MY TIME IN HOSPITAL
The first two months really was not that clear actually. A lot of tests, needles and beeping machines.
Life in Hospital with PSC
The first two months really was not that clear actually. A lot of tests, needles and beeping machines.
My ward consisted of the “YELLOW” people ward. All our urine bottles were dark yellow and our eyes were yellow. Swear we were zombies lol.
I got to learn schedules and spent my time counting the dots on the ceiling boards. I would know doctor and nurse schedules, times they would arrive and the times they would clock off. We always knew when there was a change of shift because you would never see anyone 20 min before home time. TRUTH. You can ring the buzzer until you are blue in the face, you will wait.
Food was great, couldn’t eat much in the beginning but it was good. I would always leave my dessert for later around 10:00pm. When I did eventually start eating properly, only the diabetics got food after supper. So I had to save some food.
I remember one nurse telling me: “no Mr Vermaak, you are not diabetic, you can’t get a sandwich”.
I went to a total of 7 medical institutions throughout this traumatic time and many things became apparent.
I believe our health system needs work and a proper selection process when employing someone must be done when taking other people lives into consideration. The food in most Hospitals is good, the professional side is great.
I met some really good people in the different types of places. I was always one of the youngsters. Most nights you could hear the patients phone their family members, explaining the in’s and out’s of hospital life. The two last hospitals were more for rehabilitation so the patients were there for longer.
We got to know a little bit about the next person just by the conversations with their grandkids.
I enjoyed this time a lot, it was also when I used to phone my family. There was always something to talk about.
One of the stories my wife told me, was that my kids blocked up our sewage pipe. Thank goodness I wasn’t there to see it. Lol
The First Hospital (Livingstone)
The worst, no Medical Aid, so what is expected. You are literally just a number. It’s scary. You find out you have a life-threatening disease and you have turned yellow. All you want is someone to help you. You want everything to go back to normal. Help is non-existent. The staff are more concerned about what they are going to eat and the other worries of life in South Africa.
I remember sleeping over for 4 nights just so I could have a scan done to see what is wrong with me. I asked to please make an appointment and comeback when the date arrived. I could not do that because I would lose my place apparently and other patients from other hospitals had been waiting to use the scanner also. Staying over would guarantee a scan. I went for my scan 4 days after sleeping over for 4 nights. NO CANCER!
The Second Hospital (Greenacres)
Good Doctors, helpful staff. This Hospital the first time my mind was not clear at all. I was totally out of it. Swelling on the brain etc. I was told I had been sent to a specialist in Cape Town because I did not have cancer and there are no specialists in PE.
I must commend the doctors here for actually sending me to Cape Town for treatment, it’s just so far.
I remember one night we were all getting cold. We realised the window was open. We asked the nurse on duty to please close it while she was there checking up on us. Oh, my word was that the most hectic thing we could have asked!
She said no!
We laughed because we thought she was joking, but she wasn’t. hahahahahahaha
The Third Hospital - Groote Schuur (ICU)
This is where I woke up. As I said before, my ex-boss was there to say hello. He was talking to me and encouraging me to speak or move.
This is where I spent a lot of my time, about 6 months, I think. The staff was diverse in many ways. One thing was very apparent though. You knew who was there for the pay-check or who was there because they really did care.
Covid was rife and people were dropping like flies. I missed my family and friends, especially Easter time. All I had was photo’s being sent and it looked so awesome. I remember trying to operate my phone, its was horrible. After my second stroke, my left hand could not grip and I struggled to hold it. With help from the physio and a cool cell phone holder I managed.
Life in the ICU was hectic, I had to learn how to talk, swallow, walk, move and transfer from wheel chair to toilet. Some crazy, some frustrating and defiantly some angry moments.
I heard some patients ask for help to be told to shut up, someone was obviously having a bad day or night.
One day a Male nurse was getting me ready to go to my next facility. The last stop before I went home. I was so excited.
The Fourth Hospital (Aurora)
The first thing I smelled when I got wheeled in through the doors was coffee and toast. Wow, it smelled so good. I got to my ward, I had to be by myself because my immune system was non-existent. I met my team of professionals.
Wow they were great. I had stayed there for a month and back to next facility
Back to Hospital Three
This was the last hospital before I go back to now “Gqeberha” or as I like to call it, HOME. I had to get checked out before I went back. I spoke to my doctors and did some final tests. The next day was an ambulance drive to George and from George to PE. The drive was cool and the ambulance guys were awesome. They even bought me my first chip roll from steers. I slept most of the way and only woke up in George and in PE.
The Joy of Being Home
My wife and some friends were waiting for me at the gate. It was so amazing to see them all. The feeling was indescribable. We all spoke and said hello for a bit and then I went inside to get booked in.
This hospital was also very nice but once again, you could spot the clear difference in empathy. Its just one of those things, some people want to do the job because they really and truly love to do what they do. Some people don’t give a fuck and will sit on their ass the whole day until the end of their shift.
This Hospital was good and a lot of good people but also a lot of kak people.
I had to go back to the second hospital for an infection and spent a week there recovering. I had to take a number of antibiotics to rid the infection.
Life at Home with the Family
The first week was so hard. I felt like a stranger in my own home. Kids are so honest and you can read their faces from a mile away. They were scared of me and at the same time happy that I was home.
My wife is amazing. She kept the fort strong and things were like a well running ship. Time is what I wanted and God gave me that time. How much more time I have I do not really know, but I am happy I have this time with them now.
I decided to take the year off and focus on myself for 2022.