Sorry, passing through, having not read many earlier posts. Things are pretty grim actually...back on Sunday from freezing Adelaide, with sick DD and DGC - she was poleaxed by the virus so I got to spend a lot of time, despite feeling like utter merde, with little ones, who weren't affected by covid. Heating broke down and big old Victorian villa is like an icebox. No tecchies while we were isolating. Back to find MrJ rubbing his calf, complaining of ongoing pain...to rural cottage hospital (70 km round trip) 10 pm to be told by offhand doc that he had a muscle sprain. I was sure it was DVT, but dutifully trotted off home. Next morning, he was in agony, unable to walk, so got ambulance back to hosp. Diagnosed DVT, blood thinners, no suitable scanning equipment, not a single vacant bed in the place. Scan yesterday ...radiologist said straight back to hospital, aneurism behind knee. 4 hours waiting - helicopter straight to Auckland, warning that he could lose his leg overnight because of lost blood flow. Guess who is one of the vascular surgeons at Auck Hosp? American nephew. He wasn't on duty, but went straight in at 10 pm to visit MrJ and chat him through the procedure. More scans at 1 am - decided the Heparin had worked a treat on restoring blood flow, and that amputation is now off the table. Unfortunate unintended pun, sorry. Pity about all the blood leaking from everywhere else. So now, poor man is on drug therapy until Friday, when they'll repair the aneurism, and keep him in Auckland until at least Monday. I want desperately to drive down, but he doesn't want me to - the covid leaves you feeling terribly tired and drained, no appetite at all, and someone has to look after the animals. Will fly down and back on Friday. Fortunately, lovely niece and nephew looking after his material and intellectual needs - tooth care, books etc, as he was flown down only in his gardening clothes. Sorry to moan, but it's been a real worry, and nephew, so very kind, doesn't believe in pulling punches about outcomes - the right thing to do, IMO.
Hope everyone is fine and dandy. Back before too long,