December 17th, 2025

The second night is behind me, and I finally slept almost impeccably, especially because no significant pain decided to interrupt the night, and I did not receive a thrombosis injection in the middle of the night!

Last night, Deniz came by after work. Despite my very clear instructions not to bring anything, he arrived as if prepared for an improvised picnic: mandarins, pistachios, an almond smoothie, crisps, and even a bouquet of flowers. At that moment, I realised a fundamental rule: “turning up empty-handed” simply does not exist in Kurdish culture. We spent the evening in the hospital lounge before he headed back to Olten around 9.30 pm.

Throughout the day, I received many messages from family and friends checking in. It is genuinely comforting to feel surrounded, especially at a time like this.

I also made a small step forward: I took my meals at the table rather than in bed. A small detail on the surface, yet it changes a great deal.

And early this morning, even before breakfast was served, Professor Krause came by with an assistant doctor to change a dressing that had slightly bled through. He is pleased with the progress and even told me that I might be able to go home on Friday. On one hand, that is excellent news. On the other… the idea of being alone this soon doesn’t make me entirely comfortable. Waiting until Monday would give me a bit more safety for moving around at home. We’ll see…

This morning, the Fentanyl pump was removed. The pain around the incision at my pelvis, however, persists and shows little enthusiasm for calming down. The left side is inflamed, and any movement that engages the abdominal muscles, e.g. turning, getting up, becomes a delicate exercise. A nurse applied a cold pack: effective in theory, far less pleasant in practice, and so far without much relief.

I also asked for clarification about the antibiotics. Aside from the first night, I haven’t received any more. The thought of another staphylococcus episode worried me a little, but Professor Krause reassured me: during the operation, no signs of infection were found, the ankle bones were completely clean, and the biopsies came back negative. Fingers crossed.

A bit of good news: I was finally able to take a shower, now that the IVs have been removed and I’m no longer “wired up” from all sides. It’s wonderfully refreshing, even if my limited mobility still makes me move with caution. The goal remains clear: nothing must jeopardise recovery.

And as every morning, the very kind lady from the hospitality service came by to take my meal choices for the next day. The quality of the food is excellent, the service attentive, and I always receive sensible recommendations.

In the end, even in hospital, pleasure can still come through good food. And I certainly won’t be depriving myself of that.

Today took an unexpectedly pleasant turn. I received a visit from two colleagues whose passions say a great deal about their sense of style: one is a motorcyclist, the other a collector of vintage cars.

To round off this friendly interlude, truffles from Tschirren – the well-known chocolatier from Bern – added just the right touch of sweetness to turn a simple visit into a genuine moment of comfort.

The attorney’s documents regarding the inheritance contained an error and will be sent out again tomorrow. My mother will therefore come by tomorrow afternoon to bring me the corrected version, which I need to sign before sending it back to the notary’s office. An administrative process that is progressing slowly but surely – after all, the whole thing has taken two years!

To finish off the day, a consommé and an excellent steak tartare.