Jim’s keyboard tie. I think it actually plays.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO SURGERY. Husband Jim might have died, had he not had a blood test for low testosterone.
Low energy. Couldn’t climb hills. Can’t remember anything. Then friend Anita hands me a blurb about the connection between memory loss and testosterone. Light bulb goes off in my brain.
Head to the doctor to get a blood test.
Next morning—SEVEN AM!—doctor calls and says, “Get that man to an Emergency Room ASAP! His blood level is 6, and the bottom transfusion limit is 7. He could have a heart attack or stroke.”
Not testosterone, but blood loss—but from where? Next directive: Colonoscopy and Endoscopy.
But wait! We’re due to leave for Florida in three days!
Okay, says our doctor, have one in Florida. Fun things to do on vacation.
Did that. Found an ugly little tumor in his ascending colon (in case you’re interested). Go home, find a surgeon, and get the
bugger out.Did that. The surgery went well, the Anna Jacques staff put up with him nicely, and he’s home, making trouble on this end. (If you know Jim, you know what I’m talking about.)
Not quite done, however. His lymph nodes were okay, but other cell escapees put him at Stage II-b cancer.
Not what we hoped, but the God who lays out testosterone rabbit trails will provide a path for whatever lies ahead. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord—rent free!
Death is no longer our enemy. Christ died—REALLY died, in the worst sense of the word—then walked out of his tomb to lead us into LIFE, in the best sense of that word.
A thought: Might God have laid a rabbit trail for Satan? Arrest Jesus at the Garden, get the High Priest to condemn him, haul him to Pilate for sentencing—and a Roman cross will get rid of this Troublemaker ONCE AND FOR ALL!
Jesus had the last laugh on that one!
HAPPY EASTER!
If no one else wants to hear about your surgery, I’d like to hear! : ) Comment below, or send me an email: egus@me.com
Are you afraid to die? Stay tuned; I feel another blog coming on!
So sorry to find Fudd joining the cancer trail, but grateful it’s found, out, and treatment plans in discovery. It’s a shock and overwhelming, but it’s not the end of the world, I’ve discovered. Give Fudd a hug from me, from one cancer survivor to another.
Thanks for involving me in your journey Ellie. I hope the Shepherd’s Pie was tasty and Jim was able to eat it with no problems.
Love love love
Carolyn
I’m not afraid of dying. I’m just afraid of getting there. Getting old isn’t for cissies and neither is watching your brain melt, or your colon fill with cancer, or your osteoporosis make your bones break, or curl your spine right over so you can’t breathe. And then there’s the happy thought of getting to the point you have to let other people give you your meds, help you with your laundry (even your underwear!), tell you where you can and can’t go. It’s endless and terrifying and madening and infuriating, and just NOT right. Put that in your walk with Christ and smoke it
Me: Can we adjust this prescription?
VA Dr.: Let’s do some blood work, I don’t have any recent labs for you.
Me: Okay, I’ll do it tomorrow.
Next Day – VA Dr.: Get to a hospital, you’ve got Leukemia.
Me: Huh? I just wanted to adjust that little prescription. Okay, I’ll do it tomorrow.
Dana-Farber Oncologist: What symptoms do you have?
Me: None. A little fatigue maybe. I just wanted to adjust a prescription!
Dana-Farber Oncologist: You’ve got Leukemia. You’re going into Brigham & Women’s.for chemo and bone marrow transplant.
Me: Sigh! Okay, I’ll do it Wednesday.
Me, two years later: Thank you Lord! And VA, and DFCI!
Thank you for sharing, Ellie. All our love and prayers to you both! Norm and Cynthia Baker
Thanks for sharing these details and insights, Ellie!. Indeed, “Christ died—REALLY died, in the worst sense of the word—then walked out of his tomb to lead us into LIFE, in the best sense of that word.”
On Thom’s 61st birthday, a month after being hospitalized for fluid overload. He suddenly became incoherent for a few hours, cleared enough to say I can go home and for Dear Dr Lane to say no you are very ill. Probable kidney failure. As I watched him the next day in bed, clearly suffering and unaware of what was happening. I called the doctor saying he must have pain meds and yes I know they will probably kill him BUT he can’t suffer like this either. As I talked to him I commented that his toes look like raisins I hadn’t seen them not swollen in years. Dr Lane suddenly said this may sound strange but I want to bolus him with fluids he may be too dry. I could tell the nurses, my coworkers at the time thought Dr Lane had lost his mind. You don’t bolus someone in kidney failure. 3 days later he walked out of there. Kidney woke up with fluid. He was suffering from shutdown because the medication to dry and reduce his swelling worked too well. Dr Lane claims I saved Thom’s life. I think to God goes the glory for that. Praying for you both.