10 hour slabs

Actually, it's sometimes 11 hours, once 9 hours. Slabs of life spent in the hospital ward this past week with Carol suffering from a serious, mystery colorectal infection.  It's an acute ward and she has a private room but everything is complicated by her dementia. As I reflect on this demanding experience - for her and me! - several things pop into my mind.

• Compassion - the nursing staff is in constant motion in the large ward but some of the care Carol has received is so cheerfully and gently given. I am keeping the names of some outstanding nurses who have gone far beyond in their kindness.  What a difference compassion makes!
• Misinformation - of course some of this comes from dear Carol herself who smiles at meaningful questions and answers with optimism.  'Do you have any pain?' ' No,' she says with confidence when earlier grimacing with spasms in her stomach or her punctured arms (courtesy of several failed cannulas),. But, there has also been confusion when I have tried to pin down the doctors. They admit it's an infection they cannot identify and (I think) they recognize that dementia doesn't help recovery. But I have heard three different scenarios which contradict each other. I pray something clearer will emerge.
• Church dynamism - ever since church friends heard about Carol's hospitalization they have whirred into action with meals for me when I return in the evening, offers of help on any level, caring emails and calls.  Our pastor came this morning to pray with us and he brought in a steaming large cup of coffee (remembering how I take it!) and a bottle of Diet Coke for Carol.  It brought me up short - in all my hospital visiting I never did anything so practical.  It really helps the 10 hours pass.
• Tiredness - this hardly needs to be added. Carol has slept very little as well as eating minimal amounts and the effort to keep things ticking over my end inevitably puts on a tad of strain. Just a little understatement there.

For those who know our situation, thank you so much for your prayers and concern. I'll let you know the outcome.