I mentioned the Hospice in a previous blog, but just believe me, it's absolutely lovely there. Rob's got a proper Hobbit hole next to his room, there's a jacuzzi there, music rooms, video game rooms, the actual personal rooms are big, light and friendly, and there's room at the hospice for friends and family to stay over too. As soon as you walk in, there's painted pillars, big squashy sofas, a huge dressing up corner, a wendy house and a phonebox thing. The kitchen and big dining room are spacious and light as well, and it's just generally such a lovely place. I'm glad Rob's there. Ideally, of course, I wouldn't want him there at all, because being in the Hospice means the end is nigh, whereas in the hospital there was still hope of some kind; but if this is how it has to be, which it sadly is, then the Hospice is the best place for him, because it really is lovely there.
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| Rob chilling with Sheldon and Sazzles |
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| Sam with Zazzles climbing around on his shoulder |
Rob's allowed his cats (Zazzles and Sheldon) with him in the Hospice - the door to his room has a sign on it which says 'Knock before entering - CATS RUNNING LOOSE INSIDE' - which makes him happy, because he wasn't allowed the cats in the hospital. There's a litter tray for them in the ensuite bathroom he has, and he has to put a blanket over his drip and his arm (where the drip tubes go into his body) because the cats like playing with the wires, but the cats are pretty much running loose round the room and it's great. When we arrived, the cats launched themselves at us, and Zazzles decided to go on an exploration of climbing on Sam; he ended up hunched over trying to get the cat off him, but she was very insistent in continuing to climb him. Apparently (according to Rob), Zazzles is recognisable because she's 'very zazzy' but also she has a white nose, and Sheldon's recognisable as the fat male cat. Rob doesn't really mince his words when it comes to his cats! Sheldon curled up on the spare bed next to Jen while we were watching You've Been Framed on the TV, and Zazzles curled up on my lap. I was sat next to Rob, so Rob was fussing over Zazzles while we were watching people crash motorbikes and fall off walls on the TV.
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| Rob in the kitchen at the Hospice |
After a tip-off from Rob's aunt that there was cake in the kitchen, we decided we would go to the kitchen to investigate. Rob's room is at the far end of the Hospice; to get to the kitchen you have to go down a long corridor to the entrance hall, then up a curving corridor into the dining hall where the kitchen is open plan to the right as you walk in. It took a minute for Rob to sort himself out so he could get up, and walking to the kitchen was slower than last time, but we weren't really in a rush so it was okay. Rob was saying "Hello" to all the carers and people we passed on the way; he seems well at home at the Hospice which is good. We got to the kitchen and he announced we were on a mission for cake, and the carers just pointed us in the direction and said "There's loads of cake in those boxes, help yourself", so we loaded up 4 plates of chocolate cake, shortbread, lemon cake and flapjacks, then left for Rob's room again.
Complete with plates of cake, comfy seating positions (me in an armchair, Rob in the armchair next to me, Jen on the spare bed and Sam on Rob's bed) and Rob in his duck hat, came the 'mass questioning/gossip' fest. I was questioned on my situation with me and a certain boy by Rob, to which I gave the answer of "There is no change, Rob, still nothing" and he went "Oh dear, that is disappointing, we'll have to send the army of ducks to sort him out!" Sam's turn came and that whole situation is just utterly hilarious, but I'm not cruel enough to put it on the internet, so Sam if you ever find this blog BE THANKFUL!
Laura arrived at that point, because she'd been shopping for thermals (yes, proper thermals. She's doing World Challenge so will spend her summer hiking in the Indian Himalayas. She needs thermals) and caught the tail end of this conversation, plus some cake. About half an hour of laughing, scoffing cake and further chatter ensued before the dinner bell went and we had to go so Rob could have his tea.
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| Rob in the famous duck hat |
He wasn't as bouncy as when I saw him on Wednesday, and it is beginning to become clear that his body's deteriorating - his eyes and skin are going yellowy now, and he's become very bloated round the middle; both these indicate the breakdown of his liver now. I know he's in quite a lot of pain and they're upping his morphine intake now, so realistically we don't have much time left anymore. However, considering the stakes and the situation, Rob's remaining remarkably cheerful and upbeat (as per usual) and making jokes such as "Well you have to tell me, scuse me, I don't have many days left for you to!" and "For god's sakes Sam, who am I going to tell, I'm in a bloody Hospice with crap phone signal, I'm not really technologically wired up to spread your secrets everywhere thank you, nor am I that interested in telling people about your uninteresting life!" He was apparently quite tired and felt quite ill earlier and yesterday, but for the moment he's still hanging on and fighting, and for the moment that's more than enough and I can't give him enough love and respect for it.
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