Mag and I exited the parking area of the Kingston Heath Airport and headed to the East Sydney Suburb of Bexley North where she and Robin lived with Geoff. Traffic can be unpredictable and quite heavy at times in and around the airport area but on this particular day it was relatively light. The weather was cool, overcast with a hint of rain showers now and again. We sat in the car in silence until we exited the airport proper and headed toward the freeway for our 30 minute ride to Bexley North. Understanding that the Aussies drive on the left side of the road in the right front seat, I had taken my place in the front passenger seat on the left side which all by itself creates some disorientation. I found myself constantly stepping on the phantom brake. The combination of the jet lag, lack of sleep, stress from the events of the past 24 hours and the backwards flow of traffic made for a surreal experience. Doing my best to concentrate on what Maggie was telling me and having to call upon my best interpretive skills (although the Aussies speak English, it takes some getting used to for us Yanks) I was listening intently to Mag's description of what had transpired over the last few days.
What I had as background information, in addition to what I have already shared previously, I had known that since the middle of September, Geoff was complaining that he was suffering from tonsillitis and a general feeling of being unwell. The outline that I received from Mag on that trip to Bexley North provided the following new information. On Wednesday, September 29 Geoff and Robin visited a medical clinic at the direction of the hematologist who was responsible for his care since he had first been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2007. They performed a blood test and after spending some time discussing symptoms and reviewing the results of that test ordered a PET CT scan for the next day. They returned to the clinic the following day and Geoff had a second blood test along with the PET CT. The conclusion drawn by the doctor after reviewing the results of the various tests was that Geoff was suffering from "Glandular Fever", which in America we refer to as Infectious Mononucleosis (IM). I've done a bit of research on my own as to the treatment typically prescribed for mononucleosis and found that aside from bed rest and routine increased fluid intake recommendation IM does not respond well to other therapies, such as antibiotics, since it is viral in nature. It is directly linked to the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). Most healthy young adults (the typical person infected is in their late teens to early 20's) would have a general lack of energy and strength, perhaps for some months, but would eventually fully recover. Sometimes glandular fever/IM is referred to as the "kissing disease" since it is highly transmittable and seems to affect college aged persons most often. The doctor seemed to think that would be the path Geoff would be taking for the next few months.
Geoff returned home and was in and out of bed for the next couple of days. On the Saturday evening (October 2) he had started to hallucinate and was running a high fever. The paramedics were called and when they arrived and began to administer to Geoff he tested out satisfactorily for blood pressure, respiration and his temperature had dropped somewhat. He was no longer hallucinating. Upon questioning by the ambulance personnel he assured them he was feeling better (something he had also told his doctor the day before when the doctor rang the house to see how Geoff was doing), declined a trip to hospital and the emergency personnel left after giving Robin a written recommendation to give him Panadol (Aussie Tylenol) and to take his temperature regularly. He seemed to remain about the same for the next few days, having his good moments and some not so good but he spent most of the next few days in bed, taking in fluids and the requisite Panadol. He had been staying in Robin's room, in her bed, as she had swapped with Geoff while he was sick. He spent one evening in the front room of their home, watching the National Rugby League Grand Final (along with over 2 million other Australians) on television before heading back to bed.
Early in the morning of Wednesday, October 6 Robin was awakened as she had heard Geoff get out of bed and she went to get the Panadol and thermometer. She then went to the bedroom and found that Geoff had collapsed. She was unable to arouse him and grabbed the phone to call Triple 0 (the equivalent of 911). In the meantime, Mag exited her bedroom to assist. The operator from Triple 0 told Robin and Mag to check for vital signs. They could find no pulse and he didn't seem to be breathing. The operator instructed Robin and Mag to begin CPR and await the arrival of the ambulance that was now on its way.
Listening to Mag tell me about this period of time was taking my breath away. I've had CPR training, even renewed it once, but I'm not convinced that I would know what to do if presented with this challenge, surely not with my son's life in my hands. I cannot imagine the feelings and the fear I would be experiencing had I been in that situation. I only know that Robin and Mag did the best they could do to save Geoff's life, had it been possible. Continuing the CPR until the paramedics arrived must have seemed like an eternity and then apparently the paramedics admonished the ladies to continue even after their arrival as they were busy setting up their equipment and supplies. I heard also that the next door neighbor came over upon hearing the commotion to help as best he could and ultimately Geoff was transported to hospital. To this moment, the visual image that I have of our son in his mother's arms during this process is gut wrenching. No person on the face of the earth would have fought harder for her son's life than Robin did. Of that I am completely sure.
Of course, we know now that once Geoff arrived at St. George Hospital in Kogarah they provided heart, lung and oxygen support and performed the 2 surgeries after a battery of diagnostic testing. I'm sure the hospital personnel felt that in spite of the fact Geoff had no heartbeat for as long as 50 minutes it was at least possible to recover some type of life for him and then again, maybe they didn't really believe it, although they certainly tried. I know that Geoff was officially pronounced as dead some time after that conference call that I was involved in while in the car, sitting in the Chevron station parking lot in Calimesa. However, there is no doubt in my mind that Geoffrey died very early in the morning in Bexley North. My mind was roiling with incongruous thoughts. I felt so badly for Mag, for Robin, for myself and everyone who loved Geoff. I believe he probably died before the call was made to triple 0 but how do you convince an inconsolable mother of that? How do you help a woman that gave her son limitless love and support understand there was nothing else she could have done to keep this tragic event from happening? What do we do now?
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