Accident

Drop off bikes luggage – thinking we could continue but get car rental

Feeling of loss when only person who knew Italian left me

Seeing Peter in hospital on stretcher and knowing it wasn’t good

Finding a hotel – nice woman who had sympathy but wierd hotel. Was last room that night.

No one speaking Italian – waiting in waiting room. Using google translate. Didn’t look at split open arm until I insisted and used google translate. The word surgery. Very nice nurses

Finding out next morning Peter had in fact had 10 broken ribs. As the day went on found out pneuthorax. Didn’t even know hemothorax until chest tube went in.

Decision making – thought he was being discharged finally booked a spot in san salvo to find out they couldn’t get all the paperwork done so would be the following day. Felt devastated and the thought of canceling and then finding another spot and going by myself seemed very overwhelming.

Health care in Italy – paramedics came quickly – must be because so many accidents on the multi use path so they stay close by. The accesses and bandaged peters arm and quickly realized Peter needed to go to the hospital. Poor Peter was on a stretcher for a few hours as I assume for protocol in case of spinal injury. Peter said it was the worst pain he was ever in! Although he certainly didn’t show it. The only time Peter showed his discomfort and frustration as a bit cranky was the day the chest tube was put in.

In Italy your only allowed two visits a day for an hour. In Lanciano it was a small state hospital in downtown core. Easy for me to walk back and forth. After a few days I got to know my way around and even saw the same people around. Found my place to have a morning coffee. I got into a routine of getting up and getting my bike gear on and heading to coffee shop for coffee and a croissant and then doing a ride. Finishing with a cookie and lemon soda and then heading to the hospital for a lunch time visit with Peter. Peter was on a word with 3 other men – the men and women are separated on the floor. Really nice people but hard for me to get to know them as they don’t speak English although they spoke to me as if I did. Peter was able to practice his Italian.

Funny stories

On one of the the evenings Peter wanted to go out for a walk. I suggest we go across the street to a cafe and I could have aperitif. Peter asked the nurse – nice young Italian man named Dominic. Sure no problem. Off we went. I ordered lovely aperol spritz and Peter a lemon soda and sandwich. After sitting down and toasting our drinks we look across the street and in the window we could see the head nurse waving at us! I raised my glass to her and waved by! I do t think she was waving hello but telling Peter to come back! The next day when Peter asked Dominic if he could go out for a walk it was a a panicked shaking of the head and a resounding no! It was pretty funny and with all the stress over the last few days it was nice to laugh!