While Tony was in hospital last week I stayed at my best friend Sandra’s place. It meant I could take a few (non messy) art supplies with me. I was able to work in the journal when I wasn’t with Tony, which was good for my stress levels. Here’s a few of the pages I made, recording what was happening and how I was feeling.
I’ll keep this brief-ish, but thought I should let people know how Tony is. On Monday he had clots removed from last year’s Fem-Fem Cross Bypass, and an artificial artery inserted from groin to knee as the surgeon felt his lower leg veins were good enough to warrant it. Surgery and recovery was about 7 hours, so it was a long day of waiting. When I was finally allowed to see him in the High Dependency Unit he looked terrible and said he felt dreadful. The staff were concerned because his foot was still cold and no one could find a pulse even with the doplar.
Tuesday morning’s scans showed a series of blockages in the new artery, despite IV Heparin. Prior to surgery we had talked about risks, including amputation so this was scary stuff. The operated late Tuesday morning, so it was another long day of ‘hurry up and wait’. They completely replaced last year’s Fem-Fem Cross Bypass with a new one, and replaced the new artery with a different one – this time groin to mid-calf and done by cutting the leg rather than working internally. So a lot of stitches and fresh pipework.
Within a couple of hours his foot was warm and pink. He looks really well; for me he already looks better than he has in months. Incredible. The next 24 hours are still important, as he remains a high risk for a heart attack or more clots, BUT is doing great and moved from HDU to the vascular ward at lunchtime. We are so fortunate. Fortunate to live somewhere where things get fixed, fortunate I can stay in my friend’s house, fortunate my sister came down from Auckland and stayed with me through the scary bits, fortunate Wendy will animal-sit for us, fortunate to have online people who support me – just fortunate.
I’m not normally one for pink, or flowers, but at the moment they make me happy so I’m going with it. This is a progress shot from a journal I’m working in as part of an art journal circle. Dylusions sprays, Distress paints, various stencils and gesso.
Yesterday morning I was a bit miserable so spent the day scrapbooking and felt better in no time at all. I’m determined to use up all my older supplies this year, including cardstock I no longer love the colour of. I have been using paint and gesso to do cover ups, and stenciling to create new surfaces, which is all good fun. Here’s some of yesterday’s layouts. A few of these are my entries in the Creative Jumpstart 14 give-aways over at Natalie’s Studio.
I woke up feeling weepy and worried this morning, which is unusual for me. All I could tell Tony is when things are tough, and they are at the moment, I miss having Mum to chat to. In those last couple of years she may not have followed everything I said, and forgot most of it anyway, but it was a way for me to download. It’s just over a year since Mum died and most of the time it’s okay.
I think what has upset me is it turns out Tony has been a lot sicker than we realised. Long story, and involves a medical stuff-up re some blood tests, but it’s made me anxious about the upcoming surgery.
So, had a quick weep, scared the dog my grabbing a tissue so she thought I was going to wipe her eyes, and decided the day needed to be an art one because art heals.
Cath Sheard Art 