The title features lyrics from one of my favorite Christmas songs, Carry Me Home by Hey Rosetta. I thought that exact line at several points during the last week, as I sat with my Dad in a hospital bed while his kidneys continued to decline.
December 29th I left Goose Bay to spend a couple of nights with my parents in St. Lewis, I arrived 1:30pm and by 4pm I was with my dad, unexpectedly, at the clinic where he was told he would need to be urgently assessed by a doctor. There is little available to help patients in small town clinics in Labrador (and that’s being very generous with my wording).
So at 8am the following day, Dad and I boarded Stormy (my Jeep) and headed to Goose Bay. By 1:30pm we were at the emergency department where Dad was admitted. Flash forward through days of grief, tears and pleading – my Dad was Medevaced to St. John’s and arrived there 3am today, January 4.
I won’t go into any detail on what he’s dealing with, but I will say, healthcare in Labrador – including the Air Ambulance system – is so very broken. This program needs an overhaul, and it needs to be done by carefully reviewing feedback of patients and their families who have, during the worst parts of their lives, had to rely on a system that has continually failed them again and again.
I am extremely grateful that my Dad is now under the care of the Health Sciences Centre, and the capable staff there. I would be remiss not to shout out Sharon and Mandy, two nurses at the Labrador Health Centre here in Goose Bay who took the time to always talk Dad through what they were doing, be very kind to him, and give us comfort in the days we spent praying for help.
Dad is by no means out of the woods with the issues he’s dealing with, but at least he’s in the right place to get help. His brothers and sisters are caring for him, and I’m ready at a moments notice to travel in as well if he wants me there.
That was the end part of my December. I wanted to start with that, because of course it was the thing that was (and is) forefront in my mind today.
Other than that, Jeffrey and I had a nice quiet Christmas, at least for the most part. We did welcome a new member to our family, little Raven, a black Labrador Retriever. He’s what I would call a land shark.. my poor hands and arms are full of mini-bites and scratches. Hopefully he grows out of that soon? lol.
Here’s some of my December in photos. I hope that you are well and good, and that 2026 is kind to you.
Love,
M.
Colour of Outdoors by Mandy Ford 