by Neena Strichart, Publisher
Steve and I want to thank those of you who sent cards, e-mails and flowers after reading about the passing of our beloved greyhound Rose. She was so very special to us. Your thoughts and kind words have helped to soften the blow.
Since losing Rose I thought we’d have a little time to reflect and recover before facing any more stressful events–boy, was I wrong!
Husband Steve entered Memorial Hospital for colon surgery Wednesday morning. By Friday he was on the road to recovery, although his road seemed to be in a bit of a gridlock. Unruly roommates and a belly full of gas made his recuperation painful to say the least. Friday morning Mom called to say she was having a tough time catching her breath and had made an appointment with Kaiser’s urgent care department for 5 p.m.
I called poor achy-breaky Steve and let him know I wouldn’t be able to visit him that evening because I needed to find out what was up with Mom. Shortly after her lab work was complete the urgent care doctor insisted I take Mom over to the emergency room so she could be admitted to the hospital immediately. It seems she had fluid on the lung and they needed to continue the tests. I stayed with her until I knew she was settled–unfortunately, she wasn’t able to get into her own room until 2 a.m.
Baseball fans have heard of the freeway series–well Saturday I had my own version–the hospital series. I went back and forth between Kaiser and Memorial, made phone calls to family and friends and then fell into bed after two glasses of bubbly.
I hoped for a bit of a break on Sunday and planned to start my visitation tour after lunch. Ha! Steve and Mom called just minutes apart to tell me their doctors had released them to go home–now! Lordy, Lordy. I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry–so I laughed. It was rather a maniacal laugh–but it was a laugh.
Now for the plan–who to pick up first: Mom won out, age before beauty or pearls before swine? I’m not sure how I determined the order of my relative gathering; nevertheless I headed for Harbor City and brought Mom home. She was happy to be back in her apartment and seemed to be feeling so much better.
Next on the agenda was the retrieval of my dear hubby. I arrived at his room, and he was anxious to, as he put it, “Get the heck out of Dodge.” Moments later, he was snug in his bed with his puppy Sophie at his side.
Now we wait for follow-up appointments–hopefully not on the same day. Thankfully, they both seem to be on the mend. Whew–what a week!
