Just before heading out to the plant shop we collected Ian's new glasses
23/8
OK I just had the scare of my life!
We discovered a street that sells plants and pots today and bought a few things, including a planter.
While tuk tuking home we discussed getting someone from downstairs to help Ian carry it up but then no one was around and Ian decided he could do it. It was heavy and after the first flight of stairs, he was reluctant to put it down and rest as he would have had to pick it up again.
He made it up over half the next flight before falling backwards!!!
He only fell about five steps but he hit his hip and head and went completely white and was briefly out cold. At this point I started calling his name and then hysterically screaming when he was not responding to my voice and I honestly thought he was dying.
The stairs in question- it was the bend that stopped him going all the way down: small mercies
Neighbours on that level instantly appeared from everywhere. Cotton wool, antiseptic, wet wipes, fans, band aids, water and genuine concern and assistance materialised. These are people we know well enough to say hello to but with whom we share no common language. Only one of them has ever spoken any English to us. Nonetheless they got Ian upright and he came to and was able to speak and focus and insisted he didn’t want to go to hospital. I can only assume, that the reason I agreed was because I was in so much shock myself. Medical supplies were thrust into my hands as they found him a chair and fanned him with cardboard. He rested for a while and wanted to go home.
Two men carried him up the last two flights of stairs and got him inside because his hip was so sore he could not take his own weight at all!! Once inside, the shop owner from downstairs, who does speak English and has always been incredibly friendly, arrived at our door and provided a bottle of muscle balm oil. She left with the muffins I baked yesterday and a promise to share with all those who helped.
Double chocolate muffins
Next our French neighbour from the same level arrived to see if he could help as he had been told by the shopkeeper that Ian had broken his leg! I guess everyone who saw the incident will now have their own version of events.
Much later, we were told that people thought the stairs themselves had collapsed as they saw the broken pieces of concrete from the planter tumbling down them and that another of our neighbours actually broke her hip on those same stairs a couple of years ago. So the verdict is unlucky but also so lucky nothing appears to be broken.
When the nearest next door neighbour arrived he and I actually discussed the repair of these disintegrating stairs and the fact that they need to be secured and stabilised for all the households who live here. He already has a quote for the work apparently. Now we have vowed to do just that once the rainy season is over in November. This is something Ian and I have been discussing since we first saw the Aerie in February, so I guess this is the catalyst to really make it happen!!
More of the stairs in desperate need of repair
Since then Ian has slowly, using a stool as a walker, made his way to the shower, and requested coffee and lunch and even managed to smile while being cleaned up and treated by nurse me, so I’m finally convinced that he is back with us now.
Of course, the planter was shattered and the mess cleaned up before we even got up to our home. I’m pretty sure we won’t be rushing back to buy another one for a while, and we will definitely not be attempting to carry it up stairs ourselves ever again.
I’m grateful for how lucky we are to live in a residential community that cares, co-operates and pitches in together. And even more thankful for the way they embraced us today.
Might be a while before he is stomping up those stairs again though I think.
Only now as I write this has the shock subsided enough for me to actually cry.
Oh please just let him recover.
24/8
After a very uncomfortable night and a little coercion - thanks for that support Philip and Anthony, we made the difficult and painful journey downstairs today to visit a clinic. He was piggy-backed up and down by two wonderful Khmer men but the out come was not great news.
Sorry to say he has a fractured hip bone! It’s a stable hairline fracture and doesn’t require surgery but it’s going to mean 6-8 weeks of no weight bearing and weekly trips back to the clinic which will involve those stairs of course but will hopefully get less painful as the healing occurs!
We are both emotionally and physically exhausted. We honestly feel blessed to live in the community we do. We also really appreciate the support, advice and actual assistance from friends here and overseas.
So we are staying put and taking things easy for a while.
According to the X-ray report it is a stable hairline fracture of the anterior-inferior iliac spine:- that is the pelvis not hip it would seem. Not what we were hoping for but at least a 100% recovery is predicted.
25/8
Today was the most positive yet. Although neither of us left the apartment, we both did well.
Breakfast in bed and even a smile for the cook
Ian was in less pain and we managed to get him showered. He is feeling more positive and in much less pain too. I’m sure at least a third of yesterday’s pain was from being dragged up and down the stairs.
We are supposed to go back in a week but we think two weeks is going to be soon enough for another X-ray and more advice considering the ordeal of getting up and down.
Another expat friend of a friend, who we met only once offered for us to share his apartment with a spare bedroom as it has an elevator and no internal steps and our dear friend Yary invited us to move to her house with no steps and let her driver take us to the appointments.
We decided to see how it goes until the next time he goes down and decide if we go to Yary’s or if we are better off here where we have everything we need and feel much more relaxed since shops, markets etc are a short walk away, which actually makes it way more convenient. No way to know until we try just staying put but that is what we are currently thinking.
We have developed a few strategies for essential movement and are making use of the resources we have. I’m so glad we have so many stools of various heights. They have already come in very handy - on the bed for a table, walking frame and sitting on while under the shower. We got a pair of big under arm crutches too.
Adjusting crutches
All round it was a very successful day and we are both feeling more optimistic too.
Lots of offers of help have made me realise how tight the friendship circle here is. We will take it and have accepted help already
Focusing on the positives and resting and healing now. We are going to find three positives every day and share them with each other until Ian’s more mobile.
26/8
I’m focusing on preparing high calcium, high protein and high fibre meals and snacks.
Roasted and raw salad with beans, omelette strips and Camembert
I have actually managed to get out of the house twice today whilst only leaving my patient when he is comfortable and promises not to move at all.
We have fresh veggies and fruit from the market and I have now bought medical supplies to return to all those wonderful households on the first floor, who thrust things into my hands when I was in shock on Tuesday.
Muesli cookies and coffee for afternoon tea
I also baked muesli cookies as a gift to add to a package for each household but have had no luck delivering them yet. All doors are shut and there are padlocks on the outside too. This is the security we also employ learning from the long-term, local residents but I digress.
I will now blog this or it will be a book!
Footnote:
Finally managed to deliver resident's packages and post this 27/8.
Things are looking up
Returning home before disaster struck
