Back
in March, I went to the hospital:
That
hospital flew me to a different hospital:
I
almost died. I did not die.
People
came to visit me in the hospital.
My brother even tried to communicate with me:
I
learned to walk again:
Months
passed and finally, I left and went home.
Okay,
I did not go home. I went to my parents’ house.
Things
got better slowly:
Someday,
perhaps, I’ll be more like I was before.
To
be continued…
Maybe the new you will be better than the one before? I'm so glad to see you are improving. May that continue.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I don't know - maybe my limitations will focus me on my strengths. I'm looking forward to what comes next.
DeleteYou're a fighter, Harry. Glad you're still standing. I quite like that photo of you in the hoodie on the bridge. Makes me think of the triumphant "Rocky" theme song which is appropriate in this case.
ReplyDeleteHa! I don't think I've ever done a pure pic post before. Going through my pics and my mom's pics (most of these were not taken by me, obviously), it does seem like I've come a ways. I've got a bit farther I'd like to go, though!
DeleteGood deal, another Harry post.
ReplyDeleteWere those things they wrapped around your lower legs pneumatic? Because the things they wrapped around my lower legs were pneumatic, and pulsed every few seconds to keep the blood flowing back up my legs so as not to let it pool and maybe clot.
I had forgotten about them until I saw your picture.
I found out later that every time I had visitors (except Briana, who was there a lot) they drew blood from me for a drug screen.
Maybe they thought my friends looked like druggies?
Well, to be fair, many of them are, but not the kind of druggies who would sneak drugs into a stroke ward.
Or I don't think they are, anyway, although in all honesty, I never really asked them.
Which is probably for the best considering how many patients in rehab were there for the second, third, and one guy for the fourth time. He was a four stroke.
I hope to get away with just the one...
Glad to see you up and walking. That took me a couple of months and a lot of highly skilled help (thank you Edmer and Sandra!) and after 11 years I'm still working on it.
But I was able to significantly help us move this time, something I couldn't really imagine being able to do for the first couple of years after my stroke.
So perhaps you will improve to a state you can feel good about. We're all pulling for you and sending you our best.
-Doug in Oakland
I was sedated when they had those things on my legs (and the things on my hands, which look really weird). They could have been for the fluids that were accumulating in my legs (the lymphoma was attacking my kidneys), or it could have been for the blood clots, which had become a problem as well.
DeleteI was fortunate in that I didn't have a stroke. Strokes are so unique to the individual. Some people pop back, others are wiped out for the rest of their lives.
Regardless, these pics, taken together, do show a lot of improvement. Now it's back to the hospital later in the week for more chemo.
You will be you again Harry....look how far you've come already.
ReplyDeleteAs long as I get my beard back, I'll be fine!
DeleteSomeday you will be nearly back to yourself. You have taken so many steps, it makes sense tht you will keep walking.
ReplyDeleteHi, Susan. My walking is pretty sloppy right now. Part of it is that my legs and feet have numb spots; part of it is that not all my muscles are as strong as they need to be. I kind of stagger around.
DeleteBut as of this week, I can pull myself back up to my feet when I'm down on my hands and knees. That's new!
Your a brave hero really.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I didn't have much choice in any of this. Glad to be here and able to read and write.
DeleteStay in the fight Harry.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I'm moving forward. I realize that it could get bad again at any moment. To some extent, I suppose this should just be seen as a reprieve.
DeleteAs Does A Chrysalis ... You WILL Transform, Rise Again And Soar To Greater Heights! You're looking GOOD, there, Harry. Total Props and Much Love Beaming Your Way!
ReplyDeletebj in CO
It's tough not to be impatient about the things that still aren't working right. But like I said above, when I run through these pictures together, it does indicate that I've come a long ways. We'll see...
DeleteAre you back from your trip, Stacy? I need to head over to your page. I've missed a few days. Between the chemo and the therapy and the complete lack of stamina, I have a full schedule these days.
ReplyDeleteProgress. We only move forward - at our own pace. I oddly love this tale, including the picture taking. I love the documentation of all of this. I think it's important for you - maybe not during the moment, but looking back.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Blobby! Yeah, I wasn't as good at documenting things as I went along as I'd probably like to be, but my abilities were pretty limited for a long time. I'm mking up for it now.
