How can you make someone with a ruptured Achilles more comfortable?

My boyfriend just ruptured his Achilles’ tendon. He ruptured the other one this time last year playing soccer, and now this one playing tennis. I am very upset because his entire life revolves around sports and being active, and I know how depressing this is for him.

He has to be in bed for six weeks, with his foot above his heart, attached to an ice water machine. I want to try to make this time as painless as possible for him, but obviously, it is going to be boring for him no matter what I do. We have stairs down to our bedroom and I am worried about this.

Unfortunately, I just arrived in Italy on a family vacation which he couldn’t attend this year. I am supposed to be gone for two weeks, but now that this has happened I am thinking I need to go home to help him and take care of him. I know my parents will be disappointed, but I feel like this is much more important. Is this too drastic? My boyfriend says he will be mad if I come back early, and that he wants me to have fun, but he is the type that would never admit that he needs help. I feel like I should be there, and that I should be there for his surgery next week. I plan on calling the airline in the morning and returning the night before his surgery. His brother is looking after him, but everyone works right now except for me (just graduated), so he is alone for most of the day.

Is it really neurotic of me to go home early? Everyone says he is fine, including him, but his Mom didn’t seem to think it was the worst idea.

What can I do to make the next six weeks bearable for him? Are there things that can make the bed more comfortable, etc?