The Aftermath

(My in laws house is the house directly behind the house you can see in view, theirs is the house with the silver tin roof. This photo was taken in the morning, by the evening the water had crept right up to the porch, just stopping short of entering the upper level of my in laws house. They were lucky in this regard because there were some houses that were totally submerged.)

As I sit here to write this my head is in a haze, so I apologize if it is written poorly.. I have to look at the calendar just to remind myself what day it is. The last few weeks has been like living in a nightmare, it's been just dreadful ... each day is just rolling into the next, it's been so hectic.
In my last post I told of the flash flooding that occurred in the Toowoomba & Lockyer Valley regions, the devastation was horrific. Since this time many people in Brisbane have been affected by flooding here too due to massive rain falls over several weeks & one of our dams, The Wivenhoe Dam neared 200% which posed a new risk to QLD residents. The dangerous levels forced authorities to have controlled releases at the catchment which added to the rising river levels. So the rain, the Dam & high tides swelled the major rivers in and around Brisbane and they eventually broke their banks. The rivers quite literally swallow up everything in it's path. including my parents in laws house. The devastation has been catastrophic and the after affects are going to be felt for a very long time to come.
Since this happened there has been a massive clean up taking place and one thing that has taken many of us by surprise is the humility of others in a time of need. This crisis has truly brought out the best in people. Volunteers have been arriving on mass to help those that have been affected. Donations of food, clothing, furniture, labour, toys, accommodation & money are happening all over the place.
With the clean up in full swing, there are now new risks for those working in the bacteria filled pooey sludge. My 62 year old father in law was working hard with my husband, brother inlaw & other voltunteers to rid their house of this stinky sludge, just one day after the waters receeded. He sustained a small puncture wound to the sole of his foot by a screw the penetrated the sole of his boot. The next morning whilst we attented a Flood Crisis Assistance Meeting held by the Government & local councils, my father in law collapsed in a heap in front of me as we were making our way to the car park. His face was ghostly white, he could barely speak to me & his breathing was laboured and shallow. When I touched him, his skin was on fire. I asekd him to tell me what was happening and he looked up at me with a look of fear in his eyes that I will never forget. I was so scared for him, I knew whatever it was, it wasn't good. Just prior to this I noticed he had been limping on his left leg & I asked him to show me his foot. His foot right up to the ankle was was red, his skin was tight & hot to touch. I put two & two together and realised that he must have been septic.
I told him there and then that he needed to go to hospital. Just a half an hour later he was in the ER receiving life saving attention. It is now 5 days later and the infection is still not under control. They suspect that the infection has entered the bone & have run some more tests to confirm but as a precaution have already changed their treatment regime. It is a very scary time for us all.
In the same hospital, on the ward just below my father in law, lies my brother Patrick who fell sick just one day before my father in law. Patrick was hospitalized in a serious condition & was also treated in the ER before being admitted & later diagnosed with quick onset Bacterial Pneumonia. He has been extremely ill and will remain in hospital for another week or so yet but he is making slow improvement, thank God!!
I am currently operating on auto pilot and am praying that my loved ones health returns to normal real soon. January 2011 is going to be a time I will, never ever forget for so many different reasons.
Not sure when I will get to post again .. but I will be back. I just wanted to let you know that I am still here & I am OK.