Venice/Hospital

June 6, 2007

Today we traveled from Klagenfurt to Padua. Padua is an ancient city about 30 minutes away (by train) from Venice. We will be staying here for the Venice portion of our trip. I was still feeling ill so I didn’t even attend the welcome dinner here. I just rested, finished my concert report from the Antoinette concert, and went to bed.

June 7, 2007

This morning we began with two lectures. Unfortunately I hadn’t heard from the night before that the lectures were being held in a different hotel down the street, and since I had gotten downstairs late, I found out from the desk clerk. He directed me to the hotel and I found it myself. I walked in about 10 minutes late, but I was able to attend both lectures. After the lectures we had a break for lunch. I went back to the hotel and rested. At 1:00 we met at the Scrovegni Chaple. Here we were allowed in for 15 minutes to see some of the greatest pieces by the Renaissance painter Giotto. It was a beautiful experience. The Chapel is kept climate controlled to preserve the frescos. The paintings depicted all the major scenes and Mary and Jesus’ lives. Finally at the exit wall there is a great and terrible painting of the Last Judgment. This portrayal of heaven and hell has definitely inspiration from Dante’s Inferno. It was a truly remarkable piece. After the chapel several of us went to the hospital. Two girls and myself had been feeling ill for the past several days with different symptoms. Upon arriving at the hospital it took a while to find an English translator, but we slowly received care one by one. I was last. Unfortunately, my symptoms appeared important, and so they wanted to keep me overnight. After several hours of tests, and talking between myself, my group leaders, the doctors, and my mom, I decided to stay. It was a hard and frightening decision, but probably the right one. Staying in a foreign hospital is a very scary experience, but everyone here has been quite nice, and few speak good English, so I’m not always lost. This first night I even had a room to myself which was very pleasant. I got a good night’s sleep.

June 8, 2007

Today was an odd day. I was awoken with an enema. Not exactly pleasant. Most of the day was spent just waiting, sleeping, or reading. They took a blood test, a stool sample and performed a recto-sigmoido-scopy, a very unpleasant exam. Finally a doctor came and told me that I probably had an acute infection of the digestive tract, but they weren’t positive, and wanted to keep me here until a few more tests results came back. Unfortunately that was until later the next week. After some negotiation, talking with group leaders, and my mom, I agreed to stay the weekend until Monday. If I get noticeably better during the weekend they may let me go early, but until then they’ve started me on antibiotics, and I’m basically just hanging around. They’ll do blood tests to keep track of my progress. I haven’t eaten in over 48 hours so I’m a little light headed, but the IV they’ve given has helped a lot. So tonight I’ve caught up on the blog, and I’ll just read a little and get some sleep. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

June 9, 2007

Today I spent in the University Hospital of Padua. Sally, one of our group leaders, has selflessly come and sit with me all afternoon. We played cards and she would read while I napped. The doctors are just watching my blood work, and waiting for tests taken on Friday to complete. Unfortunately that is not supposed to happen until the middle of next week. All I can do is wait though.

June 10, 2007

We’ll I’ve completely missed Venice. On the bright side this is the only city on our trip that I have been to before. Still I really hate to be this close, but not be able to go. Sally came again today like yesterday, and we played cards. We have a really good game of gin-rummy going. I thought there was a chance of getting out today, but that was denied during rounds this morning. I’ve gotten to know one my roommates who is across from me in the ward. His name is Vincenzo. He is in his 70’s and was in the Italian Air Force. He came from Yugoslavia as a young boy, and is an engineer of sorts. He has been to the States some during his life, and picked up a little English. I met his sons, and one of them is also an Engineer. It was very nice to meet him. I hope he gets better soon. Tomorrow they should let me go.