Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin… well I took the Tuk-Tuk to hospital as the bus was late from the Koh Tao and Frank texted me where I am so I did not bother to check in to the hostel as I could do that later, since it was pre-paid and rather went straight to them. Nice modern building, with good maintenance regime and the first impression is high standard “high cost” as I was getting through the lobby to the lifts, rows of nice sofas and comfortable chairs were all around, mostly occupied by matured Europeans, some with they younger Thai partner. Noticed a coffee shop at the ground level near the lift so stopped for an espresso as I need the lift a bit. Then got into lift and went to third floor where the newlywed have their “honeymoon suite” from Wednesday. As I opened the door I expected the bed and chair and here it was the nice lobby with table, sofa, small kitchenette and fridge and another door to the main patient room, where the Nook and Frank were. What a different change in energy and feelings from four days ago when the wedding finished. Here I’m and what can I say… it is shocking to see your close friends in situation like this, especially after such nice wedding and all the laughs we had together but what can one do, just accept the situation and offer support to the friends as much as possible. I was shocked at first when got that message but now I’m good and confident that Nook will pull it through and as much as the news are not positive considering the situation, nothing is bad or good since it could be said that it is bad the fact that she was diagnosed with such condition but also it could be said that it is good as thank God that she was diagnosed. Both have something for and against but main thing is that she is in the best hospital that is in Hua Hin and that the neurosurgeon is positive about the situation and impeding surgery, which is positive news and makes her a bit more stronger. Also that means that she can receive treatment what means survival and also getting to the full health in coming weeks and months. As much as the surgeon try to calm Nook down together with her new husband Frank and myself there is always element of scare there as when you are facing such a life crisis i.e issue you really start be worried about your life and future, especially if you have family with two small kids. There is no point pretending that we are not worried but the main fact is accept the situation as it is and looking for solutions, rather than dwell in the sadness, shock what could cloud judgment and decision making. Obviously everyone wants to get the best for Nook and since today is the day of internet the worst thing one can do is consult Google…. Best is to trust surgeon who is at the first hand as he has all the information’s what are available now from the investigation. Well it took a while to get to that stage as Frank wanted to get all possible opinions from outsiders, even the family supplied contact to best specialist in Europe for such tumor and obviously you want the best for your love ones. Eventually they accepted that the local neuro surgeon is the best idea and agreed with procedure to remove tumor so now it is the usual administration work of dealing with Insurance, which thankfully Frank bought for something around ninety euros and thank God he did it. It took some calls between Frank and insurance to sort all and then finally they agree to communicate directly with hospital and doctors instead with Frank and Nook what is the best way. Also the necessary changes in accommodation, air tickets, insurance details needed to be handled and I tried to help as much as I could with it as when one is in stress one forgets things so we created list in the notepad to follow all points and prioritize them. Thankfully Frank’s Mom stayed with the kids what was not sure initially so I thought that I will take care of them but now I, staying with Frank in hospital, sleeping on the couch in the lobby of their room, leave nurses and doctors wondering who I am 😊 eventually Frank let me know that I was names as his cousin and that way I was able to stay with them. We talked and made lots of phone calls to anywhere where was needed, me sometimes pretending that I’m Frank to relive him from mundane calls and give him only the results information what needed his input. I have slight idea that it will be busy and I was ready to get on with the program but have to say it was overwhelming how much phone calls and emails one need to do in such situation. Thank God for the good coffee kiosk down at reception lobby where I went for the doppio for me and late for Frank ever since first day and the staff recognized me immediately upon  seeing my face, however only the manager or the regular staff know my order so when she was on duty she just said to colleague what to put into till, otherwise I told them every time what I want. Well sleeping on the plastic couch is ok and at least they had some blankets co put under me so I will not stick to the couch and also the cover up so I will not scare the nurses. Since Nook was bed ridden we took a turns with Frank on who was in and out of the room so she will not be alone, to keep her company and talk whenever she felt like it. Also since she is addicted to phone, what Frank was not happy about it as she was up the hone until the batter was drained instead of resting I took both phones and took role of spokesman for both them and respond to many supportive messages and gave them only the important news or phone in case their response was needed. Have to say that I was not surprised that Nook was on the phone all the time as the amount of messages coming from friends was so much that it took me some days really whole day to respond as when I responded to one another one came and then another and sometimes the communication with one person took a long time as some people want to know details and more facts as well as offer a assistance. Phew spokesman role is demanding but also rewarding, especially for close friends so I don’t mind to do so. Few nights in the room and few coffees later insurance agreed with everything and took over all the communication with hospital and air tickets were changed, hotel for kids