One Night Retreat
in hospital
I don't know how St John Of God Hospital at Mt Lawley knew I was a paddler but I was given a good view of the river when I was booked in to have my hernia operation.They even had a picture on the wall of a lake with yachts, which I have seen a lot of in Canada so I immediately felt at home.
I have never been to a real retreat but this appeared to be similar. As soon as I was showed to my room I was given a gown and some funny looking tie-sides sterile underpants and told to relax for a while, which happened to be for over 4 hours. I had Stuart Trueman's Book with me, All the Way Around, about his Australian circumnavigation, so I had a great view and a great book to help me relax.
Then a machine is wheeled in to take my blood pressure which was 124/80 I think he said and my heart beat was 52. After another spell of relaxing another slightly bigger machine was wheeled in (ECG) and the nurse dotted my body with stickers and connected electrical wires to them. (Was I going to get a kick out of this!) This time my heart beat was 44. Why the difference and was that a bad score?
I had another hour of relaxing before I was led away on my bed to a waiting area just shy of the operating theatre. I waited about 15 minutes taking my own pulse using the ticking clock on the wall and I came up with 50 beats a minute.
I was given a hair net and asked for the 5th time my name etc and was wheeled into the room of lights and machines. I hoped that this was where I was going to be pampered for the next hour but first I had to give them my name etc again. With a needle and tubes stuck into my hand and a mask over my mouth, which was said to be oxygen, I faded away.
When I woke I felt a little cheated as I didn't dream and my stomach was stiffer rather than being more relaxed. What happened to the massage! But back at my room I was able to relax again and was treated to a drink and some sandwiches and I was able to watch the TV and try to have a good nights sleep.
I'm just hoping that I don't have to go to another retreat like this one.