When you consider everything my beautiful wife has been through these past two and a half months, it’s really amazing how she’s managed to keep her sense of humour.
In fact, her attitude to getting home has been excellent – even the staff have commented. She’s driven. And it appears Tracey will stoop to anything to get herself out of hospital and back to us.
Earlier this morning Tracey phoned me up giggling.
“I’m so embarrassed,” she said.
She’d shuffled out to the vending machines in the hallway to buy herself a drink of water and noticed some yummies. In the last week, since eating solids, Tracey has gained one and a half kilos.
“I don’t think I’ve ever fist pumped because I’ve put on weight,” she told me over the phone. “But it means my bowel is taking nutrients from the food.”
“Keep this up,” I said, “and this time next year you’ll have gone up a couple of dress sizes.”
Then we both cheered at the idea.
All this fattening up means there’s less chance she’ll need the TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition, her intravenous feed bag) going forward. In fact, things are going so well at the moment they’ve thrown out their original plan to get her home sometime in January because in just a week of solids she’s hit all the marks. Her leaks are producing less fluids as well and there’s a decent chance in the long run she won’t even have bags hanging off her stomach.
In fact, Dr Brown says they’re running out of excuses to keep her in hospital and Tracey’s team of medicos have indicated she might even be discharged as soon as late next week.
The upshot of this is Tracey feels justified, if not obligated, to eat junk food.
“For medical reasons,” she assures me.
So Tracey grabbed some more change and shuffled back to the vending machines. She popped the coins in the slot, pressed the appropriate buttons, and the Burger Rings dropped. So did some coins.
“I had to get down on the floor to reach them,” said Tracey. “Only then I couldn’t get up. My legs weren’t strong enough and there was nothing to grip onto.”
Meaning Tracey floundered on the floor, waving her hands and eventually hollering until some nurses from a different ward happened upon her and, with the additional muscle of a passing physio, helped her up.
“The lengths you’ll go to for a pack of bloody chips,” I laughed with her. She was lying in bed chomping down on her hard earned reward because her legs were so sore from her exertions.
“It was worth it.”
That’s my girl.
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“Raising a family on little more than laughs.”
So happy… But Tracey twisties are better
Her preference is usually those Bacon Balls
EEK! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACEY & GREAT WORK BRUCE!!
This is such great progress & news & I hope you get a Christmas all together in two weeks ^_^
your missus is amazeballs! but I think you already knew that. happy tears here for you all & everything crossed for a pre-Xmas homecoming party xxx
So fantastic!
Bloody awesome!
Yay!! Triple yay!! xx
My smile must be almost as big as yours!
I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am for all of you. Seriously, I am so thrilled for you. Happy birthday to your lovely wife and Merry Christmas. xx
Best. News. Ever. I really hope your Christmas together as a family is magical – you have all worked so hard to get there.
xxx
Your wife is amazing!
I’m so happy!! I’m crying tears of JOY!!! I’m so excited for you all!!!! Go Tracey!!!?????????
A huge happy birthday to Tracey and congratulations on such a miraculous recovery!! Your smile throughout it all is a beautiful sight to behold. You truly are amazing. Wishing you, Bruce and all the family the Merriest of Christmas’ and the continuing of recovery to full health in the new year!!
Yay! Go tracey!
I am actually a loss for words except get those chips in y a fart till ur heArts content and fingers crossed ur home real soon. U truly are a miracle x
Amazing healing and recovery
We sang Happy Birthday to her from the car on the way down – told her we were going to the park to eat pizza for her birthday and then to drive around looking at Christmas lights. She phoned us when we were actually at the hospital. I was in the loo down the hall with Miss3 and Miss5. I think when we walked in a few minutes later that made the surprise all the more…surprising.
WONDERFUL news!!
Im so glad you are going home soon your kids and Bruce wil be so happy from bumble
Tell Tracey she is not alone getting stuck because of weak legs. The first time I got to sit on a real toilet, I had to get two nurses and a wards person to help me off. It would have been really embarrassing literally being caught with my pants down, only it was good to be wearing pants after almost two months without any. The staff at the RBWH are awesome. Enjoy your junk food Tracey – you deserve it! xo
Doing a High 5 for Tracey… I’d go with Twisties too. Happy Birthday. I’ve been following for a long while. Glad the news is getting better.
Yet again one of your posts has made me cry – so pleased for you all, long may her recovery continue.
Effing brilliant. So much internet love for you two and your merry mob.
Oh Bruce this is just wonderful news. Sounds like Tracey had a wonderful birthday, so very much well deserved. High five to those amazing nurses who obviously care so much about Tracey and the whole family. Happy Birthday wonder woman, cheers to many many more!
Well now that is fabulous news! Here’s to a early homecoming for Tracey and little bit of normal for everyone involved!
Normal will never feel so good as it will your first week home I suspect…..
It is all a Miracle,I have been following your story and your last sentence , is wrong! you are not raising a family on little more than laughs, you are raising a family on love, compassion and kindness which starts from the love you have for your wife, your children’s Mum…no greater way to raise kids than to love their Mum! keep the yarns coming and I wish you all the best for Christmas and forever…Tricia. x
ps My daughter is Dolly and Graeme Jensen’s sister-in-law, so I do follow this story.
Seriously Tracey, Burger Rings??? But I’m so pleased you can eat junk food and here’s to more kilos piling on. Woot and hoping like heck you are home for Christmas!