Airasa and Ian Update 6th Feb 2005

Well, this will be my last message to you for a week or so. Ian and I are going to Italy for a week with some friends. I am greatly looking forward to it. It's a 30th birthday present to ourselves, booked before Christmas. My mum and Ian's parents told us we still had to go, so we are. This also means that I won't be able to pass on your messages to him. (see below for other contact details)

Things at Pinderfields have greatly improved. They moved my dad from the part of the ward he was on, to a quieter part of the ward. He has seen his doctors several times and tomorrow they hope to have a rehabilitation plan in place. His bedsores are healing and tomorrow my also be the day that they sit him up again! He is definitely getting more sleep and is back to his old self a bit more. There is a patient phone you can call him on, but it is the same phone for the whole ward (28 beds) and so gets very busy. The nurses said they will take the phone to him and hold it to his ear so he can talk to you.
The number is 011 44 192 214049 from the US, 01924 214049 from the UK. Please be considerate about the time you call. 8am to 9pm GMT (midnight to 1pm PST). The phone number is a normal rate, no more expensive than calling any other UK number. I know there are phone cards available which make calling the UK from the US as little as 5 cents a minute. While we're away my mum and some of my friends will be taking over visiting duties (thank you so much!), but a phone call from some of this friends would really help cheer him up too.

Have a good week,
Love,
Airasa