Discharge Day
I’m waiting on the signal
That it’s all systems go
I’m waiting on the nod
From the doctors in the know
I’m waiting for the pharmacists
To organise my meds
I’m waiting for the nurses
To clean my room and bed.
I’m taking down my posters
From the bland grey wall
I’m taking all my clothes
From the closet tall
I’m taking my wash bag
From the en-suite
I’m taking away memories
Which are bittersweet.
I need to leave the hospital
And smell fresh air again
I need to be outside once more
And feel the windswept rain
I need to hear the sounds
Of life beyond the ward
I need to feel alive once more
Discharge is my reward.
Being discharged is always a welcome event but it can take a long time to get everything together. The medications, letters, permissions and so on just take time. The exact time discharge happens is always uncertain. Sometimes I would be sent to a Discharge Room which was a calm, sunny spot as shown in the photo.
Flynne’s Barn is a place where young people living with cancer can come together and find connection in beautiful surroundings and provides a range of immersive outdoor and creative experiences. I am sharing one poem per day during September 2022 to raise money for this charity. To DONATE, visit my GO FUND ME page. Many thanks.
The African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) is a leading blood cancer/disorder charity dedicated to raising awareness of the severe shortage of donors on UK Stem Cell, Blood and Organ donor registers. Again, PLEASE JOIN A STEM CELL REGISTER if you possibly can.
