Hello November!
Tomorrow marks the first month since my unico’s accident at the dorm. To those who still haven’t heard — or read– about it, please see previous (trending) blog.
I promised I’ll share with you how our weeklong, extended stay in Singapore went. So here goes (and with photos, too!)…
Okay, so my husband and I took an early morning flight that arrived in Singapore at 9:00am. From the airport, we checked in at the hotel really fast, just dropped our bags in the room, then rushed straight to National University Hospital.
First selfie for this trip… How sad is that?? 😦
Patient B32 was taking a shower when we arrived. Don’t ask me how, I’ll probably just answer, “With great difficulty…” 😦
Tadah!
We were told that the hospital is ready to discharge the unico. We waited for about half an hour for everything to be settled, and for the instructions regarding his medication.
And then we were off… (to the Campus)…
Goodbye photo-op with one of the nurses
Pushing unico’s wheelchair is Toto, one of his awesome roommates, who was there to pick him up and bring him back to the dorm in case we didn’t arrive. How sweet was that??? ❤
In the previous blog, I mentioned that my husband and I were really scheduled to go to Singapore to attend the Parents’ Orientation Weekend. Unfortunately, because of the accident, it became quite a challenge to join the activities.
For the most part of that Friday afternoon, we were just at my son’s dorm (which they call a suite), helping him settle back in, fixing his room (which looked exactly the way he left it when he was rushed to the hospital… meaning, there was still a pillow with blood on the floor, books strewn all over, etc.). Besides, we didn’t have an elevator pass, so we can’t just go in and out the residential college. We were pretty much stuck in the suite.
At some point, the Residential College Vice Rector came to meet with me and my husband so we can discuss how the school can help my son in the coming days as he goes back to his classes. Can’t help but be truly grateful that my son is in a very supportive college.
🙂
Back to the Orientation Weekend… The activity for that evening was Performance Night. Students (and some parents) were invited to perform for the visiting parents. My unico, was supposed to be part of said activity. But because of the accident, they were not sure if he can (or will) still perform.
Being the true performer that he is, well, of course he couldn’t pass up the chance… And so sans practice, the show had to go on… While in a wheelchair, too!
Song choice: Vienna, by Billy Joel
“Slow down, you crazy child…” as the song goes. How apt. ❤
Success!
The Performance Night ended around 9:30pm. We brought him back up to his suite and planned for the following day before going back to our hotel. We decided to leave him at the dorm so he could already rest. My husband and I told him we’ll be back early enough so we can have brunch together.
The bus ride to the hotel took about forty minutes. I was craving for coffee but the nearby Starbucks was already closed. I was already getting lightheaded because of exhaustion and lack of sleep (been awake since early morning for our flight). It was a long day.
And I expected the following day to be another long one.
❤
Saturday…
We got back to the campus in time for brunch! Yey! 🙂
We spent Saturday planning how the unico will do his day to day activities while in crutches or wheelchair.
The adventure begins…
We looked for easy routes going to his classrooms. We went to the laundry room so he can do his laundry. We walked with him to the dining hall.
And so we walked and walked until we have covered practically most of the campus (some of his classrooms were like two buildings away). My husband pushed the wheelchair, while I walked behind, lugging the crutches, and a water bottle, with me. It was exhausting. I was exhausted. And to think I had feet to walk with.
It wasn’t easy, believe me. It made me realize how blessed we are that we have functioning legs and feet. We really should never take any part of our body for granted.
At some point during our “campus tour,” I told my husband I believed it would be better if both of us would stay for a week — or at least, up to the unico’s first post-surgery consult with his doctor.
My son had shown nothing but courage all through out, but I wanted to be there to provide whatever support I can while he was recuperating. His friends and dormmates were the best and the school had been very helpful and supportive, yet I wanted to do my job as a parent.
❤
Sometime late Saturday afternoon, my husband and I were able and attend one sample class (it was still Parents’ Orientation Weekend, after all, and there were several sessions going on).
Filipino parents, represent! ❤
Afterwards, we brought the unico to the hotel with us so he can rest on a bigger bed, at least for most of Sunday.
Couldn’t really do anything much at the hotel…
❤
And so school week came…
My son started attending his classes (crutches and all)… we would check on him whenever possible… treated him to Japanese dinner outside school so he can get a breath of non-campus air…
My husband and I spent the week not necessarily in school the whole time, but just close enough to be there anytime our son needed us.
Traveled to school by Grab, bus, MRT… enjoyed the non-polluted walks, too.
Yale-NUS at night… Or at least the view from Clementi overpass 🙂
At last it was Friday… day of the post-surgery consult. We were able to talk to the doctor who explained to us how they fixed the broken bone.
He checked the wire, checked the wound, had it dressed, told us that it’s healing beautifully and as long as my son takes care of it — make sure that it doesn’t get wet and infected, and that the wire inside doesn’t break — then they can remove the wire come November 10 (even earlier than original November 24 schedule). Doctor even added, “Nah, you don’t have to be here when I remove the wire. I’ll just tell him to look away as I pull it out.” Yes, he said he’ll pull it out. *Gulp.*
That’s one tough guy you’re looking at!
So after meeting with the doctor and knowing that everything is well, hubby and I were ready to go back home.
And so we did, the following day.
Saturday, bye bye day… Can I just stay??
This was the hardest part 😦
❤
So tomorrow –the tenth of November –the first monthsary of his accident, he is going back to NUH to hopefully have the wire removed.
It was quite an experience. For all of us, actually, but of course, most especially for my son. It was a freak accident. He had a bad fall. Who would have thought that he would break his toe so badly?
Accidents do happen. But then despite the accident, God’s grace shone through… and we felt it in more ways than one. We were surrounded by good, helpful people. People who assisted in different ways, people who reached out and who prayed with us. My son was blessed with caring, loving friends who still help him up to now.
We were given strength, comfort and peace even when we were tired. My son was given the courage he needed while we were still away… and the yes, he still had the same courage after we left.
And yeah, as bad as the original reason was, well, we were able to spend longer time with him because we decided to extend our stay.
Though I am not really celebrating the monthsary — it was still an accident, after all, I guess I cannot say that I am not happy. Because I am. I am happy because he is now okay.
More than that, I am thankful. Things could have been much, much worse.
But God is good. He is always good. 🙂
❤
WARNING!! The following is not for the faint-hearted… So stop here if you are not ready… You don’t have to look…
Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
🙂
Those who are intrigued about the “wire” that I kept talking about, let me give you an idea how it looks like…
My, what big foot you have! 😉
And the good doctor is scheduled to pull that wire out tomorrow.
❤
********
photos were mostly mine…except for the foot which was unico’s (Don’t worry, i asked permission before i posted)
A Daily Dose of Betsy 