What a roller-coaster week ! A week ago this past Tuesday, my Dad went into the hospital with pain in his chest and abdomen. By Wednesday night ( after two previous trips to emergency ) they finally admitted him. He was SO sick. They ran lots of tests and by Thursday they had diagnosed him with a rare disease and things were looking bleak as to the options for his treatment.
He went home a week ago, believing the worst about his condition. Yesterday, we had an appointment and the doctor backed off of the previous diagnosis and said he believed the worst of this was over. There is another test scheduled for the 26th, but until then, things seem MUCH more optimistic today !
There oughta be a law about doctors speaking before they have all the information. While he was in the hospital,we had occasion to speak to FOUR DIFFERENT people involved in his care and all of them said something a little different. I can understand ( sort of )about preparing someone for the worst so that the reality doesn't seem so terrible. But THIS diagnosis had come with a pretty bleak picture and today it seems pretty much the opposite.
The health care system sucks. From the cold, stark rooms in emergency, to the care in a hospital by an obviously overworked nursing staff, to the lack of clarity in diagnosing an illness. It all sucks. You get caught up in it and realize that it is " just a job " to everyone involved except the patient and family. I'm not slamming the nursing profession, but there is SO much for them to do, that actually caring for the patients ( and families, to some degree ) takes a back seat to all the " tasks " that must be completed.
Thanks to everyone for your good energy and your prayers. What seemed so dark just a couple days ago, feels very manageable today for us all.
I still have another family issue that is breaking my heart. I won't get into the details, but suffice to say it has changed the way I feel about a few people in my family and I am at a loss for what to do. It is poised to become a huge " thing " and I'm hoping that can be avoided without my having to compromise my own values as a person. I don't know that I have the willingness to do that ...Truth is, I don't even know if I can ...
On a bighter note : I got to meet a PX'er !!
George and her husband Derek came up to Seattle to house-hunt and Kelly and I met them for dinner. I'm always nervous about meeting new people. There is something about the transition from " the ether " to real space. The thing I always use as my " yardstick " is how genuine people seem to be. These two are great ! And a great pair, to boot ! George is funny, smart and sweet. She would have you believe she's a handful ( which I'm sure is quite true ! ) but she was a charming dinner guest, and I hope to get a chance to know her much better when she moves north ! Derek is a delight too ! He and Kelly were buried in conversation about things I know virtually nothing about. I think they enjoyed the night, too ( I know Kelly did ) " Good people " . That says it all right there. Good, genuine, nice people.
I hope they find the perfect place here in Seattle. It seems like a good fit. Like they belong here somehow. And I would love a new friend in " real space " ...
1 comment:
I am really pleased your Dad is going to be OK, great picture and striking family resemblance.
I know about that friends in ether line, it is interesting that sometimes you can be so close and intimate on line and as penpals, more so than tangible real world friends. Ether friends are no less important, yet a little scary because they become close as you reveal more to them than the tangible ones.
I should have rung you when I was in the US. Just too shy to and maybe because I like our friendship just the way it is.
Love Jo Jo x x (you are the only person, real or ether who knows my ID)
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