Soaking it up

In which my post-surgical recovery facilities get an upgrade

I’m back in hospital this week, for another cancer treatment surgery. All going well, I’ll be back home mid-week to enjoy my recently installed outdoor recovery facility: a wood-fired hot tub.

The tub was purchased during my previous stay in hospital, in July. During several days in Ward 5 contemplating the meaning of life, love and the Bristol Stool Chart, I decided to pass time with a round of online shopping. Which led to the swift purchase of a wood-fired hot tub. It was on special, after all.

The only problem was, where to put it? At 2,000kg with 1700 litres of water, it would need a solid, level platform. Our seaside cottage is situated on a lightly-grassed sand dune. Fortunately, my life-long friend Wade offered his considerable experience and expertise in deck-building. After much researching and consulting on engineering and construction, followed by some very kindly provided supplies from Kapiti Placemakers (timber) and local concrete factory Firth Dricon (30 bags of concrete mix), I built a deck with stronger foundations than our house. The tub was placed on site last week, just in time for my recovery programme.

I discussed it all this morning with Sarah, one of my anaesthetists, as we worked our way through my surgical consent form. I paused at Clause 4, the section which advises making no important financial decisions within 18 hours of undergoing general anaesthetic. At this point, I had to confess my previous post-surgical shopping spree. To her credit Sarah felt the purchase of a wood-fired hot tub was actually a very good Local Ancillary Recovery Facility, or LARF, and a worthy investment for the enjoyment of life. From my position, I thought, it was much superior to a Bedside Ancillary Recovery Facility, and well worth it.

So, today I’m looking forward to a very good treatment in theatre and an even better recovery. Onwards!

Above: Bathrobe thoughtfully provided today by Wellington Hospital

Above: Hot tub in the snow in northern Sweden, 2003: the inspiration for my Local Ancillary Recovery Facility.