DECEMBER DOINGS

The weather is bright and cold and there is the most beautiful layer of white snow and ice on the mountain tops and we are needing to think about wearing extra layers at night to keep from getting chilled.

Things have been a bit quiet on the blog front since we returned from hospital in mid November. Principally because it has fallen to me to be master and mistress of the house! Therefore I have been hauling logs, sweeping grates, cooking appetising and protein rich meals and helping the invalid to get stronger and more mobile along with my usual household duties.

Kathi mera, kalithera – which means every day a little better. K's progress has been very good, but he still has a problem leg which makes walking any distance slow and problematic, but he is trying hard and getting as fit as we can manage. We've had a full selection of medical appointments in the last week or two – the Urologist for the horrid injection, a Neurologist to look at the problem leg and DVT, the local clinic to see if we can find a doctor in the middle of all these specialists who can identify what is being prescribed and avoid clashes, the lab to get PSA blood tests and results in readiness for the hospital visit today to see all the Urology Department Professor and Doctors.

The weather was quite sunny with a few white clouds as we bumbled round the mountains towards Heraklion. The route, which would once have had me cringing with trepidation now seems relatively easy and I nonchalantly beetled to the hospital via all the short cuts I have picked up in recent months. We first saw the Professor. We handed over the PSA reading which was over 40 last August, was 10 after the operation and is now 1.44. We thought that this was very good indeed but the Professor did not like it and wanted it to be 0! Well, we had done everything possible in our control – no ciggies, no booze and lots of healthy food, exercise and rest. No patient could have done more and going out in company has not been easy from any point of view. However, it has improved. The considered opinion of the clinic (which seemed to be every doctor in the department sitting round a board table) was that Kimon needed to get stronger before commencing radiotherapy. So we do not have to go back until March when they will reconsider. In the meantime, I have to feed him up and try to get more weight on him!

Christmas Tree and Crib in the Urology Department

After this appointment, we had to go to the Ultrasound Department for a “Triplex”. K & I had no idea what it was, but while Kimon had this done, I was posted to the Outpatient Reception with his medical book and appointment paper to queue for a queue. The numbered ticket machines which designated your turn in the queue did not switch on until 3.00 p.m. At 3.00 p.m. a Rugby Scrum of 60 people assembled round the ticket machines amid lots of people gesticulating and shouting and pushing in. I eventually got a ticket and waited for the windows to open. There were eight windows to deal with appointments, all closed and nobody was working. At 3.15, two windows opened and there was a rush towards them. I waited my ticketed turn and the lady did something on the computer, gave me another sheet of paper which I took back to Ultrasound Reception. This lady had a long discussion with her colleague and asked us to wait for an hour for the results. As we did not know what the Triplex was, had not requested it, did not know who wanted it and needed to get back round the mountains before dark, we quietly left. Perhaps they can forward the results to the Doctor who knows what it means and had requested this information. We will see.

On arrival, we could hardly get to the front door as Nikos, our neighbour, had delivered the second consignment of wood for our log burner – just in time before the weather turns nasty again.

Our friends locally have continued to be brilliant, helpful and encouraged me to get out for respite once a week to our “Make” sessions in Rethymnon where we knit, crochet, sew, chat and drink mountain tea or hot coffee. Our offerings will be delivered to the Red Cross next week in time for Christmas. Kala Christouyenna! X x x