Every Cloud

6th May - 10th May
Thursday Christian had his appointment with the community based cardiologist. He's been suffering with breathlessness for a while and latterly with a cough. The specialist found that he had a heart rate of 144 and his ears were turning blue when he lay down. Consequently he was packed off to the hospital. That evening he had a heart attack. I was there when he started to have real problems. He was blue even under oxygen and his blood pressure had fallen to 90/45. He was takento what is called "réanimation" which is a step down from intensive care. They told me that it was very serious so you can imagine I didn't get much sleep.
The next day when I went to visit he was sitting up attached to lots of tubes and monitors but was chirpy and looking not too bad. Looking at this photo he doesn't look as if he'd just passed through a critical period and he was already talking about making an overnight stay on our drive up to Normandy in 3 weeks time! Visiting is strictly controlled: shoes have to be covered, hands washed and only 2 people at any one time. Hours are from 12pm-1pm and 5pm-6pm ie around meal times. The meals aren't very appetising to look at especially when you yourself haven't eaten. Friends in the village have been just wonderful with offers of help and lifts. Most of my day needless to say is spent toing and froing and on the phone. I'm feeling tired but glad to say that I'm therefore able to sleep at night.
On the way home from Friday's visit I stopped by at the vernissage with Ann and Terry as I thought it was a good means of giving everyone an update. I was then invited back for something to eat which was a great way to wind down.
Saturday, 8th May being "Liberation Day", there was of course a parade and wreath laying ceremony. I went to the one up in the other village as the delegate's delegate and did another briefing. Nick and Lizzie invited me to share a paella and some chat after the morning's visit.
Yesterday, the 10th Christian was allowed to sit in his chair, the catheter is out, his medication by drip has been reduced but he's still on the monitor and there's no decision about next steps. Stents and pacemakers have been mentioned but the info seems to change daily.
Thank goodness Christian was in the hospital when he had the heart attack and the kindness of friends and aquaintances here has been truly heart warming (sorry if that sounds slushy but it's true). We're so lucky