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. 🙂
DeleteKim looks like a real sweet lady! So glad you were able to reconnect with her. And happy to hear you got a good report at the doctor. Great news all around. Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bobi! I feel blessed having both online friends and the rare physical ones in my life, that's for sure. 🙂
DeleteSuch a relief to hear abut the positive doctor follow up and also that there is a near by friend to help out. Now you have to let her help you!
ReplyDeleteCeci
Thanks Ceci... well, I am on the mend and hopefully the next time I see Kim it will be when I buy her lunch! :^)
DeleteYou've got a great friend there! You're looking much better too.
ReplyDeleteYou're very kind, thank you Jackie. 🙂
DeleteWhat a good feeling I got opening your blogsite and seeing a picture of you and Kim smiling. She definitely is a true blue friend. I'm happy that things are going smoothly for you. Keep it up. We're all rooting for you in the blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteSteve from Toronto
Thank you Steve, it means a lot what you said. I wish you & I lived closer, I could see us being good friends too. Appreciate your good thoughts, I am getting a little better every day. I sure hope you're well. 🙂
DeleteI'm doing fine, Doug. I had my second colonoscopy recently and they found another polyp. I haven't heard the results of the biopsy so I guess it was probably benign. I too wish we lived closer, but so what? We're only separated by a border and New York state. A month ago a friend and I took a weekend bus trip to Jamestown to visit the Lucy & Desi Museum and National Museum of Comedy. So hopefully there'll be a trip to Pittsburgh in the future to see the Andy Warhol Museum and other sites, and drop by and say hello to you. In the meantime I consider you a friend. Take care.
DeleteSteve
Steve I sure hope it's benign and that's great about your recent road trip! You should have your own blog! The weekend bus trip is precisely what I've been wanting to do as well. Maybe in the near future you could give me some pointers. 🙂
Deletehttps://health.osu.edu/health/virus-and-infection/long-covid-and-resources-for-symptoms
ReplyDeleteDJ from SE Ohio age 73. I creep your blog as my granddaughter calls it. Sending good thoughts your way.
Thank you DJ, and for the link I will be sure to check that out. I like that expression "creep your blog". :^)
DeleteHi Doug, oh my goodness, I was so happy to read you and Kim reconnected and she is able to help you!❤️ You look so much better in this photo. Give yourself time to heal. You have been through some much lately. Talk soon Doug!❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you Robin, as always you are very kind. 😊 It was really nice seeing and talking to Kim again, she's such a good person. Everything just felt healthy and normal that day because of her. I sure hope you and Chuck are doing well, my friend. ❤️
DeleteThanks very much Miss Merry, I always like your comments they are so nicely thought out. I couldn't agree more regarding Kim's asking to help and making real suggestions--it just floored me. But she's pretty busy with her own life and grandkids (like you!) so I don't expect to be seeing a lot of her anytime soon! As for the therapies... I'm not fighting them, I just want to beat this always "wiped" feeling. :^)
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to hear you are healing well from your gallbladder surgery. Don't brush off the PT and RT - it's likely to speed up your recovery even more.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy too, that you have reconnected with your friend Kim. She sounds like a wonderful person, emphathetic and helpful - just what you need.
Take care and be good to yourself.
Thanks Maebeme, you're very sweet 🙂 and ok about the therapy, I just want to get out of this medical rabbit hole 👍
DeleteIt’s good to see that you get by with a little help from your friend.
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks Music Man. :^)
DeleteWhat a wonderful post! So glad you are feeling better & have a friend to help. A visit usually gives us a boost. DL
ReplyDeleteYou can say that again, thank you DL. :^)
DeleteGigi Hawaii. Hi, Doug. Good to hear about your friend, Kim. What a blessing! Hang in there. You are fortunate to be ambulatory and not need a wheelchair.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gigi I do feel fortunate for many reasons. 🙂
DeleteI am happy to read this, Doug.
ReplyDeleteThank you Debby, very nice of you to say.
Delete