I only got out of hospital last night and I am feeling very grateful. It is not that I enjoyed my last stay or recent surgery. Something much more profound happened this time.
What struck me was the amazing relationships that you make with people in hospital. In the six bed bay I made good friends with others. None of us had the same illness but somehow we all had a common bond. A bond that saw us all stripped bare of almost everything you see about us in the outside world. Almost nothing is a secret when you are in such close proximity to others 24 hours a day. Sharing the daily highs and lows of our illnesses, what the doctors had to say on their visits to which was our favourite item from the food menu.
There was also an enormous sadness we all shared the burden of dealing with a serious illness. In our own and real worlds it is easy to say that we all felt fine. Together it was great to be able to continue conversations long into the night how our lives really were. In between treatments enjoying coffee in my pyjamas sitting in Queen Square feeling as though I had escaped for an hour from the ward with another patient, is one of the highlights of my visit. Time to talk one to one in the beautiful autumn sunshine with squirrels rushing around and both of us getting strange looks in our PJ’s and a central line hanging out of my neck.
We laughed so much together, cried together. We swapped magazines and texted each other when we were supposed to be resting.
Whilst none of us had chosen to be in hospital our time together helped us make it special. A moment in time, that will never happen again but will be treasured forever.
As a two time cancer survivor ( and right now hoping to make it three times) I connect with your experience. There’s no commeraderie like sharing a room with people who can understand while you understand them. We got each other water, blankets, magazines and told each other the unvarnished truth about how we feel and how we thrive.
What you say is so very true
It has amazed me over the years at the kindness and strength I’ve received from virtual strangers, who all just happened to be in the same ward as myself, or the same forum as I use, but have the same experiences as me when dealing with chronic illness and pain.
As long as there are people like this in the world, it makes it easier to bear what we have to, doesn’t it?
I do hope you recover well from the surgery
Katy thank you and so special for u to know exactly what I am talking about. Yes feeling good today!
Sheila I too hope u make it 3 times. Yes its true we do tell others unvarnished truth and it helps us all to deal with life in a different way