Day 20. Friday 15^th June, 2007.

Today Ean and Vee had some concrete delivered, quite a lot, as part of a conservatory that they are constructing. We stood around, unable to help as we had no suitable clothing, as E and V raked and smoothed the concrete. Then we came to Hythe to learn that Zena had spoken to Mum who was still waiting to be seen by the consultant. Mum phoned up at about quarter past one to say that the consultant recommended a pace maker and may be able to fit her in today if she agreed to proceed. She wanted to talk things through and said that the doctor would be available at 2pm to discuss the pros and cons of the procedure. Zena and I rushed off to the hospital but didn’t see the doctor for about 40 minutes, at Mum’s bedside. Mum was particularly concerned about the risk of a stroke but the Doctor said that there was no additional risk with the particular type of pacemaker – a one wire device – that they planned to implant as the type most suitable for her particular condition. While the Doctor was talking to us a nurse poked her head through the curtains to tell us that Mum was next on the list! We finished the formalities with the consent form, wished Mum well and left. The operation is done under local anaesthetic and takes ½ hour to 1 hour. The pacemaker consists of a controller and battery which is located in a pocket under the skin and a wire which is threaded through a vein to the heart. Any adjustments are done ‘magnetically’, from outside the body. As we understand it the pacemaker will only operate if it detects that the heart is slowing down, or is skipping a beat. Mum will have to continue taking the drug that she is currently taking to stop the heart beating too quickly. The operation is followed by 1 hour in the recovery room, after which visitors are permitted. Zena plans to phone up at 5.30 pm for a progress report, and, hopefully, we’ll see Mum this evening, though she will have to stay in hospital for another couple of days to check for infection and to fine tune the pace maker.

Zena phoned at 5.30 to learn that Mum had just returned to the ward. Everything had gone well, no complications, and it was OK to visit. Zena drove in with Rosemary and me, and dropped Rosemary and me at the main entrance while she parked the car. We were first to the ward and found Mum eating her dinner and looking as though she hadn’t had an operation at all! She was anxious about her blood pressure pills as her blood pressure was high and, for some reason, the hospital wanted Zena to bring in Mum’s pills from home. Zena had brought the pills, so that was alright, and Mum told us about the operation. A little later on the doctors did a round of the ward, and, after studying Mum’s paperwork and giving her a check over, the senior doctor said he’d check her again in the morning and subject to that, she could return home in the afternoon.

We got back to Linwood Close around 8 pm and started dinner which was rabbit and sliced potatoes au gratin. Excellent. Rosemary got sleepy between courses and lay on the sofa for a snooze before going to bed. John, Zena and I followed her later. Much later.