I have been fortunate to be surrounded by awesome, awesome people. It has literally taken a
team to get me through this last month. There are so many people who have been a part of my journey whether dropping off food, sending flowers, sending healing thoughts and prayers, texting me jokes, expressing concern and many offers of help. I am grateful to each and every person who has touched my life in the past month and before.
I’d like to take this post, however, to mention a few of those team members.
First, my husband, Paul. Well, I typed that line about five minutes ago and have just now been able to gather myself and dry my tears to continue typing. From that first phone call, Paul has been my person through all of the ups and downs. He’s listened to me when I’ve been completely irrational and stuck in fear to thinking I’m going to be back to work in just a few days like nothing happened. Over the years he’s become a good listener and only intervenes when he has to to save me from myself. A friend of ours once called Paul a Renaissance Man which is truly apt. He’s awesome at cooking, helping with homework, fixing things around the house, painting and drawing, loves to read and knows just about every word in the dictionary.
This week he was by my side through everything - looking up reasons why I wasn’t absorbing calcium, understanding what medications I was given and the side effects, staying in touch with my homeopath regarding my remedy regimen, making sure the girls were both dropped off, picked up and fed, then the highlight - walking Grandpa through using the sawsall to cut my neighbor’s door handle off after she locked herself out of the house. All of this he did while totally treating me like a princess. Paul always had a smile on his face and did his best to keep me laughing. All in all, he’s pretty magical.
Just briefly, I’d like to mention a resident whom I like to call George Weasley. I don’t think I ever saw his badge but he does have a striking resemblance to one of the Weasley twins. I began to refer to him fondly as Dr. Weasley. He was the doctor I saw in the clinic on Thursday night who actually put in the orders to re-admit me. I certainly wasn’t a big fan of that but Dr. Weasley commiserated with me on how much it sucked to have to go back to the hospital. He also had a long conversation with Paul about the delicious spicy burritos at the hospital cafeteria. The morning that he discharged me he apologized for seeing me an hour late because his wife was sick saying he took care of their baby so she could sleep in. That’s why I liked him. He was a real person. It’s hard to explain but when he looked at me I felt like I could actually see him and he me. I could trust him and felt like he understood me.
Then, there was Hanna. She was the beautiful soul that kept me smiling throughout my second stay in the hospital - the room with no window. I was fortunate enough to get a photo of her, which I think surprised her a bit. I’m guessing patients don’t often ask to take their nurse’s picture! I could have listened to Hanna talk all day. She’s from Ethiopia and has the most beautiful voice. It wasn’t just how she sounded, however. Hanna was a jokester and always in a good mood. The unit was quite a hoot while I was there and the nurses were quite busy with other patients but Hanna always told me - “If you need something, don’t be quiet. You need to say something.” She was the one who suggested, my first night, that I needed some ice cream to feel better. She was totally right. I am so grateful to have had Hanna for my nurse. She also totally saw me and we connected. That connection make my stay so much more bearable!
Jairo is my go-to person. I have his direct number so I never have to go through the “system” to get to a live person. Jairo is the scheduling nurse who works on my surgeon’s team. He’s always friendly and attentive to any question I have. It’s great to have a lifeline whenever I feel like I need it!
I am forever indebted to my friend and homeopath, Jason-Aeric Huenecke. I have been receiving homeopathic care for over 14 years and Jason-Aeric has been my practitioner during the majority of those years. His careful questioning and thoughtful prescribing have helped me to become the mom, friend, spouse and practitioner that I am today. I am forever grateful to have Jason-Aeric on my care team. Yes, he and I have both wondered why, after years of homeopathic care, did I end up with cancer but that is an answer for another blog post. Soon to come.
Finally, to all of the dear friends, family and acquaintances who have sent cards and gifts, brought food and have sent loving thoughts. All of your loving energy has been sincerely felt. My family and I have been held and cared for by a wide web of beautiful humans and we are all the better for it. Honestly, I don’t know how we would have gotten through without all of you so thank you.
With love and gratitude,
Desirée