DeleteSuch a powerful entry, Harry. You stared it in the face and won! It may take a bit to get back physically what you almost lost entirely but everything else - your mind, your heart, your spirit - all seem intact from where I sit. Keep fighting. Can't wait to watch your journey!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom. I'm trying to veer off and write about things other than my physical condition, but it's tough when it really is occupying my time and thoughts. Fortunately, most of my primary interests - except running and working out - are things that don't require an able body, so I'm keeping busy!
DeleteHarry,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. There were some gaps in my knowledge of what put you in the hospital and in such dire conditions. Good to see you re-emerge and being resilient. The courage of your fight is inspirational. Godspeed!
Hi, Tom Cochrun (that's two comments by commenters named Tom in a row). I've had a couple different kinds of cancer as of March which knocked me out for a while, did in my limbs, and left me not working, staying with my parents. But I'm told I'm getting better quickly and this series of pics seems to, surprisingly, back that up...
DeleteWish I've known you better. I'm a retired doc, and appreciate all you've been through, as much as someone from the other side of bed can. All the best to you, Harry. Tom and Bruce have my email if you want some other opinons, etc, medically. Still connected a bit.
ReplyDeleteMike
Thank you! I am hoping I'm through the worst of it, which was (I'm cutting and pasting here) "Burkitt Lymphoma Stage IV B and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytic Syndrome."
DeleteI am fortunate in that I have easy access to the Texas Medical Center, which is one of the better locales to seek care. I've had clients living in rural areas who didn't have the choice about where to seek care over the years, and the results were often noticeably different.
I'm waiting to see what happens. So far so good.
awesome article..
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing :)
I hate being ill, but must concede each time that limitations can focus you on your strengths - a couple of different kinds of cancer is therefore a hefty workout. A beard can be painted on, no need to mourn that so much :-) The closest thing actually I can relate to this is when I was so nervous and preoccupied about taking my 2nd Dan (humble brag alert) I forgot to stop for a red light at a busy crossroads. When I realised what all the beeping and swerving was about I also realised I had survived. Everything from then is a blank piece of paper, seems like a good ply too. Keep mending, and may your ply be tough x
ReplyDeleteYeah, everything after the incident is like extra time you get, had the cancer (or the red light incident) gone a different way.
DeleteI also think more about wasting my time. If I"m watching something useless on television, I start thinking about the chances of a recurrence of what I had and (sometimes) decide maybe I ought to be celebrating and utilizing the life I have left in another way.
Keep taking care of you! You're important to us!
ReplyDeleteI have some idea of what you're going through with the recovery. After my last hospital stay back in December I remember wondering if I would ever feel anything like "normal" again. That first week back home I just laid on the couch, alone at the house. My wife and daughter were at work and school.
ReplyDeleteDuring that time I constantly worried about my heart condition returning. Thankfully the docs put me on some anxiety medicine that helped me through the worst of it. It took about 30 to 40 days before I began to feel better, and it happened so slowly I always felt I would plateau and not get any better.
Hang tight my friend.
Exactly. At each point, I've been positive that the improvement has stopped. We'll see. It's an uphill sort of thing.
Deletea poem bit comes to mind: "Come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed"
ReplyDeleteHaha. I titled emails to a few friends who have asked for updates "I didn't die." It sums it up and forms the biggest accomplishment of the past 4 months.
DeleteHappy you're still with us. I wasn't sure exactly what had happened to you, but this, and teh comments, have cleared it up. A terrible experience, but you have a lot of support, virtually and in the real world:-)
ReplyDeleteI'm doing the best I can. Nothing like being entirely helpless after years of pretty complete independence. That's learning humility the hard way.
DeleteAny updates ?
ReplyDeleteHey there, Ur-spo. There have been updates and I need to pass them on to everyone. Hoping to have a new one up tomorrow (Tuesday). But hey, it could even happen today if unexpected writing occurs...
DeleteHaven't seen your name for a while, so just wanted to stop by. Praying for you, Harry.
ReplyDeletebest wishes for you my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete