Chapter 37

The guy who helped me into the van was nice the tag on his shirt stating his name was Thomas. My mom and dad had been there earlier but now it was just me heading to the centre. Dorothea was going to drive down there to meet me. Almost an hour later we were pulling into a large driveway looking out the window I was shocked to see that it was not what I thought. I had expected a tall building looking like a hospital but it was anything but. There was gardens and benches around outside patients siting with their families. “maybe this place wasn't going to be as bad as I thought. I was taken to my room granted it still looked like a hospital room there but not too bad. I had a large picture window that looked out on the grounds, D came into the room and started to put my things away. “it will be okay Jon.. we will get through this … it won't be so bad … this place is one of the best out there the sooner you get back on your feet the sooner you can come home..” She kissed my cheek.

“I know D and I promised Richie and my parents I would do whatever the doctors here say to do...” I let the nurse help me into the chair by the bed. She introduced herself as Terry and would be my day nurse. The introductions were done and I met my Doctor. Doctor Kohn was a strict female doctor. She had my plan set out and I was ready to start that day but was told to get used to the place first and the next day would start the hell that was physical therapy, and I had no idea why but, I was looking forward to it.

 

Next morning I was woken by my day nurse, she brought with her a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and some OJ, as she placed the breakfast on my trolley she spoke,

"Good Morning Jon, did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, I guess," I shifted in the bed and pushed myself so I was sitting up right.

"What's that?"

"Is this a trick question?" she smiled at me as she asked,

"No, I mean I really don't like oatmeal.... Do I really have to eat that?" I screwed my nose up as I asked the question. the oatmeal sat there looking the most uninviting breakfast I had ever seen, you would get given better in jail.

"Yes you do, and its because you have a lot of hard work ahead of you today, Oatmeal has the right amount of vitamins and its a carb which means it will release sugars into your blood evenly throughout the morning, ...... " she looked at me and laughed as she continued.... "and its Docs orders."

I smiled back, my lips and nose still curled at the thought of having to digest the gloop in front of me.

"Hey, I can add some syrup if that helps to make it sweeter for you?"

I nodded anything would be better than what I was looking at.  

Terri disappeared to go get the syrup, I picked up the OJ and took a sip, the sweet bitterness was surprisingly refreshing to taste, I took another sip.

Terri returned with the oatmeal, it was still hot and as she placed it in front of me she placed her hands on her hips and stood watching.

"What? your gonna stand and watch over me?"

"Eh huh, Dr's orders,"

"Your kidding me right?"

"No, I saw your face jon, we are serious, we want to get you back on your feet and to do that you are gonna have to do and eat things that you don't normally, but its all for a good reason, to get you home."

"I get it Terri, I do, true I aint a fan of Oatmeal, but I promise you I will eat it, please give me the trust, I won't let you down?...."

I studied her face, and she studied mine.

"Ok, I'll give you half an hour ok?"

"I nodded back at her and took the spoon in my hand and took my first mouthful of the oatmeal breakfast. Surprisingly it slid down past my feeding tube easily and was not as bad to taste as I thought.

I was mid way through when a familiar voice spoke, " so spent my $100 bucks yet?"

I looked up and saw Richie in the doorway.

"Hey Rich,... no I aint been anywhere yet.... but I will really enjoy it when I do."

"He smiled at me as he came over and sat on the chair next to the bed.

"What's that?"

"Oatmeal...it's not that bad really...."

"not for me, but hey, if its good, nice to see you eating."

"It's not my choice," I put on an exaggerated voice, "It's Dr's orders..." just as Terri came back into the room with my sweat pants and tee, sneakers and socks....

"You poking fun at me Jon?" she asked with tease in her voice,

I went red, and mumbled my reply, "Er no, course not," quickly I introduced Richie .... "Terri this is Richie, my...."

"Hey, yeah no need for introductions I know who you are," she extended her hand and greeted Richie. He smiled back and said the right things you say when meeting someone too, "nice to meet ya Terri. So you looking after my man here?"

"Yeah, I'm his day carer, or nurse, what ever you wanna call me."

"Great, well take it easy on him for a while ok, he has had a few real tough months..."

"That's the last thing we are gonna do, he's here to get mobile and get back on his feet, this is the last stop saloon and going easy on our guy's aint gonna get us anywhere..."

Terri did not hold back and made it clear what was her job and that she was good at what she did and Richie was not gonna persuade her otherwise.  

"Alright, jeez I was only asking..."

"That's fine, but if ya wanna help your man here, then get with the programme..." she turned to face me, " all done Jon?"

"I nodded my head and smiled then held up the bowl see all gone.."

"Terri relaxed a little, well done, good start, right I'll clear these away then be back to help you shower and dress, Richie do you wanna hang around for his first session?"

nervously he answered, "Yeah if that's ok?"

"Sure, follow me I'll take you to the day room until Jon is ready to go to rehab room 1, then i'll fetch you."

Richie raised his hand, "see ya in a few bro..."

I smiled and raised mine back, "That's you will Rich, that you will..." I had focused my mind and had settled on doing whatever it was I needed to do to get well as fast as possible and walk out of this place, to get back to my family, and back to Bon Jovi.....