further grampster adventures

My grandfather had surgery to have a shunt put in a couple of weeks ago. It's kind of freaky because it's so visible -- you can see the tube under his skin going up his neck and the side of his head behind his ear, until finally it disappears at the top of his skull. When I went to see him in the hospital last week, I gave him one of those strappy-string-things for your glasses, so you can wear them around your neck. I attached it to his glasses and then put it around his neck. He was very happy with it.

For about ten minutes. Then he reached up to scratch his ear and felt the string, and this look of absolute horror came over his face. "That's not supposed to be there!" he said. "The shunt is coming out! It's out!"

It scared him half to death. I had to jump up and say, "No! It's okay! The shunt's still there!" and pull his glasses away so he could see the string.

I give excellent gifts.

Anyway, so he's all shunt-tastic now. Every time I go to see him it takes all of my self possession not to shudder at the sight of the tube under his skin.

Other things I have to make sure not to shudder at: The phlegm-filled Kleenexes he hands me to throw out after he finishes coughing; the smell of the hospital; the sight of the food they're giving him.

So far I'm mostly shudder-free.

He stayed in the hospital far longer than he had to because they couldn't find him a bed in a local nursing home/rehab facility. This is because the rehab facilities and nursing homes don't permit coed rehabbing, and there were no male beds in the area for about a week. We were about to put him in a wig and a dress Bosom Buddies-style when they finally found one, at a nice, new facility.

( I went to see him there today )