and Frank’s Mom arranged and the amount of calls reduced so we suddenly realized that we have nothing to do with Frank what was nice and also a bit frightening since you have time to think more and now you are thinking if you had not forget something. This was new situation to deal with but since the insurance and hospital communicated, we just had to wait for the result of those communications and agreement on following actions. Surgeon came to inform us that all seems good and that the surgery is scheduled for Thursday as insurance agreed on everything and that they are preparing for it. This brought another wave of stress for Nook since now it becomes real that brain surgery is going ahead and with it, the risk carried. Surgeon explained all the risks as you expecting he will and one of them was death and that was where both Nook and Frank stop listening as I saw they faces become pale with stress, fear, sadness and surprise showing on them. Well I urged the doc to continue by asking some questions as they were in the zone where nothing could reach and need to focus on other things. After the surgeon left the room, sudden heavy silence descended on all of us and each of us was in own thoughts processing the information’s given and if I remember correctly I was the one who started talking to break the silence and to lighten mood a bit. Nook’s Mom came as well and talked to Nook as much as she could but from what I saw I would say that Nook was in the head and not listening to much what Mom said as she was worried. I have offered her reiki to calm her down what she accepted and what Mom accepted as well as healing from the God sine she mention name Jesus and so I went ahead and the energy flowed but she was in so bad shape that I felt her thoughts about death and dying and had to finished early as I forgot to protect myself and therefore I needed to get some fresh air and recharge so went out of the room. Hope that it helped her at least a little bit to relax so she can calm down but I told Frank next morning at the coffee what I felt and that he needs to talk to her in private as husband and wife about it, what he did immediately. We were just talking and waiting for breakfast for Nook “no we are not fed in the hospital, just patient” when the nurse and the surgeon stormed the room instead of breakfast and told us that surgery will happen today :-O whaaaaat was the first reaction from us since we expecting the surgery on Thursday. There was empty slot for surgery and also this could be due the severity of tumor as well as the maybe tactical move from the surgeon as this way he surprise Nook so she will not panic before Thursday. Well so breakfast is not happening, than I just going to get some coffee and maybe bagel form the coffee shop and as I’m coming up I tried ring Nook Mom with the news about surgery and as she was saying o.k I could hear her voice loud and clear and as I opened door to the room there she was talking to me on the mobile 😊 well at least we have some food with Frank and now just waiting for the nurse and surgeon to take Nook for surgery. I have trouble to recollecting days and dates how long we were there but I arrived on Saturday and the surgery happened on Tuesday  if I remember correctly as the days just passed by with the distinction of where did we slept, since initial few days were in the room on the sofa and when Nook went to surgery we slept at the chairs and floor front of the ICU since Frank understandably did not want to leave hospital for more than one evening in two days to see kids i.e get them to bed, maybe dinner as mostly he was in the hospital and kids did not need to know the situation and the weight of the situation. Better to keep them with Frank’s Mom at the hotel and it the pool, kids zone etc to have fun and splash all day long rather than to be in Hospital, also they get time with granny who will have different approach as Mom and Dan what might be good for them too. Well the nurse eventually came to the room and took Nook for the surgery on the big wheelchair and  Frank, Nook’s brother and me took a picture of us at the corridor before the surgery as if it was “and it was” battle photo from the Vikings. Well we went with her all the way to the surgical theatre and then that it was. Now is the waiting game. Since we could do nothing we went for bit of food, full belly is always better for difficult situations as hungry person is more nervous and cranky as man is anyway without food and in this case whoo hooo another level. SO we had food and then headed back to the empty corridor to keep watch as the chairs front of the glass door from the theater. After a long while, four hours I think the door opened and the neurosurgeon went out with smile and said that all is good, surgery was successful and all is removed, there were no complications during the surgery and now she is going to be transferred to ICU for couple nights until she is stabilized enough to be transferred on the regular room. Then he went back and in few seconds the glass doors opened and the bed was wheeled out with Nook on it with nurses around as if we were on the set of E.R or SCRUBS and they wheeled her through empty beige corridor down to ICU and as the doors closed behind we were told to stay out. We pitched our camp front of the ICU on cream leather armchairs and sat there in waiting until we just broke the silence with some chat. The night shift of cleaners came to strip and reline the vinyl protection in one of the units, I think either  cardiac or dentist as all the furniture was taken out on the corridor and they started stripping process with buffer and chemicals. Cleaner went to ICU and as she emerged and saw as there squeezed in some sort fetal position on the armchairs she went back to ICU and brought us two big blankets, God bless her. So with blankets in the possession we took two armchairs each, placing them opposite each other and tried to sleep as much as we could. Thankfully I had not checked into hostel so I had my blindfold and earplugs, what is godsend if you try sleep in hospital corridor under the neon lights and banging doors and trolleys “only twice per night”. Night is here and we dozing off with Frank in an out of the sleep until the morning