Today my father visited a close friend of his in hopital.
His friend (aged 79) has had numerous medical problems recently including an operation on his prostrate which has led to bouts of diaorreha, a constant need to visit the bathroom (which prevents him from travelling for long periods of time) and ineviatable weight loss.
Some weeks ago my father's friend awoke one morning and noticed how his big toe on one foot felt cold and had become pale (completely white actually) and without thinking too much of it simply put on an extra sock. The next morning he awoke and realised that two of his toes felt cold and had tunred white.
He visited his doctor who referred him to a specialist. After tests it was discovered that he had a blot clot (in the foot itself i believe). He had an accident he had many years ago (over 20) where he fell from a ladder and shattered the bones in his ankle. Since that time he kept active, even after retirement, by gardening, walking, the odd bit of DIY and by working part time for his son's company.
In more recent times he has been resting (due to the aftermath of his prostrate operation) and has, obviously been less active. They believed it was this period of rest that caused the blood to clot (bearing in mind he is an old man).
Unfortunately the only solution was to amputate, not just the toes, but the whole foot.
When my father went to visit him today i could sense he was anxious about seeing him. A close friend in a terrible situation...i don't think he really knew how to act. My father is quite a typical 'bloke' (sorry if this doesn't translate past the UK) so emotions aren't his strong point.
After visitng him he was telling me how he was just like his old self...i think 'full of beans' was the term he used! He was cracking jokes about odd socks and 'pussy footing'.
it was great to hear that a man who had gone through such a bad time could still smile, with a genuine smile.
i think it puts a lot of things in perspective.
His friend (aged 79) has had numerous medical problems recently including an operation on his prostrate which has led to bouts of diaorreha, a constant need to visit the bathroom (which prevents him from travelling for long periods of time) and ineviatable weight loss.
Some weeks ago my father's friend awoke one morning and noticed how his big toe on one foot felt cold and had become pale (completely white actually) and without thinking too much of it simply put on an extra sock. The next morning he awoke and realised that two of his toes felt cold and had tunred white.
He visited his doctor who referred him to a specialist. After tests it was discovered that he had a blot clot (in the foot itself i believe). He had an accident he had many years ago (over 20) where he fell from a ladder and shattered the bones in his ankle. Since that time he kept active, even after retirement, by gardening, walking, the odd bit of DIY and by working part time for his son's company.
In more recent times he has been resting (due to the aftermath of his prostrate operation) and has, obviously been less active. They believed it was this period of rest that caused the blood to clot (bearing in mind he is an old man).
Unfortunately the only solution was to amputate, not just the toes, but the whole foot.
When my father went to visit him today i could sense he was anxious about seeing him. A close friend in a terrible situation...i don't think he really knew how to act. My father is quite a typical 'bloke' (sorry if this doesn't translate past the UK) so emotions aren't his strong point.
After visitng him he was telling me how he was just like his old self...i think 'full of beans' was the term he used! He was cracking jokes about odd socks and 'pussy footing'.
it was great to hear that a man who had gone through such a bad time could still smile, with a genuine smile.
i think it puts a lot of things in perspective.
I know a lot of those.
