Lindsey, newsletter #1 (Tuesday 20th)
Seoul, 20th July, 10 am
I found Lindsey well awake this morning. Much more chatty and responsive. Also better colours. We even went for a walk (but walking around a large hospital is not fun).
Doctors have been in and heard us say that we had decided that the operation should take place here. Also the French admin seems to have worked (thanks to Boris) and sent the necessary paperwork.
I have seen the Neurosurgeon and the operation will take place tomorrow. I am to see the doctor later today to be fully informed of what it consists in and signing the different papers.
I had one nice phone call from administration letting me know that they didn’t need me to go and see them until the patient is discharged. Looking forward to that!
We are moving to the neuro ward at some point today. By then I will have solved other problems:
My Spanish colleagues and Friends Jose and Jorge, also in Seoul in this moment for the same conference, are trying to get the washing machine to work. And they have suggested that it is possible to have a skype extension with which you can phone to normal phones. This will be handy!
In 20 mn they are even coming to visit (Lindsey suggested that). They are being great.
I will write more later.
Ah, I found Jill’s correct email. Sorry for using the old one yesterday.
Best way to help at this point : if people send me emails of encouragement, I will read them to Lindsey.
Love
Colin
Lindsey, newsletter #2 (Wednesday 21st)
Dear all.
Thanks for the support.
These are very stressful moments for those in Korea, but also for those who love Lindsey and are far away.
I will not have time right now to individually answer each mail (I suppose that one imagines that this is all about waiting and seeing, but it is not, it is about getting a huge number of small details fixed and finding a maximum of time to comfort Lindsey and getting the rest I need to get through all this myself)
I will read to Lindsey your different mails of course. All these will be used to get every bit of energy I can into Lindsey for the terribly long and complicated operation she has to endure on Monday.
Luckily, Lindsey has two fantastic children who are both deploying their efforts and talents in order to help.
Boris is helping with interfacing with the completely inefficient French assistance services and interacting with you. I am truly impressed with his calmness. Please contact him for information, advice, etc
Vikki has obtained leave from her employer and is flying over to help me: she will be arriving on Saturday. I was yesterday told that a Korean regulation is that someone is to be at all times with Lindsey in her room. And as there is actually only one person available…
I should not speak too harshly of the Koreans. Their rule actually makes sense, it was just the communication issues that made me not understand it before.
The hospital (Severance) is absolutely impressive with an enormous amount of dedicated staff. Everybody knows his role and does it. The guy who is operating on Lindsey is someone truly outstanding too. You can check Professor Chang Jong Hee on the web. Quite a record. I met him yesterday and he explained what he is going to try and do. I later found out through a colleague that he had postponed his vacations in order to perform the operation. That is dedication.
Again, many thanks for your support
Colin
PS Please share this email. One thing I cannot do is check if I have put in one person or not. I have just searched through the recent emails and put in the addresses. If you love Lindsey and are not included in the list, please do not feel offended.
Lindsey, newsletter #3 (Thursday 22nd)
Dear all,
Don’t worry, I will not keep this daily letter on for too long! But as we are receiving so many shows of love and support, since Seoul is so far, and since I am having many questions and have no time to answer each of you individually, let me continue a bit.
First of all, we have had 24 hours of positiveness. First: no bad news (makes a change)
Then, Lindsey feeling stronger, more lively and combative. I believe strongly that all the messages you are sending are playing a big part here. Please remember to write to me: Lindsey is not checking her mail/whatsups etc.
Then, the fact that the cavalry is coming in rapidly. All the way from Broome, Australia. Vikki is about to catch her (first) flight. Her presence here before the operation will be great to boost morale.
Thanks to those of you who have proposed to come and give a hand. The offer is very appreciated. I believe that Vikki and I will be able to cope (with Boris at a distance ensuring a huge amount of tasks). Also, Seoul is complicated re logistics and I am not sure being more will make things easier. Of course, it is not up to me to forbid anything. I’ll add that on this matter (as on all) Lindsey and I are in full agreement.
Yesterday Lindsey went through her training session. She is to be operated during 10 hours, but during the operation they will wake her up and during one hour and a half she is supposed to answer to questions, do strange things like a special arm routine while counting or answering questions. Complicated enough, but this is to be done in an operation room with the neuro-surgeon poking her brain. If you are Lindsey and enjoy those scenes in Doctor House or Grey’s Anatomy, you will understand. If you are like me and bury your nose in a book or a computer during those scenes you can only imagine.
