''And although I had slept so well the night before the operation I had a restless night after it, not because I was overjoyed or even just relieved - my usual feeling now if a big case goes well - but because I was confused, disconcerted. I kept on walking and repeating to myself over and over again, 'I can't believe it, I can't believe it'. I had prepared myself for the torture of seeing him on my daily ward round, damaged and suffering, for weeks on end and now it would not be necessary.
When I saw time next morning he was already sitting up in bed, eating some cornflakes, looking a bit bleary-eyed. He squinted at me as he spoke, closing one eye, as he had double vision.
'You're a lot better than I expected', I told him, 'but you'll feel awful for many weeks and probably very unsteady on your legs.'
He rubbed the right side of his face with his hand - it was clear that it was completely numb. 'I'm afraid I don't think the numbness will ever get better', I said. ' The double vision might. If not the eye doctors can possibly help.
'Well', he said, his words a little slurred since the right side of his tongue was as numb as his face. 'I'm alive, thank you'.''
(Από το βιβλίο "Do no harm'' του Henry Marsh)
When I saw time next morning he was already sitting up in bed, eating some cornflakes, looking a bit bleary-eyed. He squinted at me as he spoke, closing one eye, as he had double vision.
'You're a lot better than I expected', I told him, 'but you'll feel awful for many weeks and probably very unsteady on your legs.'
He rubbed the right side of his face with his hand - it was clear that it was completely numb. 'I'm afraid I don't think the numbness will ever get better', I said. ' The double vision might. If not the eye doctors can possibly help.
'Well', he said, his words a little slurred since the right side of his tongue was as numb as his face. 'I'm alive, thank you'.''
(Από το βιβλίο "Do no harm'' του Henry Marsh)