change of the nurse shift is going on at 7:00am and then we shake up and pile our camp as homeless onto our backpacks and hid them behind the armchairs. Not long after tidying of our camp Nook’s Mom arrived and few others visitors who had relatives in ICU as per Nook’s Mom translation of conversation with them. Visiting hours are only from 10:00 to 14:00 and then from 17:00 to 20:00 so with the clock hand showing five to ten Frank and Nook’s Mom stand up and went in as only two people are allowed in at the same time. Well they went in and few moments later her Mom came out and brother went in to see Nook with Frank, then both of them came out and Frank told me to come in as Nook was asking for me so I went. ICU is nice and each patient has his own room, not just curtain as I experienced in Ireland so this is a bit higher level I would say. As you can expect lots of machines doing ping, pong, vrrrr and other sounds and Nook semi-conscious on the bed trying to say something so we exchanged smiles and I said all is good, upon which she started to saying that it is noisy and she cannot sleep and mostly busting Frank’s balls, so we know that surgery is successful and no issues with brain. Well expect that the surgeon forgot to take out the nagging part of the brain so this thing Frank has to endure 😊 unless they do another surgery. But what a relieve that she is o.k and back without any complications as previously described by surgeon, thank GOD for that ! As my function of spokesman entails I went and did all the communication to the wider world on both phones Frank’s and Nook’s as many people were asking many questions. Few I think my thumb and fingers were little numb after I finished all the messaging with all the friends. Could be easier to have press conference at once to answer all the question in one go I think. Well first night is over and we had to camp for another night since the release date is not confirmed yet. Frank visible relieved that all is well after such surgery and we went for dinner and few beers to chill a bit and wash down the stress we experienced. Get back to the hospital is like going home as the security guy is opening doors for us like we are VIP’s and no one bother to say or ask us anything as we are walking through empty corridors with nurses and doctors holding fort for night shift. Here we are on the first floor with beige floor and cream armchairs and our two friends the cleaners who this time stripping the half of corridor floor and the smell of chemical is strong within the corridor as the windows for some reasons could are solid without possibility of opening, well we will sleep like babies or junkies 😊 Since the mood is lither Frank pulled up the laptop and we were watching “A star is born”  as private screening the lights directly above us switched off and movie on.  After movie was over we just went to “bed” me on the floor as it was better that armchair and Frank to the two armchairs in some sort fetal position. Again the cleaner was so nice that she brought us two blankets as soon as she see us approaching the campsite. Another night and another morning front of the ICU, again visit of Nook at 10:00 and this time a bit better results again but still she needs to stay in as the healing needs to take place in safe and controlled environment what ICU is for sure. Each room has a nurse with at least two monitors to keep an eye on the patients, however Nook was not happy to stay more and start giving out to nurses to let her go, so when we arrived the Nurse was there waiting for Frank with release document that they agreed to “Release Nook against medical advice” in bold letters, upon what I said to Frank do not sign this in any way and left the room as this is between them two only. Few minutes later he came out fuming that she is unbelievable and that his patience is texted very seriously. Well he did not signed anything and told her that she is staying there another day and night and if needed even more nights, until the doctors are satisfied that she is o.k to leave. I could understand Nook perspective as every patient wants to leave the hospital as soon as possible, especially after such surgery but the patience is the key to get out of there.  Well Frank went in and then we went to see kids at hotel since they were alone with granny and he wanted to see them as well, especially when there is nothing he can do now for Nook. We hit the taxi and came to Novotel to find them in the pool having fun and we joined them as we need relax too. But the shaved heads were not welcomed by Angelina as she did not liked Daddy’s new style and she run away and hide in the toilet until Frank went after her and some considerate time later both of them came out. Funny enough she had no problem with me shaved as I explained her the reasons behind it but Daddy is different and she took this very badly. Frank’s Mom just laughed on us as we came out with hats on the head and no hair on the back of our heads / necks. Well it is funny feeling but I know that feeling since I had done it few times in past and know what is it and how is it feeling. Eventually the sun went down and we went for dinner together just down the road from the hotel on the street with restaurants and massage salons. We sat to the same restaurant where they are going every night as per Angelina’s info as they like the food there. We had finished dinner and as we were departing the lady across the street asked Angelina how is her Mom and she replied that better and that the surgery went well. Angelina told me that this lady is her friend and that she knows about hospital and situation as much as we told Angelina. Get the kids to bed is Granny job so we just said good bye and they jumped on the bed with granny to watch a bit of TV not bothering about Dad leaving at all. I took my backpack as true backpacker I carried it everywhere with me since arrival in the same vest and shorts. What a life 😊 Life is strange and beautiful and good. We arrived to our campsite and blankets were delivered as soon as our asses touched the armchairs. Well another night on the healthy hard floor as they always say that sleeping on hard surface on the flat back is best for spine, so follow the advice of professionals.