Update

I would like to thank you for all the good wishes under my previous posting.

I saw the new doctor this morning and he was absolutely lovely. He had no idea why I had been sent to see him!! When I mentioned my HB1C he had a look at the results and did not think they were too bad. He is happy for me to continue on as I am and have them checked again in three months time. He said, considering the strain we have been under, I have done exceedingly well to keep them as low as I have. So, all your prayers and good wishes have helped greatly.

I wish I could say I was relieved and happy but circumstances prevent that at this time. Mike took my brother to see the heart specialist yesterday. My brother was then shunted from department to department having all sort of tests done. In the end, he collapsed at the hospital and was immediately admitted. Mike stayed with him until he was settled. My brother then did an unexpected thing, he shook Mike's hand very hard and more or less said "Goodbye Mike and thank you for everything you have ever done."

I telephoned the hospital a short while ago. There has been no improvement in my brother's condition since they admitted him. He is on oxygen as they are trying to get his blood oxygen saturation levels up, but so far he has not responded. Things are not looking good.

Meanwhile, in another hospital, not too far away, his wife, my sister-in-law is approaching the end. She has had one infection after another, she is now not responding to antibiotics, she is also on oxygen and my brother was told yesterday morning (before his own hospital appointment) that there is no more that can be done for her and the outlook is poor.

Never in a million years did we think this would happen and both of them would be in hospital, in dire straits, at the same time.

Although my relationship with them both has been very rocky and troublesome over many years, the fact remains that he is the last of my blood family and despite all he has put me through, I still love him.

All this is so very hard for me to take.

I think you will all understand why I cannot rejoice over my doctors appointment. Of course, I am pleased, that goes without saying, but I cannot be happy whilst my brother is fighting for his life.