Reflections From a Country Girl

There’s a new reality show – as if we needed one more – that has families traveling across the country in mobile homes.  In one of the segments a family member got inside a “bubble” and had to be rolled through a series of obstacles at a fast pace.

There are reality shows, and there is reality – all of which can be very close to the same thing.  I have experienced that for the past two and one/half months.  

Today I step out of the bubble. 

This afternoon I leave the hospital and step into the real world again.  I am being released to become an outpatient.  I will be continuing physical and occupational therapies… both I have come to appreciate in a new way.  I did not quite go into remission from the chemo, so I will have another round after I become strong enough.

Learning to walk again was a real challenge and I have now mastered climbing eighteen stairs – a feat I needed to accomplish in order to go to the home I will be staying at.

It’s been safe here.  I could call the nurse and see doctors twenty four hours a day – depending on the need.  I have not had to navigate the 100 degree and more temperatures over this past month in Houston.  I have gone to the inside park and down to the lobby to play the piano and have a game or two of cards with family and friends who came to visit from South Carolina. 

Today, reality is upon me.  I am sitting in my room right now receiving the last blood and magnesium transfusions before I leave.  In a few hours I will be gone from here. 

In some ways this is scary.  In some ways I am looking forward to being out.  I have a little anxiety about leaving.  The medical staff has been very good to me here.  

Reality has hit.  It is time to be back in the world again…out of the bubble.  I will come back often for treatments and appointments. 

A new adventure awaits me around the corner.  I keep praying I will maintain a positive attitude that I need.  Pierce will be right here beside me and the hospital will only be four blocks away.  

I think I can.  I think I can.  

My wish for you today is that you appreciate each day and do your best not to live in a bubble for very long.  Maintaining as positive an attitude as possible as you walk down life’s path will likely help you in whatever challenges you face.  

~ Joellen

 

PS:  My new address is:

 

Joellen Cook

C/O Beverly Mitchell

2214 W Holcombe Blvd.

Houston, TX 77030

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 at 3:32:pm and is filed under illness, Living Life to the Fullest, Medical, Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.