I have golden opportunity tomorrow morning to give Maureen a chance to show her compassionate nature.   At 9.15 I have to be in hospital for investigations into my gastric problems.  Not a major procedure, and I have elected for the spray at the back of the throat rather than a general anaesthetic.  A bit of meditation carried me through the procedure on a previous occasion.  I have been deliberating this morning over Maureen’s involvement in my trip to hospital.

Generally, we accompany each other when medical procedures have to be carried out.  This went without saying when we could both drive, as this gave us an option if either of us didn’t feel up to being behind the wheel.  I can’t get Maureen to come along on this basis any longer.  It would be tempting to leave her in bed in Chloe, our carer’s, capable hands.  However, I think this would be serious mistake and deny Maureen an opportunity of doing something that she has always done: ‘caring for yours truly’.

I think the plan on this matter is quite simple: it has to be based on giving Maureen the chance to show her compassion and nurture; something that came naturally to her before stroke.  To leave her in bed and go to the hospital alone would be saying you are not the person  you used to be.  That would be illogical when we are asserting that: Maureen is not ill: she is recovering from stroke.  Chloe can be our back-up driver and take Maureen for a cup of coffee while I have the camera down my digestive tract.