So, every so often I get Lindsey to practice her piece.
Lindsey now dozing.
Love
Colin, Seoul, 8-20 am
Lindsey, newsletter #4 (Saturday 23rd)
Seoul, Saturday 23rd, 9 am
Lindsey awake and watching a geek emission on the Discovery Channel about the amazing things you can do with your brain (!).
She is tired but animated. Plan is to have a shower, a walk around the ward, than mix rest with homework: we have to work on the sequences she is to produce on Monday during the operation.
Yesterday she had a less great day. Started well (which was when I wrote #3), but then there was a long lapse where she didn’t want to do anything.
Luckily, at around 4 O’clock she came back and we were able to have some nice time; Best was probably when my colleagues and friends Jose and Jorge, from Alicante came to visit. Lindsey was cheerful. And all the conversation was in Spanish (and just before she had been speaking French with Boris).
The night went well. I am the problem: I have to take strange positions on an uncomfortable couch to avoid snoring. I moved the couch next to her bed so that she can tell me if snore. It seemed that I didn’t or (even better) that it didn’t hinder her sleep.
I have just read on Whatsup that Vikki was in Singapore a couple of hours ago. She must be flying over South-East Asia by now. It will be great having her here.
Again, sorry I can’t answer to individual mails. I am having to spend a huge amount of time dealing with the incompetence of the French insurance-assistance programme for which I have been paying for 30 years and they are proving less that ineffective.
Lindsey has just got up and is in the shower. On her own. All very positive.
Love
Lindsey, newsletter #5 (Sunday 24th)
[Again, apologies to those who did not get the previous ones, are missing one, etc. I am not organized enough]
Seoul, Sunday 24th, 11-30 am
Dear all.
Writing this 2 hours later than the previous days. Not that it matters of course.
The reason was that Lindsey was active this morning, enough to require my full attention. This involved doing exercises and going for a wander together (in a wheelchair). Then the cavalry arrived (Vikki) and whereas I hoped that this would give me more time, I have had even more to do with extremely complicated tasks like help them read some people’s magazine brought all the way from Australia (I am amazed that Lindsey can show interest in whatever they seemed to be talking about).
Anyhow, yesterday had been a difficult day. Lindsey was tired most of the day and wouldn’t do much. Then Vikki arrived and various things happened all at once:
- there started to be things everywhere in the room
- I was able to get out and have dinner without feeling guilty for the first time of the week
- Lindsey’s face started being radiant and smiley in a continuous way
- Lindsey’s pulse picked up an extra 10 points (the rest may sound trivial and subjective, this was objective).
The cavalry arrived again this morning with flowers, a paper blowable fugu, all sorts of food. Then the reading of the press started. In this moment Vikki has brought Lindsey for a ride down the ward. Second time out of the room today. Definitely much more stamina and will.
Tomorrow will be a big long day. From what I understand, they will pick Lindsey at 7am, Seoul time. Then she gets to sleep but is woken up around 11 for the complex part.
I am not sure when we will be informed. But I will do my best to write Newsletter #6 on time.
All our love
Lindsey, newsletter #6 (Monday 25th)
Seoul, Monday 25th, 09-00 am
25th of July. Dia del Apostol. Dia de Santiago.
This is the day that many pilgrims choose to arrive in the city of Santiago de Compostela after having completed el camino.
Doing the camino in the coming years was possibly the only clear plan Lindsey and I had been considering over the past weeks when discussing about what we would do when getting back to France after these lovely 6 months in Japan. We had both agreed that walking the Kumano Kodo had possibly been, of all our experiences since January, the most marking and beautiful. Even without the religious component, this sounded like something we enjoy.
And even when wanting to be rational and cool-headed, I do think now that this is a strange coincidence. We will really have to walk el Camino.
At 7-30 Lindsey entered into the operation block. We are now to wait, Vikki and I, looking at our phones to check that we are not being called.
Before that…
Yesterday Lindsey had a good day. We attempted to dose correctly the active moments with the resting moments. When Vikki left to rest, around 9 pm, started the « fun ». Every couple of hours there was something to do: imaging, marking, changing doses, then dressing and going into a closed room where she was to wait while some liquid was doing its job to lighten up the different parts of the brain.
