In good hands

Markus is back in hospital again. He had two horrific days of continuous nausea and difficulty breathing. The doctor came and gave him an injection, but he felt worse, not better. So I called the hospital, and they told me to bring him in. Markus, of course, wanted to go in our camper, as usual - he never wants to go anywhere without it. He also wanted to take his laptop and the associated kitchen sink - then agreed to go by ambulance when he realised I couldn't juggle him, parking AND his luggage at the same time (he's too weak to walk more than a very short way). When I arrived with the kitchen sink he was already in a room - a room with only 2 beds in it, and only Markus as an occupant. His bed is by the window, and has a good view of Linz and the hills beyond. It also has a fantastic view of the helicopter landing place on top of the hospital building, so he can see them landing and taking off - he would have loved to fly. The sun was pouring in through the window, nurses and doctors were buzzing around him, and everyone knew him and respected his wishes. Soon he was hooked up to different drips, and he slowly began to feel better. I had to go home to feed the cats, and I left him with a big smile on his face. When I came back, he was sleeping, but woke up to greet me.I told him to go back to sleep, I'd just sit by him and hold his hand. He squeezed my hand and went back to sleep. Dappled evening sun fell on him, and made his newly growing hair and beard shine like silver. He seemd to glow. I sat in the armchair beside him and relaxed, dozed. When it was dark the night nurse came in and jumped to see me in the chair - then ignored me and ministered to Markus. Some time later I left, feeling happy that Markus was in the right place, in good hands. He has faith in them, they are really charming and caring towards him - a total turnaround from the beginning of the journey in December 2007, when Markus had a real phobia about hospitals and they also didn't treat him too well. But that was a different department and a different story. Markus has a motto that he puts on all his communication - it's a translation of something Mark Twain wrote. I can't find the original, but here's my translation of the translation:- 'Friendliness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see'.