Wednesday 16 October 2019

Scrambled!

Scrambled #1 - confused, jumbled - M15 used scrambled the phone messages so enemy agents could not understand them
Scrambled #2-  ordered into immediate action. The RAF crews were scrambled, when the German warplanes approached
Scrambled #3- made one's way awkwardly over rough ground. The children scrambled over boulders and fallen trees as they went down the hill.
Everyone has been very kind, and now things are getting back to normality, here's a brief explanation of what happened last Wednesday night, after I went out to my church Homegroup, leaving Bob to prepare Sunday's sermon. 
Scrambled#1 Around 8.50pm, he found he couldn't spell properly or make sense of words. He's a bright, articulate bloke, and realised something was wrong.Somehow he managed to ring 111 and have a sort of conversation with the operator, who dispatched an ambulance. Bob also rang me and said "Please come home right now. I've sent a text. Don't worry. I love you" and hung up. The text just said "I rang 111 an ambulance is coming" What?? I was confused and afraid.
Scrambled #2. I immediately drove home [along with Steve, former police officer, and first aider]  Bob was able to tell us what had happened, and he seemed mostly OK. Within minutes, two paramedics arrived. They checked him over, and we were swiftly on our way to Royal Bournemouth Hospital [with full 'blues and twos' flashing and blaring] It was the busiest night so far this year in A&E. At 9.30, the line of wheelchairs and trolleys was down the corridor and round the corner. But Bob was fast-tracked, and quickly had a whole battery of tests [CT scan etc]. At midnight, they admitted him, and told me to go home. Jenny and Peter, my wonderful homegroup leaders, came to get me. 
Scrambled #3 Things felt rough, and confused, and it was pretty hard to sleep - but at 7.30 Thursday morning Bob rang, incredibly bright and cheerful, full of praise for the consultant and hospital staff. He'd suffered a minor TIA - probably connected to the ectopic heartbeat issue which started about 3 years ago. But there was no lasting damage from the episode. Resting now, then continuing medication should help prevent more problems. Steve kindly fetched Bob home just after lunch. 
David-the-Deacon came round in the afternoon and we cleared Bob's diary and assigned his church tasks to other people. Bob cannot drive until November 7th - so I am being determined, and practising driving The Big Skoda [it feels like a bus, compared to my Tiny Toyota] as we're due to go to Cornerstones for 10 days on 25th October. For the first time in 30 years, I couldn't go to my conference, which was sad, but friends sent lovely messages saying they missed me. 
...and a week on, things feel much calmer. The whole episode was emotionally draining, as many of you will understand if you have been through a similar experience. But we have been able to rest a lot and things are getting back to normal. Bob is his intelligent, witty self again, beating the teams to answer correctly the questions on Only Connect. He's not driving, and he's not drinking coffee, but otherwise he's fine - and he won't get back to 'full duties' until November.
We are so grateful - to the prompt, efficient and caring NHS personnel, to church friends who have supported us through it all, to our wonderful family who have kept in constant touch and been so encouraging, and to all you kind friends who've sent messages and prayed for us [even though most of you had no idea what was wrong] - and to our God who is in control, and who has helped us through. 
Thank you, everyone!

35 comments:

  1. What a wonderfully strong man your Bob is, to phone for help himself. But how frightening for you both, all the same. My mum had a TIA a few years ago and thankfully recovered well. Glad to read things are slowly getting back to normal, that you have good friends and family, and your Cornerstones holiday to look forward to. Good luck with driving the bus!

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    1. Thank you Sooze - good to read that your Mum came through her TIA OK

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  2. A Vert Scary Time. But ut's good to gear that yiou have such good support and that Bob is on the mend. Still praying for you though.

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  3. You manage to turn a scary and difficult time into a clever wordsmithery of a blog post. You continue to amaze me! I'm so glad Bob is doing well and will continue to pray for him and you. X

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  4. Thank goodness he was able to dial 111 and the person at the other end realised what was wrong and sent an ambulance. And thank goodness again that he is now well again.
    You are both always so busy so I hope you manage the enforced rest and the Norfolk break.

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    1. 111 and the ambulance service were brilliant. Looking forward to our week in East Anglia

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  5. I am SO glad to read that Bob is doing well and recovering. Thank goodness he recognized something was not quite right and was able to call for an ambulance! My mother used to get TIAs.

    I'm glad that Bob is able to take it easy until November. I will continue to keep you both in my prayers. Take good care of yourself, too.

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    1. Thank you Bless, for your love and prayers

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  6. I'm glad to hear Bob is recovering. My husband had a stroke, fortunately in front of two people and was rushed to hospital and fast tracked.

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    1. People often complain of the long wait in A&E - but I'm so grateful they prioritise urgent cases.

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  7. A and E have always been wonderful on the many occasions that we have had to use them. I'm so thankful that things are getting easier. Continuing to keep you in prayer.

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    1. Thank you- I know that you too have had to cope with emergency situations like this. We really appreciate your love & prayers.

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  8. What a scare. It must have been so frightening for you both, but such a relief Bob was able to keep a level head and call for assistance so promptly.
    Sending love and best wishes for his continued recovery. X

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    1. It is amazing that he managed to make the call.I said 'why did you ring 111 not 999' and he replied he didn't think he was that ill!!

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    2. Typical man! I must admit that I wondered that too.

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  9. I do hope you both have a restful time in Norfolk. I'm sure any further work on the futility room can wait.

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    1. Thank you Philip - you are always so wonderfully practical!

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  10. So sorry you both had such a scare but wonderful news that he was treated so well and so promptly. I hope that you both have a restful few weeks with plenty of recovery time.

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    1. Thanks Margie. "Rest" is definitely the Order of the Day for the next few weeks

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  11. Wow. That must have been frightening. My mil used to have switch off times when she just froze on the spot. Glad all appears to be well.

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  12. I know this must have been a difficult experience. Thank God it went so well.

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  13. Thank goodness he is now on the mend, and you both have such good support. The NHS does come through in times of emergency, doesn't it? Take good care of yourselves Vee xx

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  14. The NHS were truly brilliant

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  15. Sending love, light and blessings

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  16. A frightening experience for both of you and thank goodness the outcome was as good as it was.

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    1. Yes, we are truly grateful that things are OK now

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  17. Good Grief. So pleased and thankful to hear that all is well. And I think we can be sure that if Bob is correctly answering questions on Only Connect, he is truly in tip-top condition.

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    1. I think he prefers Victoria C-M to Jeremy Paxman

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  18. I'm sorry I missed this, and come late to the "Glad everything is OK" party. Like Nearly Martha says - if Bob can answer Only Connect questions then he must be fine!!

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