myrebelbadgejouney

A long night of not enough sleep

Upon arriving at the hospital, I urgently required access to the restroom. Due to my physical limitations, a nurse provided a bedpan as an alternative. However, the arrangement proved uncomfortable and difficult to manage, and I was ultimately unable to use it effectively. As a result, I had to use the toilet instead.

That moment remains my last clear memory of the day. The remainder of the night passed indistinctly, marked by the sounds of the hospital, footsteps in the corridor, and regular nursing observations. The frequent checks continued throughout the night, leaving both Mum and me extremely tired by the time morning arrived.

A slow morning start

At approximately six o’clock, a nurse woke me to ask whether I would like a cup of tea. I accepted the offer; however, the tea did not arrive until around seven o’clock, which was unexpected. By that stage, both Mum and I were fully awake and found it difficult to settle back to sleep.

Breakfast was not served until approximately nine o’clock. It was a slow beginning to what would become a long day, although we were grateful to have some food and a quieter morning following such a restless night.

A sweet escape

In the afternoon, Ruby came to visit and remained with me while Mum returned to our accommodation to change and freshen up. Her presence was reassuring, offering a familiar face and welcome companionship during an otherwise routine and tiring hospital stay.

The nurses also kindly offered me a cupcake in recognition of International Women’s Day in South Africa, which was a thoughtful and unexpected gesture. It brought a small but meaningful moment of positivity to an otherwise demanding day.

Dinner was served as evening approached and consisted of a pasta bake followed by a traditional South African pudding. Unfortunately, neither dish was particularly to my taste.

I also had to wait before taking my emergency medication, which was administered alongside my pudding. This made the overall process feel somewhat prolonged and uncomfortable.

After eating what I could manage, I settled back into bed, hoping for a quieter night’s sleep and a better start the following morning. The preceding days had been challenging, but I remained grateful for the care I had received and for the reassurance of having my family close by.

Freedom- the day I left hospital

A morning of relief

Today marked the day I was finally discharged from hospital after several days of treatment. I felt an immense sense of relief and was eager to return to the fresh air and comfort of the hotel.

I began the morning with a substantial breakfast of perfectly poached eggs and crisp bacon, which felt especially welcome after several days in hospital. I also had creamy yoghurt, apple juice, and a slice of toast, which I offered to Mum as she had not yet eaten. After such a stressful few days, sharing that small moment of comfort felt particularly meaningful.

Back to the hotel

I returned to the hotel at approximately 10:00 a.m., feeling extremely fatigued following the events of the day. Once I was settled in bed, I fell into a deep sleep and did not wake until around 2:00 p.m.

Later, Mum went out and returned with lunch from Woolworths, which I ate quietly in my room. After several days of hospital food, it felt especially enjoyable and comforting. The remainder of the day was calm and restorative; I spent most of the afternoon resting, using my phone, and appreciating the relief of finally being out of hospital.