Today Kamalashila was taken to a hospice in Clapham. During the weekend it became clear he was living longer than expected initially. This was after his stay in the ICU and his kidneys no longer able to support his life. The ward at Guys is extremely busy. Everyone is doing their very best, but there is too much work needing to be done by a workforce that is too small. So yesterday I asked the palliative care team whether we could consider moving him to a hospice after all. They agreed it was feasible and an application was made. Last week it seemed we didn’t have time for the application to be granted and KS too frail to be transferred. Since then he ‘plateaued’ and it seemed very much worth it after all to find a more suitable place for his final days. We had a very difficult day yesterday with KS agitated and frequently in pain, and frankly, not in very good spirits. The news this morning that a place was found in a hospice was very welcome. His sister Zoë and I both travelled with him in the ambulance. The paramedics were very kind. The ambulance drove southwards and we closely passed our home near Oval. We arrived early afternoon.
At some point later in the afternoon I asked him whether he wanted to have some water. There was also some apple juice, so we tried that. He hasn’t been able to drink from a glass for quite a while. He didn’t have enough energy for sucking a straw. So I thought I would ask whether they had any of those sponges on sticks that are used in the hospital. I asked one person. Then met a nurse in the hallway and told her I asked for something to help KS drink. Operation apple juice started. There were three different kinds of syringes and three staff members involved. KS’s bed went up and it reminded me of a space ship. The bed was also adjusted to put KS in a more upward position. A pad was placed over his chest. Different syringes were used. It didn’t go that well. He said: I am exhausted. I smiled to myself thinking about this scene when I went home this evening. The people in this hospice are incredibly kind and so very eager to please and help. It is wonderful. I was also very grateful to have something to smile about after a weekend that I do not wish on anyone.
