Feb 9

John was exhausted after the night. Rarely had he felt so bad physically - an aching body, a severe headache over the entire front and top of his head and a stomach constantly rumbling and gurgling. And lying in the bed, his feverish mind raced over the various worries in his life. Nothing seemed good. He wished he had taken Linda up on her offer of Panadol for pain and a stomach settling drug.

He had been up several times in the night and had tried to drink fluids to avoid dehydration but fluids swept right through him. He listened to trains pass by and looked at the ceiling. The he would turn over in the bed just to feel a cooler pillow. His hands felt very hot.

When morning came, he went downstairs and Linda gave him the drugs and she said she was ok with him going back to bed. She has been so understanding and that has made it so much easier for John. Finally, with the aid of the drugs he slept. He woke at 12:30 but continued to lay down because he felt very weak. He finally got up at about 1:20pm and came down. He was surprised and happy to see his Auntie Stella, Linda's Mum, there (along with Rachel's children that Linda takes care of three days a week). Stella was married to John's late uncle Bernie.

They had a very good conversation about a lot of things until Auntie Stella left. Tomorrow John is going to go along with Linda and Aunt Stella to the hospital where Stella has to undergo some tests.

John wanted me to write this now because he doesn't know how he will feel later even though he is feeling a bit better at the moment.

TRB