On this post I would like to give thanks for being home with my family.  Something that so many people take for granted.  The little things in life.

• Waking up in your own bed.
• Sitting in your pajamas and having that first cup of coffee.
• If you are hungry, going into the kitchen to make something to eat.
• Take a shower then be able to pick out whatever you would like to wear for the day.

These are just a couple of examples of things that I will never take for granted again in my life.

When I was living in the hospital with my daughter Lauren, I could not do that.  When I would wake up in the morning (from a disturbed sleep from all the nurses and Dr.’s coming in and out all night), from my couch that was my bed, I had to go into my suitcase and pick out what outfit to wear.  Slim pickings, so many days I would have to wear the same cloths.  Depending on what was going on for that day, a shower would be in question.  So a lot of the times it meant a sponge bath to make myself feel human and presentable.  Then it was “I need a coffee”.  Get money.  Walk down to the cafeteria, make my coffee wait in a long line to pay, now I can sit with all the hassle and bustle of all the hospital employees going on about their day ahead.  So relaxing, NOT.  Living in a hospital is very expensive, so I would pass on breakfast and wait until around 2p.m. to eat.    Most of the time I would snack on crackers, that was on the hospital floor. To be able to have a meal, it meant going back to the cafeteria, walk around to see what they were serving.  Most of the time I would opt for a salad, it was a make your own.  When you got and pay they would weigh it, so I would get a salad and a drink we are looking at about $10.00.

Theses memories are so real.  I will never forget that way of life.  This went on for almost a year and a half.  As I am writing this, so so many people are living that life right now.  Family members that are living in the hospital with their loved ones.  Someone is waking up, packing up their bedding and probably saying to themselves,” I can’t do this another day”.  Then you look at your loved one laying in the hospital bed, hooked up to machines and you say to yourself “Yes I can”.

To everyone living in a hospital, you are not alone.  I feel your pain, your frustration.  I was blessed and I am home now with my daughter.  My prayers are going out to you for the strength you need to go one more day. One day at a time.

If you need to vent to talk, please contact me.  I can relate to your situation.

lrobitaillecld@aol.com

Lynne  

The last couple of weeks, Lauren has had a cough that was not getting any better.  Every time Lauren doesn’t feel good, I go into panic mode.  Flash backs are so real.  These feeling are so real.  Not sure if I could live through this image again.  Lauren is not in the hospital, but this is what I see in my mind, when I think about Lauren when she doesn’t feel well.

Lauren’s immune system is compromised from the heart transplant.  She needs to be very careful of any sickness that is going around.  With all the sanitation and Lysol I use in our house, I cannot kill all the germs.  Impossible to say the least.  Life is around us.

Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. Your body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good.

On Monday, Lauren went to her doctor.  After her exam, they sent her to the hospital for a chest X-ray.  The X-ray showed she has pneumonia.  Thank the Lord, the Dr.’s said we caught it early.  No hospital stay, they put Lauren on Zithromax Z-Pak.  So the next week, I am praying the medication works and takes care of her lungs.

With cold and flu season here, please be mindful of your surroundings.  Germs spread everywhere.

Lynne