FUNNY STORIES FROM a VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL ON 24.11.17

I went to the hospital (again) for my annual iron infusion. with cold and chest infection which had developed overnight. I went to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in the city as I've mostly been treated there on & off for the past 13 years. And have had many long stays for months in the hospital. I've gotten to know many regular staff who work in the large cafe area as I always grab a bite to eat and a coffee before my lengthy treatments. However, Friday had a slightly different twist to it, that left me giggling and shaking my head all at the same time all day. I met 4 interesting people who really made my day. 

I always raise my seat/wheelchair up (a function that the chair has) so that I can see over the counter when ordering a sandwich. I ordered it, said hi to the girls, and headed around the corner for a coffee all before I go up to the ward. Here is the story of what happened within a 2 and a half hour period. 

LINK TO VIDEO RE HOW MY WHEELCHAIR SEAT GOES UP

P stands for Person.

P one - I ordered the coffee and as I turned around to move away from the counter, this lady turned around and was almost on top of me as she decided she wanted to have a chat. She mentioned she saw my chair going up and thought I was special (??) and wanted  to give me one of two special prayers she had on her. Now I'm not religious and quietly the alarm bells were going off in the back of my head as to what was about to happen. I wasn't rude and decided to go along with what she was offering me, as it was something special to her. I mentioned to her that I was in a hurry and ouldl read it during my treatment, and popped it into my bag. She disappeared. 

P two - Pat, a little gnome who came running up to me from nowhere when I was waiting for my coffee. He told me he was from the country, asked my name, said he'd noticed my chair going up and loved it. He told me again his name was Pat, asked what my names again, that he's well now, that he's from the country, again that his mane wass Pat. It was as if he was so excited that his conversation was like a tape on a reel and it was repeating itself over and over again. He was such a sweetheart and I also felt I couldn't be rude to him. He disappeared as fast as he had appeared! I grabbed my coffee and sped off as now I was running late. 

P three - Up on the ward, after my treatment, one of the nurses said to me there was a chap Pete (who was having a treatment for MS) who uses a wheelchair and he'd like to talk to me about disability equipment and other things. I had given the nurse a business card to look at my website two weeks earlier when I was there for another treatment, so she'd mentioned it to him. I landed up chatting to him for a while about all kinds of things. He was such sweetheart however I was losing my voice and my throat was sore and I wanted to get home so I said goodbye and was about to leave. 

P four - I zipped over to the nurse’s station to say goodbye and thank them and was almost out the door when I met Bobby. He was dressed in lycra riding gear and walking unsteadily slowly towards me, pushing his drip. There wasn't enough room to drive past so I gave way to him. As he got in front of me he stopped walking and asked me what I did for a living. I said, "hoon around the hospital". He went on to say he loved my attitude and how I had rolled in calling everyone darling and was so cheerful. He asked me how I did it. I simply replied that I take "happy pills". I thought I'd be able to slip past him and yell out goodbye as I sped off, but oh no. Bobby wanted to give me something! 

By now I was really exhausted and really wanted to go home. Plus it has been an incredibly hot week, and still is and will be, in Melbourne, which absolutely messing around with my disease and mucking up my body. He told me he was going to climb Mnt Everest in April 2018 and handed me a clipping of a Herald Sun newspaper article on him. His 20 page bio and his card. I told him I didn't have time to read it and went to give it back but will keep the card so I can look him up on the internet. Oh no, he wanted me to keep the small forest to take home and read! It was very sweet of him. I managed to excuse myself as the nurses came over to "do something" with his drip which I think was code for "let's help you Lou.

I WAS FREE!!!! It's not unusual for interesting characters to seek me out and chat to me almost anytime I go out, however this was an exceptional day. Luckily they were all sweethearts and put a smile on my face. It was a funny day and helped to make it go much faster ​