SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

"Not today," I replied, sitting down on the sofa in the living room and picking up my smartphone.

A while later, a loud, unexpected bang on the door. I rush to my bedroom. I open the door carefully. I see a man, grey and pale, leaning against the door. Suddenly, he falls upright. Shock, keep your blood calm, I tell myself. He hit the edge of the bed hard. Unconscious? Okay. Eva, you're going to resuscitate, the school way, like you learned... I kneel down next to him.

Horror, he has hit himself and blood is pouring from his calf. Much to my surprise, the blood is not coming out of his head.

My darling is bleeding from the mouth. Lungs? Passionate smoker!? Quick, sideways position and I run for my mobile. I type 112 ... I don't remember the conversation. A woman's voice on the other end encourages me. I know I've made it. I even directed the paramedics to the upper street for better access. They arrive in two minutes. Our dog Misha is overjoyed to see them, just as she is overjoyed every time they visit.

Nevertheless, I remove it to the next room. She's a hard worker.

They take an ECG of my husband. I don't think it's necessary. Louis is coughing, vomiting blood, lots of blood ...

A moment later, a doctor appears at the door. The scene attracts my mother. Reva enters and, seeing her son-in-law in a pool of blood, thinks it is the end of him. She bursts into tears. The emergency doctor asks what the problems were before. I remember and answer that he has been drinking a lot of Donat Mg. This has helped to alleviate the heartburn. He concludes that my husband is bleeding from his stomach.

Mine is loaded onto a stretcher and carried to the ambulance. I cover him with a warm blanket, two blankets, and move away so that the paramedic team can work. They set him up with an IV, probably a blood-stopping drug. The paramedic and the doctor drive away. Without clearing up, I drive after them ...

I ask in the emergency room and I can go to him immediately. The internist sees me. Ludvik hears my voice and starts to cry. Then I notice him too. His body is sweaty, swollen, grey-green.

I touch on it. I feel it. "Everything will be all right."

On the computer screen, the young doctor shows me a large ulcer. He tells me that a blood vessel in his stomach has burst. Then they take my son for a lung scan ...

It turns out that he has bacterial pneumonia in parallel. I turn back the clock. Chest tightness?

He was convinced that the pain was just anxiety about a death in the family ...

The ER doctor prepares me for the worst, complications are possible... I reply, "I know it's in good hands." (I stay positive!)

My teddy bear will be taken to the gastro ward. He is asking to drink water. I kiss him with all my love and moisten his cold, thirsty lips... There is nothing else he can do.

The medical team and the doctor are friendly and professional. I get a blanket to take home, three blankets. One of the three is also my mother's, so that the poor man doesn't catch a cold. It's still a cold winter at the end of February. I go home with a bag of blankets ... I know I will come again tomorrow.

I take time off work. I'm with him every day. He can't breathe without an oxygen mask. He is given stomach medication, painkillers and antibiotics. The antibiotics don't help... He's confused. If he takes off the mask, his blood oxygen drops below 80. He hasn't had food for three days, then yoghurt. He is receiving a blood transfusion. The staff are very friendly.

My husband likes to joke. As soon as he feels better, he endears himself to both the nurses and the doctor. Every day, he can see progress. He is a success when he goes to the toilets without a mask.

I will inform his brother Marjan and sisters Gabriela and Cvetka. Gabi can't believe it, because a week ago we were at a carnival. "It's just for the best," she says.

Finally, the day comes for discharge from hospital. He is happy. He now sees life differently. Loving, as always, he is proud to say that I saved his life.

Our love is not perfect. But we are trying. We build a relationship on trust, respect and mutual help. Above all, we do not give up, but persevere and grow side by side. It is good to be alive. Even better as a couple. We simply love each other.

Eva Pavlič, 7 Feb 2025