Someday, everything will make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, be strong and keep reminding your self that everything happens for a reason.
John Mayer
I want to travel back in time to the year 2021. That year I turned 50 years old and life was going well overall. Little did I know that by the end of that year my heart would be broken or that the following year my world would be turned upside down.
In December of 2021 a very close friend of mine and my wife’s tragically lost their life. I cried so much the next three days that I think I finally ran out of tears. He left behind a fiancée, kids and a granddaughter.
In late February of 2022 I had what I thought was cellulitis in my right calf. No big deal as I had it several times before and simply needed an antibiotic to get rid of it. I was not going to a doctor on a regular basis as I hated doctors (a story for a later time) so I went online to get a prescription. After that prescription ran out as well as a second one my leg still had a spot that would not heal. It got to the point where it was very painful to walk and I just wanted to sleep. The middle of March as my wife was leaving for work she started crying. She was scared that there was something she had done or not done to help my leg that would cost me my life. I had to make a decision, go to the Emergency Room or risk losing my life. When she came home from work I told her we needed to go to the Emergency Room.
After an assessment of my calf it was setup for me to be transferred by ambulance to a trauma center. The next day we learned that I would need to have surgery to remove the infection in my calf. Surgery went well other than the had to remove the inside portion of my calf muscle to make sure they got the infection out. I was in the hospital for a month in a half and my wife didn’t leave my side the entire time. When I was discharged we moved in with family who had a wheelchair ramp as I was going to need that.
The next few months I had a team of home care professionals coming to the house. I had a nurse, physical therapist and occupational therapist. I had to work to be able to stand again and could not walk further than 30 feet with a walker. After I was fully discharged from home care I had a pity party for myself and went months without getting out of bed.
Jumping ahead to 2024 I was getting easily confused by things and slurring my words. A telehealth appointment was setup so we could figure out what was going on. Needless to say my wife had to take my phone as I was completely confused. I do not remember being transported by ambulance to the hospital or anything for two days. When I woke up I had a feeding tube in and had been intubated. I went to move my arm only to find out I had been restrained as I had pulled out two IV’s.
I was diagnosed with acute kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver and had fluid on my right lung. They put in a chest tube and a dialysis port. I had three dialysis three times until my numbers had improved enough so that was stopped. Getting the fluid off my lung took a bit longer.
After I was discharged I once again had home healthcare professionals coming in multiple times per week. We started working at square one for me to be able to sit up on the side of my hospital bed and did leg and arm exercises.
During this time one of the home health nurses noticed a wound on my hip and immediately called 911 for transport to the Emergency Room. I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks this time.
During all of these experiences my wife has been my rock. She is my caretaker everyday even on the days she is scheduled to work. I am still working to restrengthen my legs so I can stand and be able to get into my wheelchair.
Everything happens for a reason is something I was told growing up by my mom. I am not sure the reasons behind everything I have gone through but I have to trust that God has a plan even if I cannot see it.