28,000 SEK a day!

All in all, a rather satisfying day. We've just got back from a BBQ supper at Sue and Peter's where Kai and Zoe had a great time. Mucking about with John and Mary and a tent in the garden kept them both in very good spirits. And Kai got to see the new Transformers film. An endurance test for any normal person but he was happy as a sandboy.

He's bearing up well but Mummy being in hospital is getting to him occasionally. Sue noticed that he was a little withdrawn when we got there and this morning at breakfast he suddenly announced: Daddy, I don't want to die! This is a perfectly normal thought for a kid of his age but current events are doubtless affecting him. Mercifully, he fairly soon changed the topic of conversation to: who is the more powerful Decepticon, Tiger Wave or Megatron?

My visit to the hospital went very well. The nurses all were very positive about the progress that UIrika is making. She's responding to their instructions and there is starting to be some movement in her left side. She's no longer on drugs to make her sleep and she'll very soon be taken off the ventilator. Once this happens, she'll be moved to a normal infection ward which is an enormous leap forward. From there, the process of recuperation and rehabilitation will really begin.

I stood there and babbled on. I'd be lying if I said that I got much response but her eyes were open for much of the time so I felt I was getting through in some way.

It's a great art to talk to someone who is not responding in any visible way. My mum used to have a Jamaican lady, June, who used to visit her, who was unbelievably good at it. She could talk none stop for two hours without the slightest problem. Admirable!

I happened to ask what the treatment at the intensive care ward is costing. 28,000 SEK a day. What will it cost us? 80 SEK a day. I am so glad I don't live in the USA!