R is for ROUGH RIDE

We're back at it again with ABC Wednesday's letter of the week - R.  First I must thank all of you who commented on last week's post and gave me such rounding support with this rough ride we're on right now.  To update you, Lorne spent a total 6 days in the ER at our local hospital and he was very anxious to get home.  What with cuts to nursing staff and increased working hours, the staff is run off their feet.  I had to be patient with them, although I was a bit peeved at times.  For example, his commode and urine bottle were both full and had not been removed for hours when I arrived one day.  However, he did progress enough finally to be able to come home.  But it was only after I phoned his oncologist and had him take over his care, even if it was by phone. 

We're not sure how the oncologist will continue with treatment because Lorne had such extreme side effects from his chemo.  Even now two weeks after his last treatment, his poor mouth is covered in bleeding sores to the point where he has to drink through a straw.  He can't chew anything so I'll be cooking him mushy food in order that he gets enough nutrients.  Yes, cancer is a terribly rough ride through life.  It a roller coaster as we resign ourselves to the pits of illness and injury before being able to reap the rewards of recovery.

Our lives were complicated enough when I fell and broke my ankle in two places.  I now don't have to wear the boot I dubbed "Frank" (after Frankenstein) but my foot is still quite swollen and sore.  I'll be going to physiotherapy and it'll be a month or so before I'll truly be back to normal.  In the meantime, my daughter has been a rock and a godsend helping us out.  She comes every day to take the dog for a good long walk, does grocery shopping, and cleans the floors and carpets.

Thanks again for all your resolute responses to my last post.  We both rejoiced when, on the same day, I got the good news that my ankle is healed and and I can toss Frank, and Lorne was allowed to come home from the hospital.  He got to see our new Lazy Boys chairs that had arrived that week and he settled nicely in his.  My daughter took our picture before she left and then, after Lorne had a shower and a shave, he looked positively radiant while resting in his new chair, loving pup Tegan at his feet.

Let's not forget ravishing Denise, the creator of ABCW, and good old reliable Roger, our administrator.  For more posts on the letter R, just click here.