more on the broken ankle 29.9.05

Having a Break

Indeed, as you´ll have seen, Olwyn did have a break, in 7 places on her left heel after her fall into the uncovered inspection pit at a garage. She is,
however, in an excellent hospital - Santa Casa Hospital, Marilia, Brasil. Our phone no. there is xxxxxxxx and ask for Mrs Olwyn. UK time is
4 hours ahead. For the next 2 days, though, she may move into OJ which I´ll move today from the garage into the Hospital carpark - then she´ll return
to our room a day before the operation and be there about one week.

There has been a delay in operating because of a skin infection on Olwyn´s foot. She´s being pumped with antibiotics to reduce the inflammation. We have made a lot of friends here, with an increasing number of visitors, including 2 from an educational English language school at the US Embassy - they´d heard of Olwyn´s HMI past. This update is being sent from the
house of a doctor. The treatment we receive here is a continuation of the help we´ve received on all our journeys abroad. Trite though it inevitably sounds we are often moved to tears by people´s kindness and desire to help.

I suspect that Olwyn is the first English hospital patient in Marilia. We expect to be at the hospital, though mainly in OJ in the hospital car park, for about 10 weeks - monitoring period. Cast should come off after some 6 weeks into that. The doctors are so attentiv, and seem to work 24 hour days.. Dr Marcus speaks English and we see him twice a day. Dr Lelio, the surgeon, specialises in feet, and leads in this field. We see him, too, about twice a day. Due to the 7 fractures to the heel, this will be an
unusual operation, but routine. We´re hoping for cooperation from our medical insurer - we´d hate to have to sell our house!!! Mind you, there´s nothing wrong with OJ as a house, or I should say casa here in Brasil.

We want to learn some useful Portuguese whilst here, and help our local friends´ English. Les and Margaret have phoned us and we may see them soon. Yesterday the rest of the Group moved up to the Pantanelle from which they´ve promised to return with photos of anacondas, alligators and the wonderful scenery etc.. OJ won´t make it there, but we´re hopeful of
getting to the amazing Falls at Iguazu during our time at Marilia. They will return her to see us before continuing their S. American sojourn. It´ll be a wrench for all of us - but cést la vie - and with luck we will meet them down at Tierra del Fuego at Christmas.

OJ