Recovery has been overall pretty good. My main issues are sleep and swallowing pain. The swallowing is getting better each day. It probably had a mild set back with ICU feeding me non-soft foods without either them nor I realising I needed a soft food diet.

Pain during general day to day is manageable. I’m not using painkillers outside of the occasional Panadol. At night I’m still taking a slow release Palexia (opioid) which is more helping lure me into a deep sleep but not overriding the pain so I’m still waking up quite a lot. My surgeon told Trudi and I the average head is 4-5kg so it makes sense for it to have been hurting laying down when I had the injury. It makes sense for the same to apply now! My friend Brie taught me a good trick with having my pillow propped up on either side by having pillows on either side of my main pillow … it wedges my head into a semi circle to no be able to roll over haha That has helped a fair bit!

My bruising 2 weeks later down my right arm from the SPS issues and multiple failed cannulas is still pretty epic. I look like I’ve been in a decent accident when you perceive that with the brace!!

It was great to have Jen and Mick keep me company for the first week out of hospital. We basically just slept in, spent time at the bakery 2 doors down, ate pretty well, did my walking program, stretches, reminded me to take baclofen (constantly hard to nail as it’s got to be with food), napped (all of us!!) and watched plenty movies and day time game shows. J&M might find their adjustment back to normal life harder than me!! Haha

We all went to see Dr Reece on Monday for a review of my wound as per discharge requirements. He said “you have a very clever surgeon, it’s very good, very clever, nice surgery, wound looks great”. To me it still looks insane but hey, he’s opinion holds more value haha He checked my vitals and all is good there too. So comforting to hear him say these things. J&M got to thank him for managing such a challenge over the years and keeping me alive. And I got to thank him for yet again coming to my rescue that night in ICU.

This man (many of us refer to him as Dr House like the TV show) has single handedly saved my life twice in his practice, got all my diseases diagnosed when numerous specialists over my lifetime couldn’t, set me up with the best specialists available (even got me into Melbourne CF guru immediately when Qld health had me on a 1 yr wait list). And then I’ve lost count how many times he’s had to intervene in my hospital stays. They say a cat gets 9 lives. I’ve had more than a cat and they are all thanks to this man and Dr Heiner. Seriously, my guardian Angel.

Whilst I’m missing Mick & Jen already, it’s been lovely back at Hans and Carls. Got some ‘normalness’ back in my life - bed time reading with the kids (although we have to sit now and not lay down!), my bedroom away from home that has the super power sleeping capability… pre surgery I was escaping to this bed to just get a night of sleep. Post surgery I can report I got a semi decent night last night. If you’ve ever been sleep deprived you’ll understand the relief of finally catching an ok night!! Even though that first day you feel worse before you feel better as the depletion gets topped up!! I can’t wait for tonight’s sleep.

I’ve managed some work today. That was incredible! I forgot how much I enjoy the challenge of using my brain and helping someone with their business. It’s basically been 4 months since I’ve felt like that. I probably didn’t move enough today but my happiness was up a notch and so too will the floundering SOS bank balance!

Dr Reece has set me a goal of achieving 2 hours of walking (aka movement) a day so I’ll get to focussing on that tomorrow. I do find movement helps immensely. I have to keep reminding myself of my progress… given the post the ICU whohar I was on a wheelie Walker, then got to 2min walks to the bakery next door for a coffee, then to 8min walks…. Tomorrow I’m aiming for 20mins (to a pharmacy and back). Fingers crossed!!

He’s also written me a “fit to fly” letter so that all things going well I can come home for Xmas and not get blocked by the airline freaking out by me wearing a neckbrace!

Virgin sent me an email to tell me I had a covid credit of $880 sitting there from mine and Elise’s failed attempt to have a “business meeting” in Perth … her coming from Malaysia and me from Brisbane to catch up with our mate and graphic designer Nards! It has to be used by the end of the year so I’ve booked a business flight with “special assistance” to Melbourne on the 20th December. I figure I have nothing more to lose by doing that and a potential goal to get home thanks to another Xmas roadie from Melbs with Jo (and this year Suzi too!).

And for those of you wondering how the neckbrace is going…. Well… let’s just take note that neck spinal surgery in summer is not recommended, this needs to be a winter activity!!! So damn hot. Like wearing a beanie on your head… maybe worse!!!

This was probably amplified by the realisation they gave me one too big. I had a hunch my pain on release from hospital was more than it should be and related to the brace. They’d fitted one smaller but it was too small so we had to go to the next size (keep in mind my neck is taller now!). Neckbrace fitting is kinda like when you want to buy some jeans and you aren’t a 10 or a 12 and you need the elusive 11!!!

Thanks to Ang and Paul for arranging a home visit and Paul immediately noting the hospital physio has given me the wrong sized brace. 15 minutes of scissor surgery later and the brace fitted much nicer and pain has immediately improved!! Grateful to them, yet again!!

Other highlights this last week include:
- bumping into Carlos in society! Quite funny. He’s thinking, that girl has a neckbrace like Loz, I’ve never seen that top before (note Jenbo had bought me a few St Vinnies button up tops to help me dress easier!), but what are the odds she’s got a double who also has a brace haha
- The lovely management team at Atlas Apartments for making our stay great. Picture this - we let them know my shelf on my shower was damaged and angling down (not ideal for someone to place their things and slide off when I’m not supposed to bend over much) and M&Js shower was backing up water. They said they’d get someone onto it. By the time we left them and got to our room on level 4 there was already a guy in there fixing it (like a genie in a bottle?) haha They also helped us extend our stay and have a room upgrade.
- Some lovely meals with J&M and many word and lateral thinking puzzles solved!! Seemingly we are all improving our chances of avoiding dementia and Alzheimer’s.
- J&Ms ability to feed me was a MASSIVE upgrade to hospital!! Particularly breakfast!! Fresh sourdough bread from next door, crusts cut off, not toasted, eggs, avo and smoked salmon!! Happy “soft food” days.
- Lunch with my folks, Hans and Lyndal.
- Bed time reading with Alexandra, piano concerts at home with William.
- Careen and my Caba neighbours generosity in sorting out my exit clean and ridiculous requests by the agent! If I had the energy I’d fight them. But sometimes you just got to pick your battles and be grateful to the random acts of kindness of those you meet in life.
- Views and space when we got our accom upgrade!
- The continued funny adventures of Bundy B Bear. Who’s made one little lady (now co-owner) very very happy!!!
- The pepperoni pizza pillow Bella and Gracie sent me!!! Designed for hot items, but the worlds best foot rest right now!!

All in all, writing this has made me realise that whilst I feel like I’m a bit stagnant, I’ve really moved forward quite a bit.

I can now appreciate why it’s a 3 month recovery process and I simply need to be patient (insert eye roll as this system doesn’t allow for emojis).

Thanks for the continued support.