Today we finally got to see mum’s angiologist. He took one look at mum’s swollen ankles and promptly started mumbling about thrombosis, but then he took out his machine and listened to her veins and said no, she doesn’t have thrombosis, her circulation is still quite good. So it looks like she did have erysipela as Emily (my daughter) and I suspected. He wants her to do 10 sessions of lymph gland message to drain her swollen ankles. He referred us to a physiotherapist and I am now trying to get in contact with her to see if she does housecalls. I surely hope so! She’ll be off the health plan, but I figure she is worth it as she is a physiotherapist specifically for vascular problems.

Dona Vilma, our helper who had to be operated on for aneurisms, came by on Friday. She’s doing very well, has a cut on the front part of her head which has had the stitches taken out already. She can’t lift any weight for 60 days so she won’t be coming back soon. She still wants to come back though. Magda seems quite cheerful about keeping on in Dona Vilma’s place. She and her mother, Dona Edna, are the least complaining of any of the helpers so far and always cheerful. Knock on wood.

I am probably going to be operated on July 5th or 7th depending on how I can work out things with the medical plan. I’m already doing the pre-op tests – blood tests, cardiogram etc. I can’t wait to not feel anymore pain and be able to be normal again!!

Tomorrow p.m. is Brazil’s first game in the World Cup so nothing else will be going on. I’m going to take pictures if we have a street party like we had 4 years ago. Our street closed with the traffic and people stopped their pick-ups with sound boxes and with the girls (‘piriguetes’ as Emily calls them) on top of the trucks dancing. If this happens again I’m going to be reporter for a day and post some pics. I do hope Emily doesn’t have to work!!