J

Dear friends,

I am writing as so many of you have expressed concern for Julian. There is really no concrete news as they have still not found out what the virus is, if indeed there is a virus, that caused the worrying symptoms just over two weeks ago. Apparently in three quarters of such cases they never find it. Anyway, Julian was transferred yesterday to Carpentras hospital, still under the supervision of the Marseille hospital. 20 minutes rather than two hours away. Although the latter has a marvellous reputation and he was under supervision of the best possible doctors, he was very uncomfortable in a run down building sharing a boiling room with a grumpy man who had the telly on all day and had tons of visitors. At least now he is in a much nicer environment, with a clean single room with a view of the Dentelles de Montmirail and his goose down pillows He feels fine and has done since the second episode over a week ago but has to be on a drip until they do a third lumbar punction on Monday to see if the mysterious virus has disappeared. If it has he will be let out on Tuesday, the day I am supposed to go to Paris and the day before Louis' first birthday. They feel hopeful as the second punction showed encouraging signs, but If it has not disappeared he will have to stay in hospital another week. AAArgh. Meanwhile after much agonizing we have, if that extra week is to be the case, decided to take up Gary and Sylvie's extraordinarily generous offer to take Louis in Dieulefit while I am away. We cannot think of anyone with whom Louis would be happier or safer and are of course incredibly grateful to them.

So, the good news is that julian is feeling healthy, reading a lot, mostly about food, probably benefiting from weeks of detox and enforced relaxation. His shoulder which has been bugging him for years feels easier. Let's all cross fingers that the results on Monday will be positive and that he will be back home next week. maybe in time to catch the last days of this extraordinary golden Autumn, maybe for Louis' first steps or word....

Today Louis and I will meet him on the 'deck' of the hospital and it will be the first time he will have seen his son in ten days.

Thanks for all your support and excuse this group email but I am sure you appreciate what single handed parenting entails....

Keep sending those good vibes.

Love, Ruth and Louis.



my website: www.ruthphillips.com
julian's website: http://shiftinglight.com
email: ruth@wintermane.com