My Immune System

Its an oxymoron in reality,

Low counts with hyperactivity,

Low numbers but massive self-damage,

Weakening me to all sorts of infection.

White cell count constantly on the floor,

Count of .8 rarely more,

Prophylaxis administered to keep me safe,

Every runny nose or sore throat, a terror in my soul,

Every coughing person a threat to my life.

Reclusive I became as safety was my aim,

But mental health can't survive when left alone,

So, balance the risk of socialising I must,

Hand gel and hand wash my soldier in defence,

Reducing contact, another field of the fight,

Choosing carefully where and when I commit my life. 

For 2 years I was asked what chemo I was on,

As that was the logical explanation for my plight,

For the risk infection posses to my life,

Why I can't have live vaccines ever in my life,

It is easy to laugh and easy to joke,

But the simplest of infections can land me in hospital,

If even a day I delay, In ICU I might end up laid. 

My Friend: Kate

My Friend Kate, Isn't she great,

Helping all those patients rehabilitate,

With Hovis the dog and a dam cape,

Battling Delirium in her ICU,

Fighting for the garden for all to recuperate.

Bring positivity and bright light,

To all those who help in the rehabilitation fight,

Lightboxes distributed freely with joy,

Even gave one to this here boy.

Helping promote causes close to her heart,

Working really hard to mend what's torn apart,

Bring joy and happiness to everyone,

Bringing positivity on twitter I see,

Now in charge of @NHS for a whole week.

All those #RehabLegends being brought to sight,

All the hard work for all to see,

People working hard helping people like me,

Bring the NHS social Media might,

To show all the great people working into the night,

Every single hour of every single day,

Superheros of the NHS are saving the day.

Ok so this poem is about Kate Tantam I Have never met her in person but she sent me the lightbox you see on my twitter account. I really appreciated it, I don't do anything for acclaim but it is always nice when someone says your doing a good job. In fact, in this case, it brought me to tears, it was an act of kindness which touched me greatly.

I have not been feeling very creative the last few weeks so I had been thinking of ending the #MarksWednesdayPoetry but the last two weeks I have got inspired the day before. I hope you still like these but I can't see it happening weekly anymore as I am all creativitied out :) 

Pleasantly Confused?

Pleasantly Confused?

As a term leaves me utterly bemused,

Your lack of understanding can be excused,

With my words, this explosive term will be diffused,

It's not your fault this term you've misused,

A little understanding of the term I'll infuse.

Pleasantly Confused?

I was neither you see,

Delirium's not fun in any which way,

In a constant state of fear all day?

Absolutely certain I was being harmed,

Absolute clarity in the pain I was dealt,

Every single cut, every terror-filled moment felt.

Pleasantly Confused?

I'm absolutely certain you tried to slit my throat,

Wonder why I don't trust you?

Would you, you are my jailer, my abuser,

Confused, why your help is refused?

Pleasantly Confused?

I'm not agitated or confused, I'm Terrified,

Just because you can't see it doesn't make it less real to me,

Just because no blood test shows it doesn't make it less real to me,

Just because you don't understand it doesn't make it less real to me,

You understand other illnesses so why not Delirium?

Ok So thanks for reading the poem, Delirium is a very serious issue, as you will all know I had ICU delirium. So when I hear the term confused I get very angry, it speaks to a fundamental lack of understanding, now I get that the education on delirium hasn't been great and as such the medical profession has been severely let down. But you can help bring about the change and get rid of this term being used, Delirium is not a dirty word or a death sentence. Use the 4AT, CAM-ICU, CAM, DSM-V or whatever tool your hospital uses, speak to the trained people in diagnosing delirium. Everyone is on the same team, noticing, diagnosis and treating delirium can have a huge impact on the after-effects the patient suffers. So, please help make the world a bit better for Delirium sufferers and survivors.

SIGN created an excellent guideline which gives a whole host of extremely useful information:

https://www.sign.ac.uk/sign-157-delirium.html

Pressure

Choosing to help is a wonderful thing,
But extra baggage it does bring,
Hold other peoples problems is a heavy task,
But friends help each other through thick and thin,
In the lightest and darkest days,
Soring high and surviving the lows,
True friends never come and go,
From beginning to end.

Stresses and strain are a burden on the soul,
Supporting each other with our strengths,
Covering our weaknesses protecting from hurt,
Growing together improving our worth,
Stronger together than ever apart,
Building together a better world.

We band together like Carbons in Diamond,
Bonded together with the pressure of life,
More valuable together, greater net worth,
Survivors together surviving our curse,
Making things better for those who come after,
Positivity and support our true masters