Page 2 - Sample Flip Builder Project

Isolation

By Kathy George

I come in from walking the dog and notice I have a text message. I have to get my mind

around the time difference. My son’s in New Zealand, snowboarding with mates. It’s
9:00AM there, and very cold.

Hey, Tristan writes, don’t want you worrying but I crashed and

hurt my right shoulder. It’s hard to move and lift stuff and my

left knee is also swollen. I can’t bend it. Hopefully I just need
rest.

Frowning, I write back, advising ice packs, sending hugs, but next day there’s

another text.

I’m in hospital on antibiotics. I have some infection.

Have to get my flight rescheduled, but feeling a lot better.

My response is typical of a parent.

Wow! Sorry to hear. Hope u come good. Do u
need money? Have you got travel insurance?

What can we do to help?

The reply is probably what I suspected.

I don’t have travel insurance. I got a quote but didn’t get

around to paying. Will talk money when I get back.
Don’t need help. Just know I’m gonna be fine. 

The smiley emoticon so typical of my son doesn’t prepare me for a phone call on

Sunday night. A possum is running along the back fence making the dog crazy, when a

male voice introduces himself: ‘Julian Speight, Head Surgeon at Invercargill Hospital.’

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