Saw this post on Facebook by Headway and wondered if the people of HealthUnlocked had spent Christmas in hospital?
I spent Christmas 2012 in Trafford general hospital.. most of the other patients went home for the holidays & me and a couple of others stayed in. My mam, sister & 2 nieces came up on the day to spend it with me.. they brought treats and games and we shared them amongst patients that were left & staff (nurses, security). This was a time during my rehabilitation & don’t really remember much but don’t think they had a Christmas meal or decorations up.. but I could be wrong 😬
Written by
Wazza84
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I only had to spend Christmas EVE, in Hospital, and then only during the day. It was, not long, after I was first Diagnosed- I was on Ciclosporin, once a month, for the first year- then once every two months- after that. The ward was, as I recall, Decorated- in a 'minimalistic' way, there 'bits of tinsel' about. No Christmas Dinner, but then, I was an Outpatient on Christmas Eve.....
Sorry that I can't, give you, a 'Better' answer Wazza84. The Best, that I can offer, is that- it Probably 'depends on the Hospital'. All I can say is...
Hi Wazza. I spent Christmas 2011 in the high dependency unit at Salford Royal hospital but have no memory of Xmas day whatsoever. When my family told me a splendid roast dinner & all the trimmings had been provided and that I'd eaten some of it I was flabbergasted, verging on disbelieving.
Apparently my son, unaware of the hospital menu, brought a home made turkey & stuffing sandwich which I ate half of. A couple of months later I was disturbed to hear these (and many other) stories of interactions I'd no recollection of, and still haven't.
I DO remember the later period though, when I became compass mentis, being pleasantly shocked by the 5star quality and varied meals...…..most unusual and 100% improvement on other hospital food.
My partner was in rehab hospital in 2017, for Christmas. He had the Christmas dinner there, but I took in soup for myself, but we ate together, as I was allowed in for earlier visiting times. We had crackers, wore hats and Christmas t-shirts, played a game and watched the tv ( more me with tv, when fatigue kicked in for him) but I enjoyed the day with him 😊 even though he has no memory of the day, we have photos for him to look at.
It’s good you were able to spend the day with your partner & yeah fatigue seems to be a major disability after a brain injury but I’m glad you enjoyed the day. My family tell me they enjoyed the day too 😁
Christmas 2013 - probably the saddest one I’ll ever remember. Our son’s accident was in mid November and by Christmas Day he was only just about classed as ‘conscious’. Christmas Day in our family is always a joyous occasion with lots of laughs but not that year - we took it in turn to spend time at the hospital with him. Father Christmas laid a small present by the side of his bed. My heart broke after our visit when we walked away from him and left the hospital.
My lovely sister in law, who lived close to the hospital, made a huge buffet lunch at her home and we all just came and went, nibbling throughout the day. I shall never forget her (and our wider family’s) support at this time - we just couldn’t have got through on our own.
By New Year though, our son took his first small faltering steps back to normality. Six months in rehab learning new skills all over again, six years hard slog to get to this point.
But he’s here. He’s alive, he’s reasonably happy and is beginning to come to terms with what he now can - and can’t - do. He has started a small job and is being well supported and is just about to move into a place of his own. This Christmas we will all be together again and, yes, we will be joyous.
I don't do Facebook so thank you for sharing that post.
Twice I have been in hospital at Christmas thankfully before my cracked head.
When I was 11 and had a major infection post surgery for appendix. There was a tree in the bay window at the end of the ward and Santa came to see us with presents : or so I was told as I was more than a bit groggy.
Then in my mid 20s after falling off a bicycle with a left leg in plaster from ankle to thigh and a dislodged compression fracture of a vertebra. Very little in the way of decoration (I suppose they were beginning to get hygiene conscious) .
Hospital radio was good, Santa came and that was good too.
The spoiler and tin hat on the whole thing was the boyfriend ,at the time, bringing in my presents.
I will let you all imagine my reaction to .........a set of saucepans ........and an iron.
Wishing everyone especially anyone in hospital the chance to laugh and ......if anyone visits you that they have the good sense to bring you something impractical.
Hi ‘old me’ was a staff nurse and working at xmas was always great fun and those who had to work always tried to make it a special day. We always had a tree and decorations and Santa(from the hospital friends) would always deliver a pressie to all the patients. They also had an xmas lunch and a cold meats type tea and open visiting all day🎅🏻austerity might have changed all this but I can’t imagine it would have changed the nurses desire to make it a happy day...
Good to hear from a nurse 😁 which hospital? I was in Trafford and the ward was for rehabilitation after a injury/trauma.. my mam tells me they had an Xmas tree & a choir came to visit which I slightly remember, It was an open all day visit, mince pies, chocolates, crackers to pull (which I wasn’t able to do) all in all a Christmas Day 😁🎄
In a 20 year career I worked in several settings the most well known being Addenbrookes in Cambridge. I loved my job until my dodgy damaged brain enforced ill health retirement I have fond memories of working xmas as a happy fun time to go to work and would volunteer to work the xmas shift rather than new year!
It’s because of people like you I respect nurses 100% volunteering your Christmases because it is “your” Christmas too.. nurses are a NHS blessing. They ARE the NHS in this country 😁
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Mrs
Tonight 9p.m. Disabled In An Instant
A bit about me
Happy Christmas & Super New Year
