Farewell Hughesy

I was invited to Allan and Shirley's house at Avonsleigh last Thursday afternoon to join his family and friends for afternoon tea. Shirley greeted me with a hug and quickly ran through the events of the the 24 hours preceding Allan's death.

After a day sitting a card table working on a jigsaw puzzle and a pleasant evening meal with Shirley and their  visiting daughter Debbie, Allan suggested they have a nightcap. He had a 'Bailey's' and went to bed. He woke at 1.00am saying he had a toothache and went to the toilet. Shirley got him a couple of Panamax. He woke again about 3.00 am complaining of pain in his neck and Shirley, an ex nurse, didn't muck around and rang the ambulance. When the ambos arrived he was incoherent and losing consciousness.
The ambos said he may not make it to hospital, did Shirley want them to resuscitate him, given that he may suffer brain damage. She said no he wouldn't want that.

He did make it to hospital but died soon after. They did a scan and said he'd had a massive haemmorrage which had filled once side of his head pushing his brain across to the other.

I was amazed at how well Shirley was was bearing up. I talked to the daughters all of whom I'd met before and some of Allan's friends that I'd also met, like old Bill Opey RAAF mate from Ballarat. It was a surprisingly happy event with four generations of family, the great grand children running about the house giving an atmosphere of life continuing.

As I was saying goodbye to those inside and moving towards the front door, an old fellow ran in saying Shirley had fainted as she was seeing him off. I rushed out to find Shirley lying flat on her back seemingly asleep on the concrete. As I carefully picked her head and shoulders up I asked her was she OK and she replied "Yes I'm fine I was just having a little rest." Clearly she did not know how she came to be lying down. A big egg quickly rose on the back of her head. It was fortunate that one of Shirley's grandaughters present was a doctor and she calmly assessed the situation and had Shirley go to hospital to be checked out.

I had to go out that evening to a volunteer's reception put on by the Council in Pakenham and was taking June the museum secretary. Somewhere in all the excitement I lost my glasses so had to drive Emerald to Pakenham without them, back to Emerald to take June home, then to Gembrook by which time I was exhausted, but we did enjoy the evening. They had a singing group and light food and refreshments. Sometimes it's good to just participate and it took me out of myself a bit.

The glasses were found the next day, they'd fallen out of my shirt pocket at the farm as I unloaded some things. It was a relief to find them, a feeling many people would know. I called in on Shirley today. She spent that night in hospital and was home by midday Friday. She seemed in good spirits but talked rapid fire going over the events of last week. I could tell she needed to talk. I plan to call in on Thursday again and do a bit of pruning. Her daughters have all had to leave interstate on committments and I told them I'd call in regularly. They ring Shirley each day but the house is empty and it must be hard on your own after 60 years of marriage.