Gordy on Walkabout
Copyright© 2017 by Peter H. Salus
Prologue by Patrick
Approximately 15% of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) die before reaching the hospital.
The median age when aneurysmal hemorrhagic stroke occurs is 50 years old and there are typically no warning signs.
Women, more than men, suffer from brain aneurysms at a ratio of 3:2.
Weena was 52, en route the Pennant Hills train station, when she died. A witness said that she paused in mid-step, put a hand to her head, and collapsed. By the time she got to her, she was no longer breathing.
The police phoned Dad at the Museum. His PA phoned me. I phoned Rachel. There was no way to reach Sarah. She and Henry were somewhere in the Northern Marianas.
Dad took it very badly, going into mechanical response mode. Winnie was helpful, but I did most of the funeral arrangements and responded to the cards and letters. And the various legal complexities. But it got done. I think Dad would have just remained at home, static. But I got him to shower and shave and dress. Rachel did his laundry for several weeks. Then I put him into the car and drove north to Gosford and then to The Coast, a bar and restaurant at the base of Point Frederick, where we could sit for a while and where we could eat good fresh seafood.
At first, Dad was quite impassive. Then he asked: “Where are we going?”
“Up to Gosford.”
“Why?”
“I want to talk to you. I want to be away from Sydney. And I’ve turned my phone off.”
“And?”
“And we’ll have some good food and a father-and-son chat.”
“OK.” And he fell silent.
We got to The Coast and I parked. After we were seated I ordered for both of us.
“I could have done that.”
“I wasn’t sure. You haven’t done much at home recently.”
“No. I guess not. It’s very hard. I haven’t been alone in over 25 years.”