It was wonderful that Alex could spend a few hours at home.
We celebrated with some of Tracey's delicious lemon tart that she'd made but all too soon it was time to return to the hospital. As it was the weekend, we decided to try our luck finding some street parking. Our luck was in, and we ended up with a free parking spot relatively close to the hospital.
Walking up Missenden Road, we spotted Bernie. She was on a short break from work (within the hospital but in a department across the road) and she had gone up to the ward to visit Alex. She did get a 'surprise' when she saw the mask and we were lucky enough to catch up with her. Almost at the same time, Margaret & Frank and Marlene were walking out from the main hospital main entrance and so we all met up on the footpath. By the time they had got up to the ward, one of the on duty nurses must have decided to cover the mask with the sheet and Marlene said she did wonder if Alex was hiding under the sheets ... ???
Marlene had brought Alex some of her mouth watering salmon log that she'd also made for the party, and since we now grab opportunities with both hands, we all had a mini party out on the footpath. Margaret & Frank had brought Alex a box of Moon Cakes - who needs hospital food?
OK, I would have taken some shots of the salmon log, salmon dip & Marlene's Melba toast but I was busy joining in scoffing it!
Bernie had to go back to work, and we all escorted Alex up to his ward. We hadn't even had time to all sit down when one of the nurses came around and told Alex that he was being moved. This was his third move in as many days. His "address" had changed from 8W2-10 to 8W2-3 (this was supposed to be a quieter area) and now his address was to be 7E1-42. Simon, Dolores & Nicholas arrived just as we were about to move. So we packed up all his belongings and the porter wheeled in the wheelchair to move him. We all followed.
Later Muddy & Liz, Mark & Paul came to visit, so we moved down to the coffee shop downstairs.
So quite a good, social day!
This morning, Alex managed to wangle a gate pass again (ie, he left the ward) and he spent a few hours with Simon. I think by now word must get around the nursing staff that Alex is completely mobile, unlike many of the patients on the various wards, and the hospital is treated more like a motel!
He had a visit this afternoon from one of the doctors, but Alex was unable to convince him that it would be a good idea to discharge him early, and so he conceded this round of negotiations ... :-(
Kitty came to visit in the early afternoon and was able to come along to see what happens during the Glowing Sessions. A porter wheeled Alex out of the hospital, across the road and along to the Radiotherapy section. By now, the girls in the reception area just smile and wave, calling out their hellos when he arrives.
We didn't have to wait at all, and Alex went straight in for today's Glowing Session.
This round of Radiotherapy is specifically targeted at the C1 area of his neck. Instead of using his "tattoos" to line everything up, a mask is used.
After he is comfortably lying on the slab, his neck brace is gently removed, the mask is fitted and they adjust the slab.
Toby Maguire - be worried! The entertainment industry has heard the rumour mills that after playing the lead role in the first three movies, and being replaced in the fourth, your agent was determined to have you reinstated in the lead role. But Alexander Hage has wowed Sony and director Marc Webb and he is touted to replace Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker in the hush-hush fifth Spiderman movie, to be secretly filmed in Sydney.
So there!
This is rumoured to be the "leaked promotional shot" for the fifth Spiderman movie. You saw it here first!
Marc Webb has joined forces with Robin Cook, and the fifth Spiderman movie is touted to be a medical sci-fi thriller. So it's great that the filming can be done under wraps, so to speak.
With Alex settled, the mask in place, and the film crew's equipment hidden out of sight, the nursing staff return to their desks and monitor the process.
Kitty has been sworn to secrecy, and so we tried our best to act relaxed when the new Spiderman star joined us after the filming.
We had a chat to Heather, one of the nursing staff out in the main waiting area and she extolled the virtues of "the best affogato outside of Italy" served at Campos, our favourite cafe just up the road. The coffee there is the absolute best according to Heather and I gather at least 85% of the RPA nurses - the place is busy enough to employ 4 full time barristers.
Sadly, Alex didn't have the energy to walk up that far, so after hearing about this wonderful coffee, Kitty had to settle for a Linford Christie (a long black to the uninitiated) coffee back at the hospital cafe with us.
After coffee and a chat, Kitty left and we met up with Marlene as we headed back up to 7E1-42. We'd not long settled back at his bed when a male nurse arrived to take Alex's BP, pulse and temperature. He ended up taking my BP as well - he must have needed the practice!
We were then VERY surprised to see M arrive. She was as polite and friendly as she was on Friday. I think we were even more suprised to see that she was accompanied by the female registrar - the subject of our official complaint. Throughout their whole visit, M did all the talking and this time the registrar kept her mouth firmly shut, writing notes and Marlene noticed that she did glance occasionally at both Alex and I.
We left soon after as well - after such a full day, Alex needed a bit of R&R ...
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