A Valentine’s Day Gift

Dad was discharged from the hospital today! He is grateful to be able to rest and recover at home again. While this stint in the hospital had its ups and downs, we are thankful for the attentive staff and the in-between moments of levity, such as…

• I experienced my own personal Tower of Terror at the hospital. It had gotten quite warm in the room, so I wanted to get some ice water at the cafeteria on the main floor. I figured it would be a quick trip, so I didn’t take my phone, and I decided that while I was on the main floor, I would use the restroom there since that one had multiple stalls. I hopped onto the elevator to go down to the main lobby, but despite selecting the “1” button, the elevator took me up to the sixth floor before taking me down to the first floor. The doors didn’t open when I landed on the first floor, but instead the elevator took me back up to 6, then back down to 1. But, when I got to the first floor (again), the doors wouldn’t open (!!!), even when I repeatedly pressed the 1 and Door Open buttons!!!!!! Panicking and suddenly VERY SWEATY, I pressed the 6 button to see if the elevator would move at all (not sure why I kept picking floors 1 and 6 and not any other floor), and ended up doing another round of up to 6 and back down to 1. When I reached the main floor, the doors finally opened, and I escaped with a new fear unlocked – getting stuck in an elevator while having to pee.
• We are continuing our pattern of sympathy pains – Taylor went to the urgent care today to get a skin condition checked out and ended up on the same antibiotics as Dad.
• Neal has been picking up Dad’s prescriptions and has been to the pharmacy so often that the pharmacists have started to recognize him.
• Dad is now on so many different medications, the kitchen counter is starting to resemble a pharmacy.
• Today is Sprocket’s (my and Neal’s corgi) heavenly birthday. While we are still so sad that he is no longer with us, we as a family got to reminisce about all his silly moments together. He was such a gift to us. We miss you, Sprocket!

Praises:

• Dr. K has been Dad’s “glimmer of hope” through this whole ordeal. Dr. K has been sympathetic, empathetic, and understanding; he has put us at ease and calmed our anxieties about Dad’s delayed treatment.
• One of Mom’s friends dropped off some eggs this morning – a huge blessing, especially given how difficult it has been finding eggs recently. Egg drop soup (sans sesame oil) has been a food that Dad has been able to tolerate, and we are so grateful for the special egg delivery.
• I was not stuck in the elevator too long and made it out without having to call the fire department for a rescue. Mom thought I was gone for an unusually long time but wasn’t actually concerned enough to try and contact or find me. Thanks, Mom. [Pam aside: I was busy with Art, and the fire alarm had just gone off for the second time so I was a little distracted.]

Prayers:

• Dad developed a somewhat persistent cough when we got back home. Another praise, we were able to get hold of Dad’s primary who prescribed yet another prescription for Neal to pick up. Please pray that this clears up quickly and does not develop into anything worse.
• Continued perseverance and faith through the obstacles. This has been quite an emotional journey, and sometimes it is difficult to not get discouraged or frustrated when there are setbacks.
• Dr. K’s office should be reaching out to schedule Dad’s next round of chemo early next week. Please pray this comes to fruition and that there are no further challenges with scheduling or insurance.
• Patience and grace for us caregivers. We are all tired and juggling a lot, causing tempers to be a little shorter.