After a 10 long weeks, Rob was finally able to leave intensive care on Friday, 21 August. As you can imagine, we are thrilled.
The timing was perfect because Rob’s sister Anne arrived from England with our niece Isha and nephews Thomas, Luke and Oliver. Rob was very happy to see all of them, and that they could celebrate this big step together with us.
It was good Rob had a nice quiet weekend with many short visits with the family. It’s much quieter now that he is in a “normal” room, and he can finally get some real rest.
He was also able to get rid of the tracheotomy sooner than expected and has an easier time talking now. He has been eating small amounts of food, after 70+ days on a liquid diet, and is very happy about that. Now I can bring him Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream, which is his favourite.
Rob was also able to have a sneak visit from our dog Jansen. We hid him under a jacket and smuggled him past the receptionist. She saw him on the way out with our neighbour Rob Vermeer, but by then it was too late. Rob really got a kick out of seeing him.
Rob is now in full rehabilitation mode. He has a long recovery ahead and is starting now with all the speech-, physio-, and ergo- therapy. I still have no idea how long we can expect him to be in the hospital, but should learn more soon.
Rob is now able to receive visitors. We have posted a page “Bezoekers/Visitors” (in Dutch) with information about visiting.
Rob, I’m happy to hear you found out where they were hiding the key to the door. I was thinking you’d have checked under your pillow earlier. So is there any good stuff to watch on cable? Maybe a western or some Judy Dench detective series??? Did you get any tats (tatoos) when you were in IC? My nurse friend over here says that’s all she and her comrades check out anymore. We’ve got a surplus over here, as the tatoo thing went up with the housing market. Now you see a lot of ads for removal, as people enter the ‘What was I thinking? phase). [No offense to any tatoo owners out there. Just some fun when nursing becomes mundane.]
They have cable in Dutch hospitals, yes?
Today we have a lot of rain in SE Michigan. I saw a doe and two fawns out the window. The deer are taking over America as the hunting population declines and people have built into the hinterlands over the last 10 years. There are animals all over the place. I’m always on the lookout for the skunk family when I walk to my apartment in the dark, from parking lot along the woods to my door. I’ve jumped quite a distance when coming face to face. My heart backfires like an old car.
Really happy for you and Ellyn and your family that your out and making progress. I know it can be tough but we are all rooting for you – a lot.
Hope to see you some day soon.
Hi Ellyn!!
Jimmy
P.S. I just had to ramble on a little up top there. Kind of in that mode…
P.P.S. Dog? What Dog? We have no Dog in here.
Wonderful news, congratulations you two! Now we look forward to following the rehab, don’t ever forget, Rob, how many mates you’ve got in many different parts of the world who are with you in thoughts and wishes of support and love.
We’re so chuffed for you guys and especially so proud of you!
Caro; Martin, Jacques and Max.
Enjoy hospital food? Things must be really diifferent in Dutch Hospitals.
Good going Rob, now that you can speak on your own kick them SOB’s in the A%$ and get them with the program! I love you and am thrilled that your progressing, Believe me, I KNOW how hard it is. Can’t wait too see your face over Ellie’s shoulder when we get Sykping. Keep it up man, the real recovery begins when you leave that hellhole. Give Ellie a kiss for me!
–
Brad
Well that´s great news!! Congratulations!
And now enjoy the food. We hope recovery is going well.
Lots of love,
Joost, Dorette, Kiki and Jimmy
This is great news indeed, I like it that Jansen was able to visit.
Huuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh for Rob! Great news to be out and in his own room. The road to recovery begins now, you must be sooooooooo happy!
Take care and look forward to the next update.
love
Julia, Carl and Ollie xxxxxxxxx
Jabbadabbadoo! Congratulations to both of you. This is really good news.
That must have been a party with Jansen jumping on your bed.
And could you even remember what normal food tastes like Rob?
Enjoy this big step forward.
Lots of love and see you soon!
xxxxxxxxxxx
Tanja and Noah
At last!! Hooray!!! Have been waiting for this sooooo long. Now Robe can start being a central part of the healing process rather than having so many things done to him without his even getting to decide. Enjoy!
And I had an inkling that Jansen would go see hom somehow. Good for that. If the hospital is smart, they’ll let Jansen in every day.