When Storms of Life Approach

Life seems to be going along at a nice pace.  I am actively trying to get my stamina back from having Valley Fever this winter.  Every time I have a chance to workout in the swim spa this past couple months, I have taken advantage of the time.  I started out just doing 2 or 3 days a week, but found it so nice in the hot sun to go as often as possible and for a couple weeks, I was consistent daily.

But . . . life gets in the way.  Sometimes its as simple as having to finish projects I started, or house cleaning and laundry.  It is still one of my top priorities because at 75 years old, things can quickly go downhill.  I must do whatever I can to maintain my health.

On May 10th, I ran errands.  I took a pair of shoes that needed repair to DSW (the shoe store) because they have a shoe repair service.  While there getting the paperwork completed, I got a text that my former sister-in-law passed away.  She was seven years younger than me, but was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease for several years.  I am especially close to her daughter.  My heart was broken for Sally’s four children, who all dearly loved their mom.  Sally’s burial and memorial service is coming up in St. Louis, Missouri.  I promised Meghan I would be there.  I made my reservations to leave Phoenix on June 13 for a June 15 burial and memorial.

Life goes on —Ob-La Di, Ob-La Di (Beatles reference).  Normally our holidays are very quiet.  This Memorial Day, we attended a Memorial Service in honor of those who lost their lives serving our country.  The program was at San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, Arizona.  Dennis is a member of the American Legion in Queen Creek, and is part of the Color Guard.  It was a lovely program honoring these brave men and women.

The next day, Dennis commented that his knee ached a little bit.  Not any big deal—at our age an occasional ache and pain pops up and then goes away.   By Thursday, after he did his daily swim in the spa, he said his knee hurt, so he iced it up—another thing we do when aches and pains pop up.  Thursday evening he stood up to walk from the couch to the kitchen and his knee gave out on him.  He did not fall because he was next to the table. He said his knee hurt even more.  To put any weight on it made it hurt more.  I told him to stay still and I dashed over to his desk and grabbed his office chair.  I brought it to him to sit in, and at least he could move around.  I asked if he wanted to go the the emergency room.  He wasn’t interested—a good night’s sleep should help.

The next morning, he knee was super swollen and extremely painful.  It took at least 5 minutes to help him out of bed and to his rolling desk chair.  Now we knew he needed to have it seen.  I pondered on how I was going to get him into the car.  Dennis is a big guy at 6 foot 2 inches.  He couldn’t even stand on this leg at all.  When he had his shoulder replaced a few years ago, he rejected any pain medication at all.  So when he couldn’t put any weight on this leg without pain, I knew this was severe.  How am I going to move him from this office chair to the passenger seat of the car?  He is unstable standing, and if he starts to fall, I’m not sure I wouldn’t fall with him, and then we would both be in trouble.  

I called my local fire department—not 911, this was not life and death.  I told them I needed them to transport him to the emergency room at our local hospital.  I said, “No sirens, no lights, and no speeding.  This is not a life and death emergency.”  The man on the phone replied, “That decision is made by the captain.”  Thankfully, the captain must have agreed with me—I just didn’t want all the neighbors gawking at a non-emergency.

After a few hours in the emergency room, the physician assistant came in and told Dennis that he had significant arthritis in his knee.  Dennis looked rather surprised and replied, “I do?”  He had been hiking, and swimming, and marching in the color guard with no problem.  Then the P.A. continued telling him that he also might have an infection in his knee.  They had a call into the orthopedic surgeon on call, who was currently in surgery, but was almost finished.  The P.A. was waiting for this doctor’s opinion before releasing Dennis.  About a half hour later, the orthopedic doctor said that Dennis needed to be admitted for observation.

To make a long story short, Dennis definitely had an infection in his knee, and now they needed to identify it.  By Monday, it was identified as a staph infection and it  was the kind that would respond to antibiotics, unlike MRSA which is resistant to treatment.  Now there is an infectious disease doctor in the picture.  She had a pic line put into his upper arm and order home health care.

I came home and check with “Dr. Google” of how arthritis can cause a staph infection.  From my research, I had it backwards.  A cut or sore that may have been infected, may have healed, but the infection can travel, and in adults it is usually in the hip or knee.  This infection will destroy the cartilage, and thus cause arthritis.  Who knew?  

Dennis was released on Tuesday, and Home Health showed up that afternoon to teach me how to infuse IV antibiotics three times a day around the clock.  I was learning how to do IV infusions. The first couple times were stressful, and to be honest brought me to tears because I couldn’t get the IV pump to cooperate.  Finally, it became second nature.  Still I had to be prepared around the clock to do these infusions. Getting a full night’s sleep was not to be–alarms were set to take meds out of the refrigerator to warm and set to start infusions. I really believe if I had not been working out in the swim spa the last couple months, I would not have had the stamina to be of much help. I am grateful that my recovery was complete before we had to tackle this recovery.

Friday came and it was four weeks later from when I dropped off my shoe repair at DSW.  I am getting ready to go out the door to pick up my repaired shoe when I got a text from one of my sons that their dad had died that morning.  Four weeks earlier I was in DSW when I got the text my former sister-in-law died, and now her brother my ex-husband died.  I don’t think I should ever shop at DSW again!

Sally will be buried with her mother in St. Louis, MO. burial, but now I had to figure out if I can go with Dennis needing infusions three times a day.  He still has to use a walker to get around.  He sure can’t use a walker and carry food to the stove to cook and then to the table.  Our small group Bible study group came to the rescue.  Meals will be provided.  Charlie, the dog, is going to a pet hotel.  I don’t need Dennis to have to take care of this puppy along with himself.

Now I am on my way to a funeral for both my ex-sister-in-law and my ex-husband, the father of my children.  Not only did these two die four weeks apart from each other, but they both died from Alzheimer’s disease.  Just 364 days before my ex died, his brother died from the same disease.  How tragic this is to lose a whole family of siblings in one short year.

I will be going to be with my children, to give them support at this tough time in their life, and for my niece and nephews who have lost their mom.  I already miss my home and my husband.  I cherish him all the more.  I am so blessed to have Dennis in my life.  I also miss my goofy dog, Charlie.  I felt really bad taking him to the pet hotel.  He has no idea why I dropped him off.  Hopefully, these few days won’t seem like forever for him.

God is always good, and he will provide.