January 2019, Heady Issues
In My Bloodstream: Lisinopril, Amlodopine, Omeprozole
On The Stereo: Love's In Need Of Love Today, Stevie Wonder
When we last talked about Christmases, we were headed to Raleigh, to be with the kids - Doug and Kristin and Avet and Eli. Our trip north was a slow one, with heavy traffic and one severe accident, which stopped all traffic for well over an hour. We were not too far behind the wreck, and could clearly see several cars piled up, blocking both northbound lanes of I95, near the Savannah turnoff. We waited for about twenty minutes before the first emergency vehicle passed us on the left shoulder. It was soon followed by numerous firetrucks, police cars, ambulances and tow trucks. Some came south on the northbound lanes as there were no cars able to move past the mess of vehicles.
It did not take us long to realize that this was not your average fender-bender. Many of us were out of our cars, walking dogs, having a smoke, or just stretching our legs and talking to our new, not so mobile neighbors. Most everyone showed compassion for the victims and expressed hope that no one was seriously injured. Then a helicopter dropped in, and we realized, some, or all of those involved, were being airlifted to a hospital.
After the airlift
Sometimes we receive much-needed messages. Sadly, this message was at the expense of others. I do not believe that any single one of us, at that moment, cared for our own issues. Most, I'm sure, were like us, headed to be with loved ones for the holidays. Traffic was heavy, time was short, and we were all in a rush. We came to the realization that the people in the wreck may not make their destination on time. Some may not make it at all. Our problems were brought into perspective. A number of us said our little prayers, and the traffic slowly began to move. From three lanes to two, and then to one, and finally on to the right shoulder, to get around the mangled cars, still jumbled across all three lanes. We were late arriving in Raleigh, but dinner and the gang were still waiting for us. Eli celebrated our arrival with a tribute to Grammy. That brought Kath back to life after sitting in the car for so many hours.
It was a good movie, we thought, but not exceptional. Too many quirky scenes added to accommodate guest stars made it too long for younger boys with shorter attention spans. Avet thought it OK and Eli was on the verge of a nap. "Guardians" was better, they said.
Breakfast for all of us at Tupelo Honey the next morning. My favorite among many great choices in Raleigh. Christmas was now one day away. Expectations were on the rise, and Santa was mentioned on an all too regular basis. Dinner was our family's traditional tortiere and then we played a board game and the boys were off to bed.
The adults retired downstairs and watched some TV and enjoyed a nightcap, while Kris and Doug set the stage for the next morning.
Sharing our young family's celebration afforded us the opportunity to reminisce about our own Christmases past, when our girls were about the age of these boys, and how important it is now, to be with family and friends. We were thankful to be a part of their lives.
We stayed over one extra night, at the behest of the entire Tyson family, before we began our 13 hour drive home. I have always thought it best to leave early and be thought of well, than be derided, after you leave, for overstaying your welcome. In this case, I think we did the right thing. I was firm in our decision to leave with Kristin and the boys, but Doug was most sincere in his request for us to stay.
Later, I realized that Doug's real motive was to engage us in a game called Catan, and humble me in the eyes of the entire universe. I was one slow learner. Molasses in January slow. Receding glacier slow. Ridiculously, stupidly, dumb as a fence-pole slow. I still had a ball.
The best part of this visit was the fact that I did not end up in the ER with diverticulitis as I had done on Thanksgiving.
This Christmas might well have cast a dark shadow on both Kath and I, due to family circumstances. But Kristin and Doug, intuitively, took great care to show us love, and keep our minds and hearts occupied. They were life savers.
Once home, we returned to our real lives. Our dishwasher had died before our trip, and we were unable to have it repaired before we left. The repairman now has the required heater and it is to be fixed today. I have been thinking about having the word "dishpan" tattooed on my hands.
Our friends, the Matsons, came to stay with us, to watch our Alabama team play football. The first game against Oklahoma went well; the second, not as much. Despite one bad game, it was another great season, made even better by John and Sandra taking time to be with us. Much appreciated.
Kath and I both came down with the flu, despite having had flu shots. I recovered in about two weeks, but Kathy still cannot stop coughing. I have always told her that if a cold gets into her chest, she would die. It is a generous, beautiful, and welcoming shelter for germs to breed. She does look good when she coughs, though.
The past week, I visited with Dr. Harrington to discuss the state of my head wounds and to agree on what might be our path forward. The wounds from the last three consecutive surgeries are healing well according to the doctor and his resident, who was with us in the examination room.
A new, large, graft was considered a possibility, to cover the separate, but linked wounds. This would provide the top and back of my head with one smooth surface, which would heal much more quickly than my current sites.
The last procedures will eventually heal, and will, cosmetically, not be much different than would be the one graft option. The methodology, using integra to stimulate skin growth, is stubbornly slow, and will continue to leak, for the foreseeable future. That means open wounds susceptible to infection. The graft option is quicker to heal and will not be open, other than during the surgery.
The fly in the ointment. The donor site will be significant in scale, and it will take considerable time to heal. However, the graft will come, again, from my hip area. The benefit being that it will not be as obvious to people who see me, as I sometimes do wear pants. One further consideration - the donor site will hurt like hell. And for a long time, until the raw area finally heals. I know this to be true. I have had four so far. Dr. Harrington likened it to what a burn victim feels. Except, he said, I would not be hospitalized and would not be given the quantity of morphine that would be given to help ease the pain of the burn patient. I would have to depend on scotch to fill that void. Always some upside.
So, with all that in mind, the three of us decided to stay the course. Visits to Moffitt for my lymphoma follow up and dermatologist will happen next month. I see my internist tomorrow and dentist next week. I chipped a front tooth last week and a new filling is needed. Sexy stuff, huh?
Surface surgeries coming up. Nothing to it, right? We will share some pics.
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