The last few days have been a nightmare. When Viv went home I took over staying all night with Mum. First couple of nights just bearable, but only snatches of sleep. The final night was awful. Mum up and walking about approximately 10 times to the hour. At 1.30am I sat her down with a warm milk and some paracetamol. We had a chat like nothing had happened, Mum back to bed 10 mins later she was off again. I had zero sleep that night and I was at the end of my tether.
No sign of test results yet from Barty but then they rang to say that if I took Mum in again they would do an antibody test and would take her in. I took her for the test but she was getting increasingly disturbed and anxious. Sue and I prepared for her to go on Thursday 28th May. Mum was really anxious and we had to tell her it was only 4 weeks. She said she was not prepared to stay any longer. Barty have been very helpful and reduced the isolation to 7 days rather than 14. We moved her in and it was really traumatic, Mum was led off with a nurse and I was literally in tears, it was so hard to do.
Today we cycled to Barty to return some paperwork and had a long chat with the staff. Apparently, Mum on arrival had been taken to the first floor room where she was to be isolated. According to the senior nurse Paula, Mum threw a wobbly and started to wander around. Paula, carried out a risk assessment and on the basis that the risk for Mum of anxiety or a fall was greater than the risk of having the virus, she was moved downstairs to a lovely room with a garden view. She then slept well and this morning the receptionist Laura took her photo and Mum had half a smile! Both Mum’s tests had come back negative, so that is a relief.
I am sure Mum will still make her presence felt and it as well that we cannot get to see her. In three weeks time we will have to make the next big decision. Will she be able to left alone at home at night? I have my doubts but in the mean time Sue and I are taking time for ourselves. The relief is amazing.
On our ride today, we got a call from Mike, can we pop into Senacre Cycles to see if they have a bike to suit James. A quick diversion and the brilliant staff were sorting something out. Tomorrow we collect the bike then at last we are going to Beckenham to see Mike, Philippa and the boys. We can have a social distance afternoon tea in the garden, it will be great and hopefully James will have his bike, a belated birthday present.
The lockdown is easing very slowly and next week we can have up to six people in a garden, so we may be off to Reading sometime very soon.