Numbers

In a couple of days we mark six months since the Healing Home was opened. It seems a long time ago - in a very positive way.

I've done some paperwork counting and make it 40 patients to date. That does not include family members who often come to stay also. They would more than double this number of people who have stayed in the home.

Overflow bed - Choy camping out in the front lounge area. We moved him because he was in a lot of pain and was not hiding that fact at all. People here are often very, very fearful in their sickness. Peace and trust are places we seek to bring them to.

Over the first three months we had a low turnover, with a number of our patients staying four weeks or longer. The last three months has been quite different, with a lot of flowing through and much shorter stays. For example we've had four people leave since the week-end (including young Pisit who had his jaw operated on today in a Swiss-run hospital) - and four new patients come in today, all from the same provincial village.

So, 40 it is by my reckoning - but there are a few holes in the paperwork department and it could easily be 50. Anyway, I believe that the Healing Home has finally drawn ahead of the Bonnevie House of Boarding. I now make it 24 friends and 13 'hospitality extended to' (and some of these are now friends too!) people who have come and lived at our pad. Folk have stayed anywhere from three days (Kerry, Angie, Peter Denholm) to three months (Pat and Dorothy).

Our newest folk arrived tonight for five days - a Swiss couple visiting their daughter and son-in-law here. When I get to it I'll let you in on the incredible connection between them and the story of the poor mugged Austrian lady whom Sue has been caring for this week.