Very sorry about the pussycat Crem 
Once again the Crepey chat is turning into a Ward Round. Sympathy to all the bruised, swollen, sprained and anxious.
DD would definitely need an extra listening ear/advocate for anything medical. At lamost 17 & apparently mature, I still find it unpredictable what will worry her. And DH needed me all through his ordeals, he was far too ill, traumatised & bewildered to take anything in, least of all the complex stuff he had to get to grips with.
I considered writing an article about it at the time but was too traumatised myself. I think critically ill people should be allowed an advocate & helper in hospital, just as women in labour have a birth partner.
I've had another (positive) appraisal, which I'm glad is over. The way things are going, I'll soon be spending as much time being inspected, appraised, audited, reviewed & cross-examined as I spend working. Hope there is better news soon for Crem and BD.
Also sumbitted a proposal for a conference workshop next year & feel hopeful about it. So looking forward to a night off with all of you. Please may I have a PM or text with the details? Sorry if I've missed them earlier.