Email from Leonie - February 15th 2006

Our day starts with calm, warm weather. David drives Rhys and I to the airport at 8.30 to find Joy Sutton already waiting for us. After a quick photo we fly away. Rhys sits in the front with Joy and talks via the headphones. I keep trying the headphones but as yet no success, it's all just babble, so I comfortably sit in the back and watch the scenery and read my book. The scenery disappears more and more as we head further north as the clouds are building up. Rhys enjoys the flight through the clouds. He took a few photos and a couple of video's, which turned out quite good.

We arrive safely at Bankstown at 11.05 and quickly use the toilets then meet up with Bryan and Peggy Padwick, our earth Angels, who are waiting patiently for us. We say our thanks to Joy who's been very good to us. Bryan and Peggy are lovely and make us feel very comfortable and even though I don't get much of Peggy and Rhys' conversations, I do enjoy watching their faces and pick up bits here and there.

We arrive a little late at the Cochlear Implant Centre but Rachel's OK with that and I breeze through my tests being more experienced now. Rachel try's out some new sentences on me, without me being able to lip-read what she's saying. I do very well considering my ear hasn't worked for over twenty years. Rachel gives me top of the class marks.

Rachel gives me an early leave pass as she doesn't want me to be late for Professor Bessers appointment so Rhys and I walk to the bus stop across the road and wait only a very short time for our bus. We go to eat our lunch on the bus as we are both hungry by now only to read on the signs, NO EATING OR DRINKING. We shall eat later. We get off the bus at the Queen Victoria Building as after studying the SYDWAY at home, I figured this would be the place to change buses. We walk around the building looking for help and after reading the bus route and finding them quite confusing, we decide to ask a bus driver, who happens to be driving the bus, which will take us to The Royal Prince Alfred Medical Centre, what luck! We once again don't have time to eat. After alighting the bus we have a short walk up Missenden Street to the Centre and enter the reception area with ten minutes to spare and two hours until we meet up with our Earth Angels, which is good if Professor is running late. While waiting Rhys and I eat our sandwiches. I hope we aren't making people hungry. I'm not in the habit of eating in doctors receptions and feel conspicuous but it's now or never.

We finally get an audience with Dr Besser and thankfully I can understand everything he says. I'm so relieved as it had been worrying me even though I had Rhys there to interpret if necessary, I would rather have been in control of the situation personally. Dr Besser asks if I would still like to have the aneurysm fixed and I said yes, which is also what he'd like to see done. He explained that I'd have to be on medication three days prior to the operation and for a month after the operation. The medication thins the blood I'm assuming as it would be wise not to cut myself while taking it as I'd be likely to bleed a lot. It effects the platelets in the blood.

When Professor Besser mentioned the platelets, Rhys said that he knew what they were and what they did as he'd been paying attention in his health class, ( as he always does, I hope! ). They discussed my platelets. Professor Besser said I have a very bright lad!!!!! There are times when I feel extra proud and this was one of them.

We also discussed the duration of my hospital visit, being two nights in hospital, one in intensive care and another in the ward.

Once it was decided, I asked when it would be likely to be? Next month was Bessers reply. "OK that's good", said I.

Professor Besser said he'd see me next month, just prior to my op and we left. Lyn his very helpful receptionist swiped my credit card and said she'd write to me. Rhys then rang Bryan, our Earth Angel as we were out earlier than four o'clock and Bryan had said if we were to ring so that we can beat the traffic. We met up with Bryan and Peggy and headed for Bankstown Airport. There was quite a lot of traffic congestion along the way but we arrived with fifteen minutes to spare so decided to go and have a coffee. Who should we met on the way but Shaun, our pilot. Shaun was talking on his mobil, which is something he does a lot of. When he'd finished his conversation he asked, "Who's ready to leave?". " We are", says I. Didn't really need that coffee! We departed at 5.00, as scheduled.

Rhys once again sat in the front and conversed with Shaun. They looked like they were enjoying each others company so I was happy in the back seat. The cloud was still around Sydney but the further south we travelled the lighter it became and it seemed like no time and we were banking over Merimbula. What a beautiful place from the air. We landed safely at 6.00. David came to pick us up while Shaun was tying down the plane.

Shaun was staying overnight at the Black Dolphin Motel but he was coming to our place for tea. I put together a tossed salad and steaks and we sat and ate and talked. It was a good evening and a good day.
Another mission successfully accomplished.