During all this, Lindsey amazingly cool… I think she was more worried with what Vikki and I were going to do today while waiting than with her own experience.
Vikki joined us in the closed room at 6-30 and managed to smuggle in a mobile conversation with Boris. Well done!
Vikki now dozing. It’s going to be a long day.
Colin
Lindsey, newsletter #7 (Monday 25th)
Seoul, Monday 25th, 2-30 pm
No news.
Seven hours have gone past. We have been nervously looking at our smartphones all day and waiting in a place easy to be met. Every time we hear steps we look up. The bright side of things is that we haven’t had news. Being told to remain on the watch to be able to take decisions if needed did not make getting an early call be a nice prospect.
So we wait a bit more. The longer, the better.
Lindsey, newsletter #8 (Monday 25th)
Seoul, Monday 25th, 5-30 pm
No news. Ten hours now. Again, the pros overcome the cons. Taking time is good because it means that Lindsey did « participate » and that Doctor Chang has been very careful.
Lindsey, newsletter #9 (Monday 25th)
Seoul, Monday 25th, 8-10 pm. We interrogated the nurses and they say that Lindsey is still in the operation block.
An hour go, I spotted Doctor Chang going into his office. So the guess is that they are finishing the job.
Wrong. Super-Vikki just went to find out. It seems that they started late (2 hours) so they is actually still some time to wait.
What is clear is that we won’t be allowed to see her tonight as she then goes to the intensive care unit in which visits are only allowed at 12 (noon) and 6 (evening) for 20 mn each time.
Severance Hospital was founded by the Presbyterians. I had noticed a large chapel on the 6th floor yesterday. This evening, as Vikki and I were waiting on the 10th floor (Lindsey’s ward) we heard some singing. A small choir was going around the wards. When they saw us, they even added an extra hymn for us. Very moving.
We are feeling very positive.
Lindsey, newsletter #10 (Monday 25th)
Seoul, Monday 25th, 9-30 pm.
We have just seen Lindsey, spoken to Lindsey and even touched Lindsey!
The first battle has been won!
Professor Chang met us at 9 and explained that all had been well with Lindsey playing her part during the operation. I really believe he seemed happy about the outcome, even if possibly not as much as us and all those who are reading these lines.
And to our huge surprise he then said I could see her and when understanding that Vikki was the daughter, invited Vikki in, too.
Lindsey was wide awake. A radiant smile across her face. She even joined into the conversation.
We only spent 5 minutes of course. We will be able to see her again tomorrow at 12 and is to go into the normal ward in the afternoon.
If you are reading this and decide to celebrate, please, after toasting Lindsey, make sure you toast Professor Chang Jong Hee. Chapeau.
Love
Lindsey, newsletter #11 (Tuesday 26th)
Seoul, Tuesday 26th of July, 15-00
Lindsey spent the night as expected in the intensive care unit. At 12 I was allowed in to visit her. She is exhausted.
But she can move all her limbs and can speak. But she has some (expected and understandable) memory lapses.
The doctor has gone on holiday till the end of the week so we agreed yesterday to talk at the week-end.
The best news was that Lindsey was allowed out of the ICU at 12-30 and has been put into her previous room where Vikki and I can be with her.
She is now resting and my guess is that she will need some time to recover strength.
Yesterday was a very difficult day. Many thanks to all those who kept encouraging with emails and whats’ups. It did help.
Love
Lindsey, newsletter #12 (Wednesday 27th)
Seoul, Wednesday 27th of July, 8-00
Stable. After such a long anaesthesia, it’s about the different functions of the body slowly getting back to functioning. The day was very long, with Lindsey spending most of the time sleeping/recovering/ drowsing.
She did have something for dinner, but very little.
I expected to have a quiet night, but that wasn’t quite the case. She is often uncomfortable and trying to find better positions.
This morning she was clearly more alert and had part of her breakfast sitting up. But breakfast clearly was another effort so she has dozed off.
All his quiet.
This is going to take time.
Love
Lindsey, newsletter #13 (Thursday 28th)
Seoul, Thursday 28th of July, 9-00
Things are getting better hour after hour.
As day went on Lindsey started recovering a number of things: opening her eyes for longer, sentences were longer too. The nurses encouraged her to do some exercise (walking around the room) and she did. She then sat on the side of her bed and had some skype talks with Boris and then with Jill, Julie and Georgie.
