Day 2

Yesterday and today have been long days.

Today, I went to see the GP with them, who referred him to a neurologist and a close by hospital with facilities for his physio and rehab. Afterward, we came home to have lunch, which she made, and he whispered to me when she wasn't looking "I like your cooking better." I didn't have the opportunity to taste for myself, because I ate leftovers from last night. I was going to prepare lunch, but he wanted to do his physio exercises, so I helped him with that instead.

Then we went to see the acupunturist, whom she absolutely adores. And I quite like him as well, although sometimes I get the feeling that the whole traditional Chinese medicine thing is all a bit... iffy. The only really substantial thing that I would actually be interested in learning is the massage component. The herbs and acupuncutre would be fun to learn, but I'm still a little skeptical of it's health benefits. Not that I don't trust it, I'm sure it helps, but I'm just not sure to what extent. The doctor is really nice. He jokes around with us. He told me not to study "bloody medicine". When the doctor was stabbing needles into his face, it was clear he was quite uncomfortable and so the doctor said that he can just call out if it hurts "AIYO", but then he continued to say that if he calls out, he'll charge double. This got him laughing hard...with needles jiggling in his face, arms and legs.

After the doctor had left and he was just laying on the table-bed-thing, they told me a story of rehab in China. They went to a new hospital and she had gone to re-register him for more physiotherapy and when she came back she opened then curtain and said "Darling, should I pay for another 5 times or just one for now?" and looked at him and was shocked to see no needles in his head. Instead she saw him face down bent over with a collection in needles sticking out from his ass. Then she realizes it's not him. This gets him cracking up from the memory.

After physio, I dropped him in BH to wait for his business partners to meet up with him. He said that the morning was his time and the afternoon is my time, but I really don't mind spending the day with him. On the way to Camberwell to do a bit of shopping with Nathan, I got into a little argument with her about leaving him byhimself. You see, it was the first time he had been left alone since it happened. So we made a U-turn to see where and how he is. Turns out, he called his partners to come earlier, so he doesn't have to wait as long. That convinced her, so we left for Camberwell. In the end, I just went to Koorong to buy EJ's present. Bumped into Van, Tabs and Wesley there.

I rushed to take a shower and get to EJ's. It was good fun - mafia, spoons, eating, chatting, ipod touching, etc. Happy late birthday, EJ! Sorry that I had to leave a little early, I know you understand though. I hope you had a great night!

I left early, because she called me to tell me to come home, because he was upset. He had found out that Chris had sold the phone that he had given Chris as a gift to a conperson in Nigeria. Absolute genius. This had got him worked up and she decided that he needed a drive and so they came to pick me up. They came just in time, 'cause I managed to get some cake too.

I got home I helped massage and stretch his arm and hand. The Chinese doctor had taught me how to perform simple deep tissue massage on the hand and I found it quite fascinating actually. He thought that my technique was okay, and attributed it partially to performing Wushu. Also when I had lived in China, there had been a massage parlour on the ground floor, where I hung out everyday after school with the masseurs and talked to them. They also taught my some massage techniques. I don't remember all of it, but I remember the gist and some of the simple techniques. I think I might actually enjoy physiotherapy a lot.

While I massaged and stretched him, I think I managed to get his mind off Chris and his problems, by talking about his condition. I was curious about his spatial awareness, as in whether or not he was able to tell where his hand is. I wondered about this because it seems that he has little motor function, but sensation. I wasn't sure how spatial awareness fit into all of that. So I asked him to perform a few simple tasks. I moved his arm and asked him to point to where his palm, thumb, pinky, elbow, wrist, etc is. He managed to do all of it.... until one try when I pulled his arm outward and asked him to touch his palm with his left hand. He randomly grasped the air underneath his arm and burst out laughing. He was trying to trick me into thinking that his spatial awareness was affected too. I just "CHE!"ed him and walked out. Later he showed me that he could tell what I was touching without looking, by identifying the area on his left arm. After the GP this morning he also told me a story about when he went to flush the toilet once in China, and he realized that he had washed his hand as well, because he was unable to lift his right hand. That means when he flushed his hand, he could feel it rushing against his hand... Haha. He also told me a story of when he was in Malaysia and after dinner, he had wiped the table and the dishes with his hand, because it just dragged across the table. Haha. He is very postive and is determined to get better.

He says that his hand feels "normal" today. I think that is a good sign.

Oh, I forgot to wish Nick happy birthday. HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY. And Nick asked me to be his bestman, which I would be honored to be and definitely do it happily!

Today was a unique Day 2.