I know you usually expect poetry from me, but I feel this post needs to be more complete than I could do it in a poem.
First, I want to thank everyone who has prayed for me this past year, and also those who sent me cards. I will treasure them. I realized while looking over them yesterday how long ago it is since I have sent a real card via the “mailman”, and how much more peersonal they are than when you get one via the internet. I will have to change my ways.
I found out at the end of 2011 that I had something seriously wrong with me as I came down with pneumonia and then chronic bronchitis, but became very anemic. I was so ill, they couldn't do tests they needed to until June. At that time, it was discovered I had colon cancer. A cancer I had feared as it is the one that took my husband's life. It was in exactly the same place as well. As you know, if you read my recovery poem, all went well for me, I had a short stay in the hospital and in about a month felt a lot like myself,but anemic again. I had started to write the Genre Shorties. Having fun. My birthday,Novembmer 1, was my 86th, and I was feeling very well.
Billy and Christine, his significant other, wanted to take me out to dinner, and I had a coupon for Charlie Browns and we went about seven o'clock. I had some kind of chicken, and ate half of it, as usual, and had them bag the rest for the next day. About ten feet out of the restaurant door, I lost my balance completely, a left over from Menier's disease I had when I was 47 years old. I went sideways and couldn't stop myself, Billy tried to catch me but I was down in seconds,.
I have fallen many times and always gotten up but this time I was in such terrible pain I couldn't even think. I know I was screaming which is not at all like me, but by the time the ambulance got there, I was wishing I would pass out or something. It was only minutes but seemed like hours.
My right foot had caught under my left calf, and I couldn't move it, needless to say, they did, and then the x-rays, etc., seemed endless. I thought I had broken my hip but the ER nurse told me I wasn't that lucky, I had a spiral fracture of the right femur. I was supposed to have surgery the next day but scheduling got in the way so on the third, I had a four hour surgery which required my fractured bone to be fitted with some kind of rod, with wires and cables. The surgeon who was young and cute, took pictures of before and after and showed them to me. I found out later, he had only been in practice for three months and had done thirty other surgeries. I smiled and felt lucky:)
Of course I had to go to rehab which is a whole other story which I willwrite about , probably in a poem , I said it was going to be called To Hell and back. I have been to see the surgeon twice by ambulette, and am scheduled to go on the second, if the snow here stops. For the first month I could only use my right foot to toe touch with a walker, after that, I could use the toe and the ball of my foot, where I am now. I am getting stronger, and needing less pain medication. I am hoping he will tell me on Tuesday that I can try using my whole foot for weight, even with the walker. I can't go up or down stairs now, but hoping that wil change too.
Billy has been taking very good care of me, I know he will be happy when I can do more for myself.
So that is where I am right now. Had a great Christmas, my sons got together, hired that abulette again and their families met us at a restaurant on Thursday. All went great. Family is everything, it is what keeps us going and what makes our hearts smile. As an aside, on the 10th of December and the 13th of December, I had two more great grandchildren, Liam a boy, son of Marks' daughter, Pamela, and Marybella Shwan , daughter of Darrens' daughter, Elsie.
And so it grows, Bill, look what we started.
Love, Elsie
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Comments: 141
I wish you the best in the new year.
Had to do that to make sure you know that we love you.
Look how Will Ferrell in Elf got NYC to believe .... and the sleigh got off the ground.
Believe believe believe!
You keep going like a Duracell battery (I think I got that right) and it must be because yours is a light that glows for many, many people and we all need your light!
Always, with love, Susan
Jan
It's those curve balls in life that we just don't expect that seems to take us temporarily out of the game. Currently the flu has me sidelined....
I will continue to pray for you and may this coming year be a Happy Healthy New Year for you.
Thanks for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
it was lovely to hear about the new additions to your family as well....children asr such a blessing
happy new year, with many blessings in ti!
I hope next year is so much better!!!
Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists.
No ice or anything. Have a wonderful New Year, love, Elsie
Have a wonderful New Year, I love you, Elsie
Glad you are getting your leg back. I wound up with artificial knees. Compared to before that surgery even right after - none.
Have a wonderful New Year.
Thank-You for Sharing. May 2013 be a Wonderful Year for You and your Village! :)
Take care of yourself and have a wonderful New Year, love, Elsie
2013 will be much better for you and all.
Thank you for submitting to: Not Gathering Dust!
Make your own banner at MyBannerMaker.com!
Too bad, we may have run into each other.
What hospital did you go to? Hubby was in the one in Carmel before going there. New Year to you too :)
Happy
I was in Wappingers quite a lot while i was there visiting people / relatives.
