!st October - Off to Cambo.

After a visit to Nigel's specialist in Mont de Marsan, last week, we received a phone call saying that Nigel had to be at Cambo at 11am the next day. A busy couple of hours ensued sorting out what he would need to take with him. Next day we were off at just after 9am. It takes about an hour and forty minutes to get there as it is about 15kms south east of Bayonne. Cambo is a very pretty little town in the heard of Basque country. There appear to be many medical centres there so as well as being a very touristy town it is also a very busy place with all the "inmates" of these places. The centre was very easy to locate and the booking in process proceeded very efficiently. We were shown to what was to be Nigel's home from home for at least 3 weeks. He has a lovely room on the first floor overlooking the gardens with an en suite shower room and telephone by the bed. All the staff were very polite and welcoming. We asked if I could stay for lunch and they said that his meal was already in his room and that another one would be taken up for me. After lunch we said our good byes and I came on back home.
His routine there was soon established after an initial consultation with the doctor in charge of him. In the morning he has breakfast in his room and then has 3 hours exercise and physiotherapy in the gym where his oxygen levels are monitored. Lunch is taken in the dining room as is the evening meal. The afternoons are free but activities are provided. Nigel is doing art and pottery workshops 4 afternoons a week! Another of the "inmates", Lionel is from Mont de Marsan. He speaks a little English so he and Nigel get on well and share a table at meal times. They are allowed out for a day at the weekend so, as Lionel has his car there and was coming back to Mont de Marsan, Nigel was able to have a lift with him on the first two Saturdays that he was there. It was good to have him home even for such a short while and of course it saved me driving down there to see him.
The medical centre has a web site at www.centre-medical-annie-enia.fr
Once that they think that he is in top form he will have an appointment with the surgeon to decide when he is to have the operation.