Appetite also is coming back slowly. The huge advantage of the Korean hospitals (or at least this one) is the quality of the food: not just better than average hospital food, better than may restaurants even!
She is receiving support mails from many, in different languages and from many countries. Reading these positive reactions is of great help!
Love
Lindsey, newsletter #14 (Friday 29th)
Seoul, Friday 29th of July, 10-00
Lindsey moving around more. Walked down to the common room, stayed there for a while with a Korean gentleman trying to make me understand something about the Korean President (who seems to be a remarkable woman), then we came back to the room.
During our walk Vikki took a couple of pictures. In order for Lindsey to stand out better on them we hired an old man to pose next to her.
As you can see from the photos, she is physically doing well. There is still a lot we can improve as far as memory and speech goes. Through talking, looking at photos, reading her your emails we are doing just that. With results.
I talked about Lindsey’s food a bit. I can add that our food is quite exciting too: we have a dozen restaurants to choose from just in the main building (ours) of the hospital.
Of course, if you like Kimchi, it is easier to choose…
The excitement of the day consists in moving from the 10th floor to the 8th floor. They have decided that they had to clean 10th floor so everyone is to be moved. Quite an operation.
Love
Lindsey, newsletter #15 (Saturday 30th)
Seoul, Saturday 30th of July, 9-00
On Saturdays the hospital clock suddenly changes. Breakfast arrives one hour later… The nice doctor from international affairs also comes later. But most other elements of routine remain as usual.
Routine which is also taking its toll. On Lindsey who would like to go home. On Vikki and I who have to work harder to remain alert and cheerful.
On the other hand, we did have grounds to be cheerful yesterday.
One of the junior doctors came into the room with his computer and asked me: do you want to see the MRIs? » I really thought the honest answer was « no » but managed to say « yes ».
I was then allowed a walk through the 3D images of « before » and « after ». And these were truly impressive. Clearly Dr Chang has done a fantastic job.
Physically Lindsey is tired but seems to find a lot of strength at meal times where she devours her food.
Memory and cognitive abilities are still not right but doctors are optimistic. We are working on all this. Old games like Simon says and charades have been reactivated. I am even asking the people we talk to on skype to play!
Love
Lindsey, newsletter #16 (Saturday 30th)
Seoul, Saturday 30th of July, 20-00
Doctor Chang visited Lindsey in her room tonight and then Vikki and I were invited to meet him. He believes the operation went well (he added 300% better than he expected). When praised he told us that 50% of the merit goes to Lindsey.
She is recovering well and further progress is expected.
Lindsey is to be discharged on Wednesday and we are trying to organise a flight back for next Saturday.
There will then be treatment in Nantes during 6 months.
Again, there is a lot still to do and this is still an uphill climb.
But we can hope.
Love
Lindsey, newsletter #17
Seoul, Sunday 31st of July, 15-30
With Vikki taking a day off and Lindsey resting I have not had any time to write.
Vikki was asked by Jung, a friend of Lindsey’s sister Julie, out for the day. Visiting Seoul. This was great for Vikki as she needed the break.
Less good for me because Lindsey is much more awake and « demanding ». She wants me to do the talking. And in order to get the go ahead for the plane she need beefing up. As far as the eating goes, no worry. But this also means exercise. And we are not allowed out of the ward, so it really means going round the ward one lap of which can be done in 5 minutes. Other patients seem to be with the same goal so it may be possible to organize a race tomorrow…
Anyhow, in three days we are out. I am a bit puzzled because I feel there is still a lot of medical care taking place and I can’t really imagine it is going to stop all of a sudden. And then we are supposed to have 3 days in the hotel. This will prove to be quite a challenge.
The rest of the time is taken trying to make sure that there is communication between the different parties involved: the hospital here, the French Insurance company, the hospital in Nantes who has to take over (I suppose they will want to keep her in observation for 24 hours when we get there) and a so called local correspondent of the insurance company which seems to be the one blocking everything (and which hasn’t had the idea of contacting me to ask if we actually needed anything).
The whole organisation is quite scary at times. A couple of hours ago a guy from France phoned the ward and spoke to me with « the voice of authority » telling me what I should do and showing he « knew his job ». Then he added: « do you have our email address? » to which I responded that I had actually sent him more than 20 emails in the past 10 days…
Anyhow, please don’t get hooked to this blog. I am slowly going to write less and let you get on with the summer.
Love