Those 70ish Girls

COMPLICATIONS CAN SET YOUR LIFE OFF TRACK QUICKLY BY Valerie Halla

Just when things seem to be moving on an even keel, your life can change and the roller coaster life takes over. I don’t like roller coasters at all because my heart jumps into my throat and then I feel like my heart trades places with my brain. Then my brain is sloshing around in my stomach and it leads to dark ugly places. I need all the brain I can muster.

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer 14 months ago, naturally it was tough, mind blowing, boggling and rough. We did get onto a course of regular doctor visits, physical therapy sessions, MRI scans and CT scans plus scheduled immunotherapy treatments, IV’s being as common as the common cold and we settled into the journey ahead. Most days were just waiting around for nothing to happen except eat, struggle to the bathroom, back to the easy chair, sleep and wonder.

Then just recently my husband had a setback with an intestinal blockage and infection. After a trip to our local ER and an ambulance ride to Stanford Hospital, we’re settled into the next destination on our ride. This looks like a long stay in the hospital and next a search for an acute care home. Luckily the hospital has resources to help with this. That takes an immense weight off my family’s shoulders.

In fact, my husband is being transferred today to an acute care facility about an hour’s drive from our house. He needs special care with a drain in his side, overall weakness, weight loss and cancer hovering over all these other health issues he’s been experiencing. The roller coaster will be parked for the night and hopefully it’s out of service until we get things settled onto a new course in a new location with a new schedule to follow.

We will see the equivalent to a car on this parked roller coaster: the tires checked, balanced and rotated. Might even get a tuneup and fluids checked out. Time for a full service inspection. Hopefully the track is clear.

I still don’t like roller coasters, however, I am getting used to them. For now my heart is not in my throat, my stomach is settled and my brain isn’t too jostled, although it’s diminished. My heart feels like it’s in the right place, although it’s a bit misaligned.

We will see if the complications get resolved and we can get back on track with a new refurbished model. Even rollercoasters get old.