An update from Carolyn
11 December 2018Hi Everyone. Carolyn has sent through an update from her Hospital Bed in Whangarei
Well, I'd love to tell you all that it was all sorted regarding ACC, but that's not the case. Following the support needs assessment which advised I needed 24 hour care (of which ACC were to fully pay their part to complement the Ministry of Health hours) they increased their sleepover cover from 4 nights per week to 7 nights per week which was great. However they also reduced the daytime cover from 35.5 hours per week to 9.5 hours per week leaving a marked deficit in my daytime care.
So since the beginning of October we've been paying over $500 a week in care again. This was supposed to be reviewed at a new 'needs assessment meeting' on Friday but unfortunately I ended up in hospital Friday morning with a high fever, headache, neck pain and rash which turned out to be cellulitis. It went from being a small patch on my right hip late Thursday night and then went on a bit of a rampage to cover most of my back, sides and left hip by the time I got to hospital on Friday. It continued to spread down my legs despite IV antibiotics so a change in antibiotics 24 hours later has helped to control the fever and reduce the spread. It's now receding and despite being still quite angry the plan is to change me to oral antibiotics and go home tomorrow. All very random has no entry wound could be found. Perhaps I just need to check out the medical ward at this time of year to ensure they've done a good job with their Xmas decorations, 🙃🎊,...I think the ED were ahead of the pack this year with their Xmas bunting across all corridor ceilings! 👍😃
As such, the needs assessment is now postponed until the new year due to the Christmas period coming up and so I won't have any further updates regarding ACC until late January I suspect.
So I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, healthy and safe holiday season… Enjoy your Christmas and New Year and I hope you get to have some fun and relaxation wherever it may take you. Thanks again for your love and support over this journey, Doug and I so appreciate the network of people that have developed and shown us the support and positive vibes to get us through this challenging time.
Happy holidays to you all, keep safe when travelling and have a great start to 2019🎄🍒⛺🏖🏄♀🚣
Love from Carolyn and Doug ❤
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Hi Carolyn
So lovely to hear from you : ) Although not the most positive of update based on ACC and the recent infection, you come across so positive and bright. You are amazing to think of everyone and their Christmas holidays, I hope that you have some nice times too!!!
What the heck is the story with the recent set back, so frustrating being back in hospital again but I guess that is your norm now. Glad your home in time for Christmas. Somewhere along the way I lost Doug's email (only have MSD) so didn't get to incl him in our yearly Christmas email out.
I don't know how you and Doug do it, you have strength within beyond what we comprehend. It would be so cool to catch up evening for an evening with you guys. We miss you both and do talk about you often. Carolyn I have kept the lovely letter you sent with all the flight memorbilia for Ben and Lily in their memory box for when they'll open when they are 18. Can you believe they are going to be 7 in January. Growing up so fast.
I'm not sure if I sent this to you before Carolyn but I am now addicted to audio books, reading so much. I'm sure you are too but if you fancy something to listen to... I'm sending you my audio log in details and there's hundreds of books ... you might find my taste too mainstream though!
Too much to say and not so easy to say in such an open forum. I hope some day we meet again... wow that sounds godly!!! But you never know. I would love to bring B&L back to NZ some day and you and Doug would def be on our ppl to meet.
Best wishes to you both
Sheena Brian Ben and Lily xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx