The King

....has been through a particularly tough period, but is slowly on the up. 

He spent a few days in HDU (High Dependency Unit) where he's had intensive nurse and doctor monitoring 24*7.  He is now back in his own room for a few weeks I think (with at least hourly clinical visits) before being allowed back onto the ward.

More explicit details
He's been fighting two bacterial infections in his gut, and had a dangerously inflated bowel (again) at one point. Heart rate was at 200 bpm at one point. 

Thankfully they are currently reducing his top up dosages of Fentanyl (50-100 times more potent than morphine). His arm patch is to assist with coming off that drug in part. Incredibly complex judgements on drug choices, mixes and timings. He's been on 5 different antibiotics.  

I choose to stay in the room whilst a registrar (doctor) tried twice in vain to replace his catheter. As is normal TK was screaming in pain, crying and pleading during this process. Following consultation, they later successfully managed to replace it in a fully equipped operating theatre under general anaesthetic (as they have before). His Hickman line was replaced at the same time whist under GA.

I thanked and praised the registrar and nurse a couple of times for their care and efforts. What a job they do!

On my departing TK and I managed to gesture a blown kiss to each other and say I love you x.