My friend Kim H and myself, home from the doctor
The day after I posted my blog about spending a week in the hospital, an old friend (Kim H, who reads my blog) contacted me and said "What can I do to help? Pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy, go shopping for you, cook some meals you can warm up later, take you to your next appointment... let me know."
My gosh, she is one of a kind.
Here's the story on Kim. We became friends back in 1988 when we both worked downtown at the Allegheny County Dept of Aging. She had just gotten married, I had just started working at the agency, but we were close in age and clicked right away. I left Aging in 1998 for greener pastures, and we stayed in touch with Christmas & birthday cards and the occasional phone call or email. But we haven't gotten together in many, many years.
Anyway, I thanked Kim for her generous offer but when you've lived alone as long as I have you want to take care of yourself. Several days into things however, I realized I wasn't doing so well. That's when I made my first home grocery order, and contacted Kim and asked if she would go to my doctors office with me for my 10 day post-surgery followup. She said of course, and that's us there at the top, home from the doctor on Thursday.
The doctor's appointment went very well. He removed the last of my bandages, listened to my lungs and heart, checked my oxygen level. When I told him I didn't feel I was recuperating fast enough, he said "You've been home from the hospital 10 days. I told you at checkout you'd need 6 weeks to make a full recovery. Stop trying to be a Steeler." A Steeler! I said I was sorry and he said "Mr. Morris, many of my after-surgery patients arrive here in wheelchairs--you're doing great!"
He did make a couple revisions to my recovery plan though. I have PT & RT (respiratory therapists) coming to my place again on Monday, darn it. Enough!
I didn't bring up my long covid-nicotine patch idea, darn that too. I'm going to hold off on that until I'm more my old self.
Afterwards, Kim took me grocery shopping at Kuhn's, then helped carry my stuff upstairs and stayed and chatted for an hour. We talked about old friends, her grandkids, what our families have been up to. I enjoyed her visit so much.
When I was walking her to the elevator, I was thinking how much I'd missed Kim and wished we were closer like the old days. As the doors opened and she stepped on, she said "I think we need to be better friends and be a bigger part of each others lives again." She must've read my mind!
A wonderful ending to a great morning. Kim, if you're reading this... thanks again.
I''m going to borrow your final saying with the wonderful natives rejoicing in the picture. So glad to hear you've renewed a good friendship. Yes, we humans, especially those who are more independent, do find friends are of deep value to us as we get older. Keep on healing! Your new blog-friend, Barb
ReplyDeleteYou're very kind, thank you Barb. 🙂
DeleteWell I could cry this is so wonderful to see (and you look so good)!
ReplyDeleteThank you Shawn, very sweet of you. I'm getting there!
DeleteIt was a privilege to help out a very dear friend 💕 and it was so wonderful to be able to pick up our friendship once again so effortlessly. That is a sign of true friendship and connection. I am always here for you Doug! 🥰 Your old and always friend - Kim
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet! Thank you Kim, I hope we can get together again soon! 🙂❤️🧡💙
DeleteAww, that is wonderful! She sounds like a true friend. Joyce
ReplyDeleteShe really is Joyce, thank you. 🙂
DeleteYour friend Kim is a gold medal friend. Coming through during the hard times. That is a true friend. You need a few more like her. Don't wear her out. Your experience is a lesson to all of us--maintain friendships. We all need one another.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I concur, you really look good for the trauma you have endured. No wonder the doctor chastised you for rushing the healing. You are making good progress. Don't backslide. Do all that the visiting caregivers tell you to do.
Much appreciated, thank you dkzody. 🙂
DeleteWonderful news! You do look great, even though I'm sure you don't feel your best. When my younger daughter moved, I told her, "It's important to remember who was here for you. And also who wasn't." True friendships can pick up after a long time and be just as meaningful as they were from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret, gee I didn't think I looked that great, this has been a nice surprise. Well, you're certainly right about true friendships, after Thursday I couldn't resist sharing. I sure hope you have fun at your 80s party today, looking forward to hearing all about it. 🙂
DeleteWell, thank God for Kim! Being able to help a friend is good on so many levels, Dug. Good for you, of course, but also good for her. Rekindling an old friendship is a gift. And so glad your doctor appointment went well. You are probably right about waiting on the nicotine patch. I find it best to take care of one problem before getting involved with another (meaning adding the nicotine patch to your surgery recovery routine). So happy things are picking up a bit for you.
ReplyDeleteRian you are so sweet, thank you. And yes, the last couple weeks have been a real drag but I did get Kim back in my life and that has been a real blessing. And what you said about the nicotine patch therapy... couldn't have said it better myself, you are right on the money. I sure hope yourself is doing better, thanks again Rian you're a dear friend too. 🙂
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