Roaming Brit
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets

From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

Picture

On 31st January 2016, my partner and I left Southampton to start a new life as Expats in Gran Alacant, on the Costa Blanca. This blog will document our journey, as we navigate the Spanish system, travelling a path untried and untested. With Brexit looming, political turmoil in Europe, and an unpredictable future, harsh decisions must be made. Illness, family bonds, and a Change of heart all make for challenging times in the life of a 'Roaming Brit!'

Picture

48 Hours!

1/11/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
On Sunday morning Mum was rushed to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth once again. Dad had phoned an ambulance after Mother became confused, unable to talk properly and extremely unwell. The paramedics arrived quickly where they assessed the situation. They immediately informed my Father that Mum would have to go into Accident and Emergency straight away; Of course she objected, as she has done on every other occasion, refusing to leave the house. Concerned, my Father was taken to one side and advised she would be dead by the morning unless she was admitted now. After much consternation, Mum agreed and was taken straight to QA, where she remains today.

My Aunt Trisha had informed me of the situation on Sunday, she is a nurse at the Hospital and was already aware of my Mothers state of health. She told me to expect a call from Dad on Monday, after Mum's circumstances became clearer. Naturally worried, I went to bed feeling apprehensive about the future. We had been here before, but this time things felt different. The seriousness of the situation would become evident, but for now it was time to sleep  and try to prepare for what was coming!

I awoke at 5am on Monday, sat bolt upright in bed; it had been a difficult night with very little sleep, but plenty of dreaming and thinking about the past and events that shaped my life. For the next few hours I laid quietly, remembering childhood events and fun times with family. Dad eventually phoned and informed me of Mum's condition. His voice was rather shaky and his words inaudible at times, but he did manage to tell me that the Hospital wanted to speak to us as a family, as soon as possible, believing at the time Mum had had a stroke, on top of everything else. I cancelled my day of volunteering with Cancer Research and made my way to the 'Acute Medical Unit' at the Hospital.

I arrived before Dad, walking into the ward, looking around briefly to see where Mum was situated. Unable to recognise anyone, I spoke to a nurse who directed me to her bed. I had seen this lady when I first turned up, but hadn't identified her; Mum was in a terrible state and I was shocked at her condition. On arrival, a lady Doctor came over and told me that Mum hadn't suffered a stroke. From me their was a  sigh of relief, followed by a stark reality check, as she continued to relay her concerns for my Mothers health. She would talk to Dad and I when he was also here, rather than saying anything now; In the meantime I sat patiently holding Mum's hand.

Shortly afterwards Dad entered the ward and pulled back the curtain around Mum's bed. Looking frail and tired, understandable after such a traumatic ordeal, he embraced his wife of 51 years. He was followed closely behind by my Aunt and finally the lady Doctor and a  colleague who went straight over to Mum's side, reviewing her medical records and discussing her condition briefly with each another. Quickly we were directed to a private room, where we were given a detailed prognosis and warned of what to expect in the coming hours.

Mum was trying to fight off a severe infection, but was so weak it seemed likely she wouldn't recover and over the next forty eight hours we should prepare ourselves for the worst. The Consultant who spoke to us said she was unlikely to survive and we were asked whether we wanted Mum to be resuscitated in the event of her untimely death. After briefly looking at one another, horrified at what we were hearing, we agreed it wouldn't be right to put Mum through anymore pain. A combination of low sodium levels, an inability to continue battling and a negative reaction to the antibiotics that were being administered, were all contributory factors in Mothers rapid decline; it was time to consider the future and what would happen after Mum's passing.

All of us were shocked and upset at what we had heard; emotions were running high as we all congregated at Mum's bedside. Aunt Trisha had contacted my Brother and while we waited for him to arrive we decided to go to the Hospital canteen on B level to talk about what was going on. Dad discussed Mum's funeral wishes, reminisced about past events and shed a few tears. Plans were made about what we should all do in the immediate aftermath and I managed to phone relatives who needed to know the gravity of Mum's condition. We all did what we could while we waited for the inevitable.

