Cabin fever

It’s been a couple of weeks since I last wrote and I’m struggling to remember everything that happened. This is why I should stick to weekly updates....

Last week I worked evening shifts Monday through to Friday. These start at 1400 and finish at 2200 which means if you like to sleep in they’re perfect. I however often find I don’t know what to do with myself in the morning to utilise it well. I'm sure I spent time swimming, reading, eating and being with friends but the one thing I do remember I did was visiting our patients again at the Hope Center.

It was so encouraging to see our orthopaedic children who 3 weeks on had improved so much! Some had their casts taken off, others were able to walk without crutches and some were waiting on their last outpatient appointment before being discharged home. God works miracles and it's such a blessing and a privilege to be a part of those miracles and watch them grow. It was also great to meet and greet patients who were waiting to come on board for surgery and spend some time loving them and listening to them.

I thought I'd add in this blog (like in my last one) how an evening shift is structured.

1400-1430 - we take handover from the day staff, hear how the shift is going so far and pray for what's to come.

1430-1530 - the patients who can go to deck 7 to play have been taken by the day staff and we are left with those who can't. This is a great time to organise your charts, schedule your medications and catch up with those patients who are needing more medical attention.

1530-1630 - in all honesty this hour just flies by. I don't really know what happens other than chaos ensues as patients return from deck 7. They're needing care and attention and those who were left behind are upset by the noise disturbance and drama of them returning.

1630-1730 - patients are allowed to watch a film from the Disney channel (this is more often than not enjoyed by the caregivers rather than the patients) tea time also occurs and we assist those who are unable to eat solids or need assistance due to limbs being splinted or in heavy bandages.

1730-1830 - we take it in turns as crew to go to the dining room to have tea and cover each others breaks/help out the other wards if necessary.

1900-2100 - we sometimes have post op patients coming back from surgery which keeps us busy for the next few hours. We also have admissions arrive in the late afternoon ready for surgery the next day. We spend time orientating them around the ward and explaining what their stay with us will entail.

2100-2200 - we begin the process of winding down for sleep (the patients, not us) and ensuring bins are emptied, teeth are brushed and charts completed ready for the night staff.

#officialshipphotos #tootiredtostand #squintyandsmiling

This last week I have been on night duty. It was a tough few shifts and annoyingly I became ill half way through which didn’t help matters much. I finished my shifts on Thursday morning feeling sleep deprived and very unwell. I spent the next three days fighting my illness with pills, fluids and a whole lot of Jesus!

I was also called to have my official ship photo during nights and this is the result...

The pros of living in a tin can with 400 other people is that someone is always around to offer help, love and moral support. The cons of living in a tin can with 400 people is that germs spread like wildfire!!

Being told I wasn't allowed to work the weekend and should stay in my cabin nearly sent me (and my cabin mates) crazy and I now think I fully understand the saying 'cabin fever'!

Despite these crazy couple of weeks I've finished them with a smile on my face and ready to embrace what's coming next. I’ve been so blessed by kind, loving and faithful friends, both on and off the ship who have helped me physically and spiritually. I am most grateful.

"My command is this. Love each other as I have loved you." - John 15,12