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Dear Theresa
As I mentioned on the telephone, Chris and I are going to England tomorrow (30 July) for two weeks, to see our new grandchildren. I will therefore give you a report on Fr Pat's condition before we go.
We have been visiting him twice a week ever since you were here, usually spending about two hours with him. We took him out for a meal only once because other times he did not want to go or he did not seem to be capable of the efforts. We do not know about his other visitors, family members etc as Fr Pat does not seem to remember when we ask him. We did meet Fr Foster at the home once and he phoned us another time.
Since the old man was moved to another room Fr Pat has had the double room to himself but he still sometimes complains about being wakened at night, people using his phone and stealing his things, this is very likely his imagination.
Since the change in his medication, he is more stooped, sometimes bending right over. He does not get up so easy and is moving slower. After walking down to the coffee shop and back (using the lift) he complained about his hands being sore and tired probably because he is leaning more heavily on the walking aid with his back stooped so much. Definitely his mobility has deteriorated since you were here.
Unfortunately, his "confusion" has deteriorated also. Most days now, when we visit, he recognizes us and seems happy to see us, but we cannot steer him into a sensible conversation for more than one minute at a time. Generally he imagines that he is in St Louis and will mention things like the Superior General visiting from Korea, getting to say Mass at 5:00 a.m., some trouble over at Shaukiwan or something about the Old Boys, etc. But then his mind wanders off, or he forgets what he is talking about or he realises that he is talking nonsense. He sometimes says things like "May be that's just me hallucinating again!" or "It's terrible not to be able to remember things!"
Even asking him a direct question generally does not get a sensible answer. He will say that he did not have any dinner or that he does not get any physiotherapy. But then today he told me that he had blood tests and that he was going to see a Dr Hutchison, (the sister confirmed that he had blood and urine samples taken). He also talked quite sensibly about the work that his brother Timothy does with severely handicapped children and hoped that we would enjoy our visit to see our children and grandchildren (Today was a good bit better than usual.)
He seems to have no idea that he is in hospital or at home and usually addresses the nurses and helpers in Cantonese! One of the Columban Sisters who visited him once said she had a reasonable conversation with him in a mixture of English and Cantonese!
Generally we feel that everything is strange and confusing to him. Hong Kong and Chinese people were his life for so many years that he cannot cope with having nothing at all familiar in his routine now. His family here and the Salesians here are remote from him and even if they visit occasionally they are just casual acquaintances that he used to meet on home leave. Also his family and the Salesians probably feel that he is in a good nursing home and that's the best anybody can do for him. I think that more contact with Hong Kong people, Cantonese speaking people, familiar Old Boys etc would be better for his mind and bring more reality into his life …….. But that is difficult.
If any Old Boys come to Ireland, they can certainly contact us and we will be delighted to meet them. Please give them our address and telephone number.
Fr Pat's room was being redecorated today when I visited, so he was out of the room for most of the day. Any time we visited we did not see any flowers or cards from anybody except yours. We always make sure that there is a vase of fresh flowers. He still enjoys the chocolates and the icecream! I asked the sister today to arrange for him to have a haircut on Thursday.
Sincerely,
Bosco Keown
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