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Living overseas

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Original poster

Sometimes I hate being so far away

21 replies

sandcastles · 10/01/2007 23:58

My dad just emailed to say my neice (3) has been in hospital for 2 weeks with meningitis. She can't walk, or hold her head up.

He is really worried, as are they all. Not sure which Meningitis it is yet, he is going to ask. Apparent;y they have all been tested, so far they think only her older brother (6) maybe infected...they need more tests!

I love Oz, I love my life here, wouldn't swap it for the world. But what with my older neice & her M/C & now this...It's horrible not knowing anything else, I have to rely on emails & the such.....!

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Original poster
sandcastles · 10/01/2007 23:59

May be...

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kittylette · 11/01/2007 00:01

oh how awful

((())) it must be awful being away,

Original poster
sandcastles · 11/01/2007 00:04

It is at times like this....I can't even tell my sister that I will be praying/hoping all is well!

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kittylette · 11/01/2007 00:07

can you not txt her?

my aunt lived in the IOM for a while, not a million miles away but it felt like id lost her iykwim

Original poster
sandcastles · 11/01/2007 00:10

She has got a mobile....thats a thought!

Thank you, will do a bit later, I assume she will be in bed now.

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superloopy · 11/01/2007 00:15

I know exactly how you feel, I am in London and all my family are in Sth Aust too. You feel so torn all of the time, liking where you are but missing out on so much. I would love to drag the 2 countries together.

But on the other hand after being here for 9 yrs we are moving Melbourne in a few months time and I am so exited. I will still be 5 hrs drive from my family but to be in the same country will be so wonderful.

I hope that your neice makes a full and speedy recovery and your nephew will be fine too!

Original poster
sandcastles · 11/01/2007 00:21

superloopy, thats exactly it....very torn. I know there is nothing i can 'do', even if I were there, but the distance is so obvious at times like this!

I hope your move goes well.

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superloopy · 11/01/2007 00:29

I spent a couple of months in hospital here in 2005 with a weird rare brain infection. I was really ill and couldn't walk, eat, see properly and had no sense of balance. I had wonderful treatment on the NHS and have made a full recovery.

The NHS is always taking a bashing here but I found them to be wonderful and I'm sure you neice will make a full recovery too. She is in good hands. It's just not fair when little kids are so poorly.

Original poster
sandcastles · 11/01/2007 00:32

Blimey...that doesn't sound so good. All OK now I take it?

Dad said that they hospital staff are excellent, she has been getting very good care.

Thye are worried about him, as he is vunerable, apparently. (over 60) so he isn't able to visit, which is hard for him!

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superloopy · 11/01/2007 00:48

Yeah I'm fine now. Made a full recovery. It was just one of those weird things that usually happens to other people and not me IYKWIM??!!??

My DD couldn't come and visit me either as there was MRSA on the ward. She was only 10mnths old and it broke my heart. In the end I made them take my bed out into the lift lobby and have my visits out there.

Poor you and you Dad... you can't be there and he isn't allowed to.

I really must go to bed now or I will suffer tomorrow. I hope that weather isn't too hot for you at the moment and you have A/C. Goodnight..

Califrau · 11/01/2007 00:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
sandcastles · 11/01/2007 00:57

Califrau, thank you for the hugs.

No, she hasn't. She is 21, 3 youngsters under 6 & not alot of spare cash.

Dad just emailed to say that she is popping over in the morning for a bit...so will see if I can catch her at dads!

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Original poster
sandcastles · 11/01/2007 01:04

Superloopy, how awful! Poor you, not being able to see dd!

Thank you for chatting....have a good sleep

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Califrau · 11/01/2007 01:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
sandcastles · 11/01/2007 01:16

She hasn't internet at all! Sorry to confuse you!

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sibble · 11/01/2007 03:16

Am thinking of you. We are in NZ and as you say most of the time, it's great but it's at times like these that you feel the distance. The time difference makes it even harder. I hope your neice (and the rest of the family) are OK.

I don't know what I would do without tecting, the internet and cheap off rate calls.

Original poster
sandcastles · 11/01/2007 03:29

Thanks sibble...It's hard isn't it!

Hopefully will hear something when the UK is awake again!

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eidsvold · 11/01/2007 04:38

sandcastles sorry to hear this - fwiw - with regards to dd1's hart defect etc the NHS were brilliant not only in their care of dd1 but their care for us as a family. We could not fault them in anyway.

As you know - we have had a tough year with dh's father and so I can appreciate where you are coming from. Keep sending her texts to just let her know you are thinking of her. That is what dh and i did when he went home to see his dad and again when he went for the funeral.

THinking of you.

Original poster
sandcastles · 11/01/2007 04:53

Eidsvold.....thank you. It's good to know that people can relate to the distance. But I also wish they didn't have to, iykwim.

I have had a late email to say that she appears to be moving her head around....slowly, but surely! Dad said sister is at the hospital, so phone is off. Will text her nearer the morning.

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superloopy · 12/01/2007 16:28

Hi SC.

Any news on your neice yet? Just wondering if she is getting better yet.....

Original poster
sandcastles · 12/01/2007 23:04

SL, yes, she is improving. Is now holding her head & chatting a bit. Dad said it's slow, but sure!

Thank you for asking.

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