Since Suzanne’s diagnosis 735 days ago, my total focus has been on her health. Setting up appointments, driving her anywhere she needed to be, additional ears to be sure what has been said, sitting with her through treatments, and doing what I can to be sure she was getting the best care possible. It has been a long road and yesterday that road took a turn, it was my turn.

Let me set the stage. When we went to Las Vegas for the NFR, we both came down with head colds. Over-the-counter remedies seem to do the trick and by the time we came home, we both thought we were over it. Then I started to develop other respiratory issues. Doing anything and everything I could to try and beat this thing, it became obvious it was beating me.

So yesterday morning I called the Dr. for an appointment. Mid-morning I got a return call that they wanted an x-ray to be sure it wasn’t pneumonia. So Suzanne drove me to Gibson Hospital for the test, and then back home. Around 3:00 the Dr office called again and said the x-ray was clear and could I come to the office for further evaluation. So back in the car, we went to the Paxton Clinic. It didn’t take them long to realize that I really was sick, oxygen levels were low, my heart was racing, shallow breathing. . . . . After making sure it wasn’t covid (actually this was my first covid test) the Nurse Practitioner thought I should go the ER for better evaluation AND since she didn’t like any of my current stats, I got to go by ambulance (another first)

Suzanne took off for Gibson Hospital to meet me there, she shared later she didn’t want to watch them load me in an ambulance. During the two+ hours in the ER, I had a flu test, blood draw, and an EKG (another first; guess I should have titled this post, “Firsts”) When it was all said and done, Influenza A was the culprit and with a fist full of prescriptions, we headed home.

To all who knew this event was going on and were concerned, offering to help Suzanne and sending prayers, a big thank you. It was a long day for Suzanne yesterday as she probably drove more than she has in the last 735 days combined. But this day brought us full circle, from the focus on Suzanne and how lucky I am to still have her here with me, to how fragile life is, even my own, and that it takes a team to keep it all running smoothly.

I’m sure I’ll be back at it pretty quickly and look forward to the holiday season. We still have the tree to get put up.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

2 Corinthians 4:17