Tuesday 13th September 2011

I visited Helen this morning and she was very very sleepy. Seemed to recognise me but barely and did not open her eyes nor use words at all. I went away feeling things were fairly dire (knowing she would already have had at least 2 doses of the IV antibiotics and she looked not to have had any fluids for the last day and was very dehydrated). Louis arrived at lunchtime and he and I headed back out to the hospital. Louis and she had some time alone and she was remarkably more alert and perky - spoke to him, ate a whole mango and some strawberries, some yoghurt and some jelly, drank ~ 1 1/2 cups water and most of a hot chocolate! I joined them just now and she is still enormously better than this morning. Coughing a bit so perhaps a chest infection is the more likely issue. Not too unlikely with her immobility. I feel rather amazed and am reminded again that there is no point jumping too far into the future with my thoughts and plans ( a very difficult resolution to uphold). Several of Helen's friends had made a special effort to see her over the weekend to say goodbye - in the belief she was moving to Brisbane today. Some have been back to sit with her since she deteriorated. Thankyou to them all. Shirley has finished her drawing of Helen's face - and left her sketchbook at hospice with a lovely note for me and Louis. I'll upload a picture of it soon.