Had a similar reaction from an elderly friend who had collapsed in the church… I called the Pompiers.
While we waited, she came round and told me off… then when she saw these dashing young lads arrive she suddenly smiled (albeit a somewhat wobbly smile…) and allowed them to carry her down the steps and take her off to be checked over…
Personally, I always phone the Pompiers . They arrive within a few minutes and make one feel so much better, just by their presence… 
Yes what is it with old ladies, beauty over quality, everytime. But the other way round, if I made eyes at a pretty nurse these days my feet wouldn’t touch the ground. 
Mind you, neither did hers, come to think of it. 
Just got back from M-P’s and she phoned the hospital. Apparently the doctor has not seen her yet and suggested we ring back at 8pm. So glad I didn’t follow them now. I’ll go back at that time, so much easier for me and the lady on the phone said the doctor speaks English, even better still. 
Now then David… our gorgeous Pompiers are very well-trained !!!
I bet their hoses are impressive too ?
Definitely, it is quite some time since I felt so calm, once it was all organised. And I know Fran will be fine because she doesn’t acknowledge the passing of time, she can sit for hours with nothing to occupy her mind, if it had been me I would have died without my Kindle. 
Seriously, David… you are quite right to feel calm.
Hopefully you will have good news when you visit later this evening…
sending positive vibes over the internet…
Oh and a bit of good news brought on by all this. Noubia, our little lady Dobie has several fears due to past life. One, of leaving the garden, now conquered, and the other, of getting into cars. In order to have the gates open for the ambulance men (not Pompiers) and also I suspect a little fear of black dogs by M-P, it was necessary to put both dogs in the car. Jules loves it and was straight in, but I had to grab Noubia before she sat down to stop me, and put her in myself.
On my way back from M-P’s, with the gate closed and the car hatch still open, I saw her jump out to greet me. So she must have jumped in all by herself to sit with Jules. 
David, when Frans’ care package is in place they may offer some respite care, as mentioned by @JaneJones, you should not hesitate to give it a try, you will definitely benefit from it.
As will Fran 
Only just caught up with this, not been on today (unexpected trip to Perigueux as the bus was on strike!!!). Look forward to more news. Glad yo had a calm day, sounds like you really need the break sometimes.
To M-P’s as arranged for the update. She spoke to the doctor who said there was nothing broken just some ‘lesions’ and said that they would keep her till tomorrow to await blood test results before sending her home.
M-P is baby sitting her grandchild all day at her son’s house but said she would phone them at 11am to get the news.
Back here all shuttered in and battened down for the night when my phone rang and another doctor told me that there was no need to keep her in and they would send her back tonight ‘as soon as they could find an ambulance’ 
I phoned M-P and she checked that I had got it right and rang me back to say that they were having trouble with transport but it is certain she will be coming. Any time during the night. 
So shutters back open and all lights back on, I only hope the driver does not dump her at the gate (as one did before when, uninformed, I wasn’t here) and leave her because she will not know to push the bell to alert me. M-P says she will leave her lights on too.
What did I say about being calm?
Raining cats and dogs here at the moment too, that driver better help me get her up the steps, otherwise she could be going straight back down there again.
Oh… good grief… I’m so sorry… I had hoped they would keep her overnight.
fingers crossed the delivery folk will do the right and proper thing, getting her safely indoors.
Well that is something, so pleased she doesn’t have a break.
Oh David, I’m sorry, they should have kept her in for both your sakes. I really hope it isn’t too late, will be so bewildering for her and not great for you having to stay up. My thoughts are with you, I hope she is OK when she gets back.
Just realised it is now 2 hours since you posted, I hope she is home.
Unbelievable … unless they are really overloaded. Sometimes this happens and it is a real shame.(I was going to use a much stronger epithet but I won’t)
OK everybody, she is back and safe and sound in the house, drinking gallons of lemonade
The driver rang at 11pm to say he would be 45 minutes and then rang M-P to get better directions than I could give. He, or rather she, and her offsider arrived smack on 11.45, and yes, they did have a stretcher with wheels and, guided by me with the torch trundled her over the uneven ground and then lifted it up over the steps. We unloaded her there and helped her to walk to the 1st chair in the house.
The gate of course was still open and I had a slight worry about the dogs but had to take the chance and, in the event, they were both too excited to see her to go anywhere else.
I have a sheaf of papers in a bag and will concentrate on them in the morning, but, her carte vitale, carte de sejours and letter from Ameli confirming her 100% status, all demanded by the other ambulance crew, were not amongst them. 
So one more thing to sort out tomorrow.
Hi David…
You’ve been on my mind all night… so glad she’s home safely.
Hopefully, your wife’s CV etc will have been put somewhere safe at the A&E.
cheers
EDIT: Might be an idea to print out another Attestation for your wife… from the Ameli website.
this Attestation can be waved/offered on any occasion when the Carte Vitale is required… so if the CV has gone missing, you won’t have to pay upfront for anything during its absence and then have to claim back later. Just might make things easier for you…
Her Pass Sanitaire is also missing. Good job she is not due to go out anywhere.
She is sound asleep at the moment and, strangely, lying on her left side, the side of the injured arm. Not sure what that means. We dismantled the very complex sling her arm was in but left a wrist/hand brace on. We’ll see soon.
Not had chance to read all the gumph that accompanied her, something to look forward to.
doubtless you’ll be speaking with your kind neighbour, who can explain the documents. It’s very easy to completely misunderstand what is being said/written… as I know to my cost.
The Pass Sanitaire as well as the Attestation are both available from the Ameli site… if you do need them…
A lady from the Urgence rang a short while ago to say that she had her CV and CdS and did I want her to send them by mail. I said yes please but also mentioned the Ameli letter of 100% confirmation and the pass sanitaire. She seemed less sure of those but did agree to send 4 articles when I mentioned them. They should be here by Saturday I think as I expect they send all the mail to the PO every evening.
Fran is up now, toiletted, washed, dressed and hair brushed. All this with less fuss and noise than usual and certainly feeling better I think, so on the mend physically at least.
I watched another programme last night on BBC 1 about an 80 something lifelong sailor who has had to give up his passion for his wife’s worsening Alzheimers. We left him sailing alone during a weeks respite while she is in a home, with his beloved boat up for sale. It struck a chord with me, the parallels were obvious. She did have a dry wit though. They were looking through old photos and he mentioned ‘I was trying to look cool there’, and she replied unsmiling ‘didn’t work though did it?’ 
