of reminding me there are things we can't control.

These moments test my patience.

They test my resilience.

They also remind me why we built inCharge the way we did. It wasn't born out of theory. It was born from lived experience. We don't have to imagine what families need because, in so many ways, we walk a similar path every day.

It also made me grateful for having such a committed team: Georgia's team of PAs, our inCharge team and always our wider family network.

These moments of frustration are small in the grand scheme of things.

I rest when I can, rebuild my energy, and then go again.

As good as hospitals and their staff are, we all thrive best in our own home.

Friday

Thankfully, Friday brought the word we'd all been waiting for.

Georgia was discharged home on oral antibiotics. I had an online grocery shop done between getting the news, the prescription and the porter arriving!

There was no hiding Georgia's delight at heading home. Better still, she's moving well on her feet and is already enjoying being back in her own surroundings. Her sofa, our dog, her doll and the little things that bring her comfort (dressing gown ties being one of them… well, two actually, from my dressing gowns!).

Gratitude

To everyone who helped us over the past few days, thank you.

From the people managing the car parking, to the cooks, the porters, the cleaners, the physios, the nurses, the doctors and everyone working behind the scenes, you all played a part in making a difficult stay that little bit more bearable.

Thank you too to our fellow patients and their visitors, who shared the tight space with kindness, patience and conversations that helped pass the time.

I write these blogs never quite knowing how they'll land, but they help me process my thoughts at a time when there isn't a lot else I can do practically. I'm always surprised when people tell me they follow them and appreciate the updates.

An ordinary weekend...

Since we've been home, Georgia and I have enjoyed an ordinary weekend. We had a lazy Saturday and took our time getting a much-needed shower in our own time. We both tackled a few small chores — Georgia emptied the dishwasher while I caught up on some ironing.

We had the house to ourselves on Friday and Saturday, treated ourselves to a Rosato's takeaway on Saturday night, and on Sunday Georgia went to the cinema with Bronagh to see Toy Story 5 while I tidied my office ready for the week ahead. And I also watched a couple of movies and had a glass of wine!

Back to ordinary weekend things.

Lovely.

Home really is where we all thrive best.

inCharge HQ (Ireland) Ltd chanelling Tricia Nicoll and Gloriously Ordinary Lives ♥️