Right then...

Here's all kinds of news:

My Dad -

On Sunday we went down to Chichester to see him. As we walked around the door into the ward he was standing up helping some other patient to get their television working! Can you believe it. 2 weeks ago we thought he was going to die, and now he is back being his normal helpful self!

He is painfully thin and grey looking, very weak of voice and a little bit doddery on the ole' pegs, but its my Dad again rather than the hot, puffed up slightly jaundiced unconscious lump that he was 2 weeks ago. He looks old though. As soon as he gets back from hospital I am sure he will gain all the weight again and fill out his gaunt face and stuff. Its amazing what 3 weeks being fed by a tube can do to you - an option I have not yet explored HA HA.

So for all of you who have been so supportive, and keeping my spirits up, things are definitely looking better now.

It looks like he will be coming home possibly the end of the week, but we don't want to push it. If they don't suggest it again, then we wont ask. Its better to make sure he is totally fine before being released into the world again. He will be coming home with a portable VAC machine which is what is being used to close his wounds. They are not sewing him up because a lot of necrotic tissue was removed and so he has to grow some new skin to close the wound himself. Its an amazing machine.

If you are squeamish, then don't read any more..

Step 1
The foam dressing is cut to the approximate size of the wound with scissors and placed gently into position

Step 2
The perforated drain tube is then located on top of the foam and a second piece of foam placed over the top. For shallower wounds, a single piece of foam may be used and the drainage tube is inserted inside it.

Step 3
The foam, together with the first few inches of the drainage tube and the surrounding area of healthy skin, is then covered with the adhesive transparent membrane supplied. At this stage it is important to ensure that the membrane forms a good seal both with the skin and the drainage tube.

Step 4
The distal end of the drain is connected to the VAC unit, which is programmed to produce the required level of pressure.


Step 5
Once the vacuum is switched on, the air is sucked out of the foam causing it to collapse inwards drawing the edges of the wound in with it.

Step 6
Fluid within the wound is taken up by the foam and transported into the disposable container within the main vacuum unit.

My Dads wound is obviously a LOT bigger than this. These sponge things come in all kinds of sizes which is great and as the 'juices' from the wound that make scabs and new skin are sucked from the bottom to the surface the skin gets a fresh supply of this wonder serum which basically grows you a new tummy! Amazing, and all natural basically.

He is now only on Paracetamol regularly, and in no pain at all.

KITTENS:

We have 6 beautiful kittens and they are all so gorgeous and all of them have already been sold can you believe!

This is the most beautiful photo of 'BOB' as named by his new owners.

I will add a photo of each one this time so that I can remember them forever. I wont be keeping any of this litter which is a real shame as they are so amazingly cute!

Onto the band... well I am going to put a post about that later on today. Just to whet your appetite, I am strangely worried about it all...