August 6 -- "The Return"

Hi All,

At 2 pm today, 8 days after surgery, 9 including the actual surgery, Arnie became a free man. He was released from the Royal Vic with a snip of his hospital band. It was a special moment! For the last 2 days, the nurses had been teasing Arnie with the prospect of going home. His discharge papers were signed and all they were waiting for was for all the post op arrangement to be coordinated with Ottawa. How long could that possibly take?  "The doctors are working on your summary they would say.", how long could that possibly take? 

Arnie was determined that today would be the day he went home. He would not take no for an answer. In the end, it took as long as it took and then with a smile and a wave, off Arnie went in his wheelchair through the Ross pavilion and on to the main entrance and freedom. Along the way, Arnie was able to say goodbye and thank you to the many people who helped him recover from the surgery and even left one of his hats with a hospital staffer just to say thank you for all his help.

Why did we take that route to leave the hospital and not just out the front of the Ross pavilion? That would be because his trusty sidekick (me) had no idea how to find the little side road that lead there. So out the front we went and on the road back home. It was a quiet ride home with Arnie trying to figure out how to place the seat belt so it didn't rub the incision or pull on the drain. The last piece of surgical equipment that we thought would surely have to come out before he was allowed home, came home with us. And now we are experts in how to empty the drain. It seems the drain will be with us for at least another 1-2 weeks. But that's ok, it will eventually come out.

Surprisingly, the traffic leaving Montreal wasn't too bad. It took a bit longer to get home this trip because I drove slower so as not to jostle the patient. In the end, a little over 3 hours after being told he was free to go, we pulled in at home. Arnie went straight to upstairs and climbed into bed. He now has all the comforts of home but unfortunately, even though we have a new bed, the bed does not move up and down nor are head and feet of the bed adjustable. Life is full of trade-offs.....

All in all it's a good day to come home and we are very happy to have him home.  
And so the fight continues .......
Be well,
Liz