After I finished my two week isolation post Ontario trip, I welcomed the two middle grandkids for a stay with us. Their mother brought them down from the city, stayed overnight and in the morning as their auntie entertained them in the pool, she slipped back to ready their house for listing. Long days of painting, organizing and cleaning ensued and by the July 1st weekend they were ready to post a For Sale sign on the lawn and headed out back country canoeing/camping with the three year old granddaughter who was transported to and fro the exit to the national park by her grandfather. While they vacationed the realtors showed the house and accepted bids....a final offer well above asking was the successful buyer. A flurry of house shopping in the new job area ensued and they have purchased a lovely home in a newer subdivision with acreage lots which is quite near my niece's house. Lovely area. Lots of back and forth inspections to ensure that all was well with both properties. The daughter collected the grandkids and off to the city they returned.
I reorganized the house over the two days and our oldest daughter and newest grandson were met at the airport by his grandfather, who was glad to finally meet him. Their arrival of course meant 14 days of isolation for them as they'd traveled into the province. We selfishly enjoyed having them all to ourselves for the two weeks with swims in the pool, fresh garden meals, and lots of baby snuggles. The first day off isolation there was an excursion to meet the great grandmother who was delighted. The following day we entertained aunties, cousins, friends and their children...it was a busy house.
The following few weeks are a blur as the baby became suddenly ill the following day, in to the local ER (thankfully open) to stabilize and off to the paediatric hospital by LifeFlight helicopter. I drove my daughter and we arrived at the PICU to find it abuzz with activity. There had been a CT of his head upon arrival showing he'd suffered a bleed to his brain, they were attempting to improve his clotting so the neurosurgeon could take him to the OR to remove the clot and he was placed on a respirator. We managed to arrange the first flight in the morning for his father from Ottawa. Various meds were given and within a few hours his clotting times were satisfactory to the neurosurgeon who took him to the OR at midnight. A four hour surgery was complete, the neurosurgeon was guardedly optimistic and he was returned to his room. The morning brought large numbers of specialists to his bedside as the team worked to find out what had caused the baby to have liver failure and thus clotting problems. Due to pandemic rules our son in law and daughter had to self isolate in the room for 14 days and I had to leave when he arrived as only two people were allowed. Very tough job to walk away from them knowing that I couldn't return or be there for them if bad news was delivered. A week on life support ensued as tests (biopsies, MRIs, blood tests, U/S) to rule out the 40 to 50 differential diagnoses were completed. He was finally off the ventilator and although irritable from withdrawal of medications and post op headache he improved daily, making a great neuro recovery. He was discharged from PICU to the PMU where they continued to self isolate as more and more tubes were removed. Ultimately he was diagnosed with alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency - a rare disorder which can affect liver and lungs. Due to frequent appointments for monitoring they are remaining in the city and my brother and sister in law have welcomed them into their home. They are much more comfortable out of hospital and are quickly catching onto the new regime of medications and supplements. The baby is bright, feeding and moving well, gaining strength and very much as before the surgery. Truly a miracle. I've crocheted him a couple of spiffy hats to cover his scar until his hair grows out and he wears them well.
I'd made a quick trip home for the day last weekend as my sister was celebrating her 60th birthday and so I'd booked a photographer to record our family gathering. He captured some great shots. I'm heading home tomorrow for a few days and will be back and forth for visits. This week is the move to the new house, settling in to a new school for the teacher, pre-primary for the four year old, daycare for the 18mo old and all that entails.
I found a colleague to work my Sept/Oct northern contract for me as clearly there is too much going on for me to concentrate or be so far away. I phoned a (very understanding) manager I'd never met to explain my situation and she being an eastern European grandmother was very accommodating, telling me to simply call when I was ready to come north and there'd be a spot for me.
Speaking of colleagues....we were all shocked to learn that a northern nurse coworker (one of those larger than life types) had suddenly died in Iqaluit. She leaves big shoes to fill. Under 60 but looking forward to retirement in the spring. So sad. We just don't know what life will hand us do we?
Clearly hoping for less exciting news to convey in my next update. Only positive thoughts.
