By morning. my vision remained ok, but my feet and legs felt as if bound in the tightest compression stockings. My balance was very shaky, and I was glad to have the cane that Dodie had once bought me in Merida.  Even so, because it's me, I began to use whatever abilities remain to me. 

I went around and watered the garden plants. In abandoning them ten days ago, we knew they would die of thirst. But frost would kill them in November anyway, near the time we were scheduled to return. Every year we lament the death of the various annuals and other plants, but we expect it. Only now, they were in the middle of crying out for water. So I was out there with the hose. But the main point was that I was walking among them, and could also see them. So they might be dying, but I was getting stronger. Stronger, though, did not mean anything like "getting better".

Dodie phoned our GP's office, to beg to be seen. No way, she was told. Not until a week from now. Well that's sort of ok, because in terms of marshalling the right specialist resources, that office is essentially useless.

Phone calls to the neurologist I had once seen in Vancouver, and the one AI liked in Victoria, revealed their offices to be closed  for the next 5 days. Not that either would  see me without a referral from my GP, who won't see me!

The GP's office did suggest we try a little Urgent Care Clinic that exists in Chemainus, the little town that we like as a place for enjoying meetups with the Prices. Laurie drove us up there. Driving around with Laurie, in her new Subaru, is one of the rather few fun aspects of this story.

The wait time in Chemainus was more reasonable, perhaps three hours until we saw a doctor. I was glad to see his grey hair. It promised that he might have knowledge and experience. 

Now this doctor was not willing to accept the German CAT scan conclusion about no stroke. Similarly, he was not overly impressed with Laurie's diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis, though he did not dismiss it. Instead, he called for another CAT Scan, and more blood work.  For this he sent us to the Duncan hospital. No wait this time, as he had them expecting us. And significantly, he teed up a call to come soon from the Rapid Stroke Assessment unit at the Victoria hospital. They have the power to call out the neurologists. 

So overall, some progress today. Also, I am walking with more confidence. I have to be careful not to do too well. Dodie will "kill" me  if I turn out to have been crying Wolf.  But speaking of wolves, I am not out of the woods, even if I think I can water the garden.  Stroke can come in waves, and those plants could find me knocked down, or out, again. So I hope the medical system gets to the bottom of this pretty quick.