This Week in Cancer
There's a new dance called Do the Slog!
Sometimes the cancer life is made up of drama and sometimes it is just one big old boring slog. This week is a slog. This is our one day off with no appointments. Monday Ernie had physical therapy. Yesterday he had surgery to replace the stent that keeps one of his kidneys going. He has to have it done every six months so while it’s somewhat routine, it’s still surgery, still hours in the surgical waiting room.
I tried to be very deliberate and ration my walking. We left the house about 10:30, got there, left the car with the valet and headed in. I found a bench to perch on while Ernie checked in at hospital registration. Then he came and found me and we headed up to surgery. The waiting room is made up of both oddly undersized and oddly oversized furniture. I tried a big armchair, then a recliner and then like Goldilocks in the Three Little Bears, the third one was just right.
I didn’t go back to hang out with him pre op but we texted back and forth. Finally he went into surgery around 1:30. Fortunately, it’s a pretty quick procedure. The surgeon came out so I trotted back to the front of the room, my phone charger cord mistakenly trailing along behind me. Talked to him for two seconds then trundled back to my chair. Later I was told I could go back and see Ernie. I packed up and trotted to the front desk with Big Red. And then I stood there and stood there and stood there. Standing in place is not my favorite thing. Finally I turned around and sat down in the walker seat. A second later the woman popped up and said, “Ok, follow me.” She seemed to have no awareness of any issues I might be having. Weird. Then instead of going out the door near the desk she led me back through the god damned room and out into a hallway. Then she stood there and explained and explained and explained where I needed to go, all of which could have been consolidated into “go left up there.” As I said, I get wobbly just standing so I finally ripped the map out of her hands and hissed, “I can’t just stand here, I need to WALK” She seemed somewhat taken aback but I didn’t have time to stand around and be gracious. I finally got into Ernie’s little pod and was so grateful to sit down that I was almost in tears. He asked me if I was ok. I sputtered. He told me he loved me and that the blueberry muffin he’d had was very good. God, I love him. Eventually they sent me down to get the car. I took a break on the way. Got to the valet parking and they told me to wait inside as it would be a bit. So I went into the foyer and perched on my walker. People were going in and out so the doors kept opening and closing. Then I realized that I’d sat too close to the automatic doors so whenever I blew my nose or moved my head the damn doors would open and close. I decided to go with sitting very still rather than moving myself. Ernie was waiting in his wheelchair in the lobby. After a long wait our car appeared and I drove us home.
It was only 3:30 when we got home so a grand total of five hours. Not bad at all but it still takes it out of you. We attempted to decompress. Well, actually I attempted to decompress, Ernie attempted to compress. Neither of us could get it together to cook so we ordered food which we shouldn’t do. Eh. Sometimes you do what you have to.
Tomorrow we have an appointment with the shoulder surgeon but our appointment with the oral surgeon on Friday got cancelled. Glad to have a day off but frustrated that it got delayed.
Onward.
Love,
Cynthia
❤️🙏🏼