Her names Kris Palmer.
Do you remember a Gert Lent? That was Hubbys aunt that was there.
Elsie
if doing the hokey poky got you this was, stop doing it.
Watch out for banana peels.
And stop taking breaks, they hurt!
GOD BLESS YOU,,, GET STRONG AND STAND TALL,,, I PRAY YOUR BODY GETS WELL QUICKLY,,, I SO UNDERSTAND PAIN,,,MY CANCER IS IN STALL MODE, THANK GOD,,, HAD 13TH AND 14TH GREAT GRANDDAUGHTERS ALSO, ONE BORN CHRISTMAS DAY,,, RILEY ROSE,,, THE OTHER LISA LAINA,,,AM VERY GRATEFUL,,,
I PRAY YOU GET STRONGER ,,,HAPPY NEW YEAR MY DEAR,,, HUGS, OF COURSE,,,
HIS Love keeps us going,,, God Bless you dear heart,,,Angels around you,,, great 2013 to you,,, big hugs,,, big Love,,, Marie
May your new year bring progress in the walking, energy, spirit, and joy.
May 2013 bring you sunshine and blue skies.
Good to have you back!
Noticed your grandaughter is named after you! That's a high honor. You must be one heckova lady. ;-)
Hang in there - you are my proof to my husband that one can be in one's eighties and still keep going!
They admitted him immediately from the E.R. Turns out he had bile stones, and were blocking his liver functions and other functions. His kidneys had taken over the work of nearly his whole body. Plus, he had a blood clot in his leg. A stent was put in the upper leg, plus other procedures done. He got home, was feeling better, starting to eat again when - less than a week later- he felt ill again.
back to the E.R. - pneumonia this time - with a racing heart and skyhigh blood pressure. Another week in the hospital, experimenting with blood thinners dosages this time, too. Going home when the antibiotics kicked in, with a week's worth stuff to inject in his gut daily to break up the blood clots.
His brother had a stroke many years ago, and died a few years back from another. John is the oldest sibling, and the only one left. Would you believe he was still going in to work each day throughout all this? In a wheelchair, too - from his spinal stenosis.
During the time he was ill, his doctor ignored him in spite of repeated phone calls. In fact, once - over the phone - told him it was nothing but a bunch of "mini strokes".
I was literally lifting my husband out of the tub, or bed, at times, because he couldn't physically move all of a sudden. My son would help, of course - but it's really difficult to move someone who is so fragile and yet taller than you, and heavier in spite of a huge weight loss.
I am still recovering from helping him so much throughout that time. The physical and emotional exhaustion took their tolls.
He goes to the blood thinner clinic once weekly to get his levels checked. At least his appetite has returned, and he is doing better. But his arthritis is so bad right now - his joints are just wearing away. He has an appt. because he can't lift his arms anymore due to the stiffness and pain in his shoulders. And he takes 40 mgs. of oxycontin a day. Otherwise, he would go insane from the pain.
It's so difficult to watch someone you love change like that - in less than a year's time.
I'm glad that you are doing better, and hope you keep up the fight. There's always one more poem to write, one more baby - greatgrand one - to hold.
No cancer - he had an oncology team at the hospital for other issues - because at one point in the past he had surgery for his esophogus - he used to get real bad reflux. He had other digestive problems to - which were considered precursors to cancer - they were all dealt with. The bile stones seemed almost a fluke as he had his gallbladder removed 15 years ago due to gallstones at that time.
This time, it was like his internal organs were all shutting down, one by one, and depending on his kidneys to keep him alive. His primary care doctor was the one who ignored it all. He has a good team of physicians now from the hospital who care for him.
The worst part for me was what was happening to his mind. This is a man with a Ph.D. in French and literature. Who was so smart he skipped his M.A. and went straight for that. Suddenly, I was sleeping downstairs in front of the door because he would wake in the middle of the night, get dressed, thinking it was time to go to work. If I hadn't blocked the door, physically, by sleeping, he would have been in his wheelchair, outside, waiting for hours for a mobility bus at 2 a.m. Often, it would take me hours to convince him he was NOT oriented to day, time, or place.
that mental confusion has fortunately cleared up. Only the normal "old age" forgetfulness remains. That I can cope with!
You have a sharp mind, and have kept it that way by staying as active as possible. You'll get the walking - just think of how your grandbabies do it and follow their lead! It's like riding a bike - once you've learned it, you never forget it. It might just take the body a bit more time to respond. I'll keep in touch. I need to see if we are friended. All this time and I've never checked!