I have decided to write a letter of thanks to the wonderful staff at Wattle Hill Lodge so that they know how much they are appreciated. This is a first draft!
A letter of thanks to all staff looking after Anthony
Thank you for being so kind and considerate, way beyond the call of duty.
Thank you for being so gentle with Anthony, for liking him, for talking to him and listening to him.
Thank you for tolerating my uncertainty and ignorance of various rules, like signing in and out, coming in when there was a gastric outbreak, forgetting to fill out the satisfaction survey.
Thank you for your friendly smiles and greetings when you are rushed off your feet.
Thank you for putting up with my phonecalls to you when I can’t get through on Anthony’s phone.
Thank you for not minding our son Ming’s loud cheekiness.
Thank you for telling me that some of Anthony’s clothes were a bit shabby, to bring him socks that had treads on them, to bring him long pants (which he has always hated, but is now okay with).
Thank you for not minding when I accidentally interrupted your lunch breaks, or handover, or couldn’t remember the code to get out of the door.
Thank you for accepting that I can’t sew so all of Anthony’s clothes are labelled with a texta.
Thank you for not telling me to get lost when I wanted to help you help him with the toilet.
Thank you for so quickly realising I was not his daughter.
Thank you for telling me how disappointed Anthony was when I altered arrangements to bring him home.
Thank you for adjusting his phone, ringing me on his phone, recharging his phone when it was flat.
Thank you for making him feel safe, secure and fine at night now.
Thank you for tolerating the various doctors’ alterations of medications.
Thank you for the fact that Anthony thinks/knows you are all wonderful.
Thank you for being so kind to me too.
Thank you for not noticing that underneath my smile, my heart is ripped apart and the floor of my life is covered in the blood of loss.
Thank you for telling me I shouldn’t be lifting Anthony on my own.
Thank you for telling me that you had also noticed he was becoming more confused.
Thank you for talking to me, chatting to me, making me feel normal – making us feel normal – in a comfortable, cup-of -tea way.
There are so many more thankyous to you guys. I used to be an enrolled nurse and I mostly worked in nursing homes or with multi-handicapped people, so I know what you are all having to do to help Ants as he deteriorates, and I salute you.
So, thank you from my heart – all of you. I haven’t mentioned names here because I don’t know everybody’s names yet but I will work on that.