In terms of hard knocks this is the year that just keeps on giving. 6 months to the day after I lost my Mum my Dad was admitted to hospital on Saturday for an emergency craniotomy to remove pus that had accumulated around his brain. He had the flu for nearly 3 weeks which came with a severe sinus infection. I spoke to him on Friday night to see how he was going, usually checking up on him every few days while he was sick as it was a severe flu.
I noticed he was slurring his words and he said he'd been throwing up as well, plus severe headache, fever and night sweats. I knew he obviously had a severe bacterial infection that was probably leading towards meningitis. I convinced him to go to the hospital and my brother said he'd give him a lift there, I then called back a few minutes later and he wouldn't go.... said he'd go "tomorrow", by this stage I was extremely worried. Anyway I called back first thing in the morning, he was still throwing up, he said he was getting ready to go to hospital which was a good decision as at 5:30pm that evening he called me to say that he needed the craniotomy to help clear out the infection. If he had delayed any longer he'd be in a coma or dead right now..
Went in to visit him yesterday and it looks like he should make a full recovery, he's sore and sorry for himself with a 30cm wound around the right side of his head that looks like a big ? mark. So, I'm just sitting here now thinking about what could have happened if I hadn't demanded that he go in and get checked out. Lesson here is don't be a stubborn tough bloke when you know something is going pear shaped with yourself or something wrong with a loved one, bloody drag them to hospital if need be to get them checked out.
Just hoping now that he doesn't have any lasting neurological problems, he seems pretty good after what he's been through and the docs are confident of a mostly full recovery, though he won't be able to drive for 3 months until given the all clear. My Dad is one of the toughest blokes I know and if it wasn't for his strength and usual good health he wouldn't be alive right now. Life can just change in a second, look after those closest to you everyone as tomorrow might be the day that everything falls to pieces if you don't.
