2021 turned out to be the year of breaking bones, and my darling wife was in the vanguard. Last summer, as you may have read in this blog, Ann tripped and fell on broken paving in Paphos and ended up with both arms in plaster casts for quite a few weeks. Caring treatment from the excellent Dr George (an orthopaedic surgeon who visits our medical centre in Polis once a week) enabled her to make a full recovery. But it was hard going for her and she had to put up with my cooking.
And then, in December, she fell coming out of the bathroom at eleven o’clock at night (we suspect an epileptic episode), and cut her head badly, which required eight stitches. She had also “hurt” her ankle. I took her to Polis Hospital - ten minutes from our house - where she was very carefully attended to. Then off to Paphos Hospital by ambulance where a fractured fibula was diagnosed. Into plaster from the knee downwards, and an early morning phone call for me to collect her. Ann was advised to see an orthopaedic surgeon to “ensure they had made the right diagnosis” and so Doctor George to the rescue again.
He was not particularly impressed with the work done at Paphos and removed the plaster cast, had X-rays done there and then, and reapplied the plaster “correctly”. Warned to keep the leg elevated and not put any weight on it, we drove round to the pharmacist and bought a walking frame. This proved difficult for Ann to use as she did not have the strength in her arms and shoulders to support her weight. Matters improved when she raised the height of the frame but the last few weeks have been very demanding.
Christmas will be celebrated when she is mobile again. Unfortunately Doctor George was unwell yesterday and so Ann was forced to postpone her appointment for a week. And so, it’s fingers crossed until then that he recovers and her plaster cast may be removed. Coupled with bitterly cold weather recently, we have had breakfast and the papers in bed, with the heating on - and then, once the log burner has been cleaned out, and wood brought into the house, we have emerged from the bedroom and enjoyed the fire. We binge-watched (I think that’s the term) the whole of Downton Abbey, and Kavanagh QC, and are now enjoying Judge John Deed. The bar opens as the credits roll, and then we have supper on our knees. Quite sybaritic really but we are making the best of a bad job.
Much thanks to the staff at Polis Hospital, Polis Medical Centre and Dr George of the Hippocratic Clinic in Paphos for their excellent and kind care.