My Brother arrived an hour and a half later, looking as shell shocked as us all. This was the first time I had seen my younger sibling in ten years, so after an initial period of awkwardness, we hugged and manged to put our differences aside for the shake of our parents. Sitting at Mum's bedside we talked about the 'old days,' while she slowly meandered in and out of consciousness. My Aunt Helen who I had contacted earlier phoned me back and informed me she would fly to the UK that evening from her home in the Channel Islands, staying with her other sisters, until they could come in to make their final farewells in the morning. A couple of hours later my Uncle Paul arrived, sitting talking with Mum as best he could, not holding out much hope for the future, like us all. I left at 7pm with my Aunt, believing Mum wouldn't survive the night, this was the final farewell, the moment all families dread!

The following day, Mum was sat up in bed talking with family and Hospital staff alike, miraculously she had survived and was almost chirpy in her behaviour. Dad phoned and was positive, believing Mum could actually survive this, and as I left for work in the evening, I was looking forward to seeing her the next day. Everyone at work were fantastic offering support and help if needed; I began to feel that the tide was turning and all my prayers had been answered.

On Monday Mum had been given 48 hours to live and expectations were low. When I saw her yesterday, whilst not as good as the day before, she was communicating well and as feisty as ever; our assumptions had changed and a belief in Mothers fighting spirit was being realised. In truth Mum has been through a lot and we are still not completely sure of her current state. The latest diagnosis includes e coli on top of everything else; yet another ailment to add to a growing list. Mother has survived before and there is no reason to expect she wont now. As long as her family are here to support her and of course more importantly my father at this difficult time, I am hopeful she can overcome her current state of health. She nearly died on Monday and is still fighting on Thursday, the longer and harder she battles the more sanguine we all are. Confidence and optimism has got us through some terrible days before, it seems likely they can again!

Picture
Picture
Picture
Click above to email!


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    51-year-old Author and professional blogger. Expat formerly living in Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca! Currently, residing in my adopted home of Perth, Western Australia.

    Picture

      Contact Luke.

    Submit
    Picture
    Click me & email for more information!
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    30th Anniversary
    Asia-2019
    Australia
    Australia-202223
    Bangkok & Chiang Mai 2023
    Bettys-revenge
    Bipolar
    Bipolarcoaster
    Britain
    Bullying
    Business
    Cancer Research
    Cats
    Characters-i-have-known
    Charity
    Charlatan Or Confidant
    Christmas Thoughts
    Claybornes World
    Coming-out-stories
    Cooking
    Coronavirus
    Croatia 2022
    Current Affairs Politics
    Darrell In The Uk
    Death Of Queen Elizabeth
    Dunbars
    Easy-horse-care
    Events
    Events That Shaped My World
    Family
    Fascinating-facts
    Friends Colleagues
    Gran Alacant
    Guest-bloggers
    Ibs
    Immigration
    Information
    Inspirational People
    Interviews
    Japan And Thailand 2020
    Jersey-2019
    King Charles III
    Lifestyle Break
    Lockdown-life-in-photos
    London 2022
    Lounge-d
    Luke-martin-jones-awards
    Marmite Watch
    Memories Of Fareham
    Memories Of Home
    Memories-of-home
    Memories Of Portsmouth
    Memories Of Southampton
    Memories Of Spain
    Me-too-oxfam
    Milestones
    Moving
    My Life
    My Writing
    Non Touch Toast
    Oxfam Sociopathy
    Penelope-wren
    Photographs-of-hope
    Picante And Marigold
    Pippa
    Pippa And Akira
    Platinum Jubilee
    Postcards From Home
    Quotes
    Rabs-world
    Remembering Gran Alacant
    Reviewing Gran Alacant
    Santa-pola
    Self-isolation
    Shopping
    Short Stories From My Youth
    Southampton
    Spiritual
    Taiwan 2024
    Teaching Jamie
    Thailand 2022
    Thailand And Singapore 2025
    The-darkness
    The-streets
    The Two Of Us
    Travel
    Verruca-almond
    Vietnam 2024
    Villa In The Sun
    Visits From Friends
    War In Europe
    Weight Loss & Health
    Year In Review 2015
    Year In Review 2016
    Year In Review 2017
    Year In Review 2018
    Year In Review 2019
    Year In Review 2020
    Year In Review 2021
    Year In Review 2022
    Year In Review 2023
    Year In Review 2024
    Zest

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Tweets by realtruthblog
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture


    Instagram
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    A place to call home
    Finally, a place we can call home.  A community of like minded individuals, who used to call Britain home.  Now Spain is our choice, an altogether gentler, happier, sunnier and safer experience!
            Luke Feb 16
    Picture
Picture
Picture

Telephone

+447999663360

Email

[email protected]
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets