Peter’s Hospital Diary

Fittingly, it is another crystal clear day over St Pauls, but today is the day… 30 days after admission I am on my way out! It was a bit touch and go, because although the ultrasound showed nothing apparently wrong with my liver, there is still a marker showing up in the blood chemistry which is causing concern, so I have to return on Monday to the day unit to check Cyclosporin levels and to see if the marker is still there. But it will be so nice to spend the weekend at home, sleeping in my own bed, and no observations.

Now is the time to thank all those who have looked after and supported me in the last month. It is always dangerous to mention names, because there will be some I will miss, out, but on the nursing side there is Liz, the ward manager and her team, including Nicky, Sinead, Aili, Ellen, Grace, Johanna, Tom, Louise, Gary, Mick, Steve, Tom, Michelle, Raj, Clemmy, Thelma, Eric, and many more who were just shadowy figures doing the observations at night.

The nurse specialists, Viki, Liz and Karen; Rachel, the dietician, who took up the food battle; the unsung heroes on the cleaning staff..

The medical staff, including the transplant team, Drs Kazmi, Smith and Yeung, and their team of registrars and house officers, including Sala, Sally, Shabeena, Alice and several others whose name I didn’t catch, and of course Robert, in whose care I have been for the last 7 years since I was first diagnosed.

And then there are all of you who have visited me, or read the blog and commented or sent me emails of support – it really has made a difference! And last but not least, my parents and family who have visited and supported me in the darker moments. (Yes, there were some).

The blog will continue, although perhaps not so frequently. I will probably start a category on ‘Post Hospital’ and update as and when required – it has been great fun writing it – I hope reading it has been equally good. Interestingly the statistics indicate over 150 individuals reading it (based on IP addresses) And thanks to Mark for hosting it – I will move it onto my own server in the near future, but I’ll post when that happens.