What a whirlwind




The last 5 weeks have been nothing short of crazy. A roller coaster ride of emotions. On January 2nd, Mike went to urgent care and was diagnosed with the flu. He was sent from there to the ER because his oxygen was too low, he was admitted. 
On January 4th, we had our extended family Christmas party which he wasn’t able to attend. On January 5th our daughter, son in law and 3 grandchildren left our home to go back to theirs in Florida, he didn’t get to see them off. Mike remained in the hospital, not only was he battling the flu, he contracted C-dif while he was there. He was released a week after admission, on Thursday, January 9th.
Two days later, on Saturday, the 11th, I brought him back to the ER because his oxygen was dangerously low. This time, he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He begged not to be admitted after only being home for 1 day, so the doctor sent him home on 3 antibiotics, oxygen and visiting nurses 2 x a week. 
On January 12th, I attended the “celebration of life” of my friend Tom who had passed away on December 30th, another thing that Mike wasn’t able to attend because he was so sick. After a week of antibiotics, nebulizer treatments and oxygen, he started to feel better. On January 25th, my Aunt Pauline passed away. Mike and I both were so sad over this as she meant a lot to both of us. The very next day, January 26th, Mike fell and fractured 2 vertebrae in his spine. He was hospitalized again and his labs showed he was in kidney failure. 
On January 31, we had Aunt Pauline’s funeral, another one Mike was saddened that he couldn’t attend as he was still in the hospital and quite critical.
On February 5, My Aunt Norma also passed away, another blow to the heart. That night, Mike’s body blew up to 3x it’s normal size and he had a panic attack. After some medication for the edema and for his anxiety, he was calm enough to get a little sleep, it was a very rough night. 
On Friday, January 7, Mike had his surgery to put in his hemodialysis port. What a stressful morning, going under general anesthesia and in stage 5 kidney failure, it was scary. I never gave up hope with all the praying that was happening for both of us, but I still didn't know if God’s plan would be to heal him here on earth or heal him by taking him home to Heaven. He made it and he did well. His back pain coming out of surgery was agony for him, but after a while they were able to get it to a tolerable level. That afternoon he had his first dialysis session and his second one yesterday. 
I haven’t been told a whole lot on the plan going forward because it’s day to day and the hospital staff’s communication skills are a bit vague to say the least. 
Today marks 2 weeks since he has been home. I’m ok by myself, Oscar (our dog) and I snuggle while watching tv each night just to keep some normalcy around here, but Mike’s absence if truly felt by both of us. I wont be seeing Mike today because we are in the midst of a snowstorm. Hopefully tomorrow being Monday, we’ll get some information on the next steps. Then, as far as we know, he’ll be off to rehab. 
Yesterday when he went for dialysis, I treated myself to a visit with my son and 2 of my grandchildren. Playing with Lilly and having Elijah finally warm up to me was just what I needed. 
Today, I welcome the second snow day this week. Although it’s inconvenient in ways, it also forces me to pause and take a breath. I feel like a chicken running around with its head chopped off. 
My life for basically 5 weeks has consisted of working at job #1, driving home to let Oscar out, off to job #2, then to the hospital to see Mike. A few store runs, a ton of gas stations, eating on the go, laundry, shoveling, 3 doctor appointments of my own and a brain that won’t rest… it’s been a crazy ride. 
Soon we will have a celebration of life for Aunt Norma, another goodbye I wish wasn’t happening and another gathering Mike wont be able to attend. I will go back to my most recent routine tomorrow of both jobs, letting Oscar out in between and visiting Mike.
But as physically and mentally drained as I am, I couldn’t be more grateful that God’s will was to keep Mike here on earth for a while longer. After 31 years of marriage, he can drive me absolutely bonkers and I do the same to him, but he’s my other half, my love, and this house just isn't the same without him home. 


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