Reflections From a Country Girl

I’m not sure I told you, but being here in Texas, away from family, and having a newly diagnosed disease has been pretty overwhelming.   Not in  a bad way, mind you, but jut different.  Texas is BIG and though I have not seen much of it thus far, Houston in itself is huge.   I do think Texas does things in a big way – including the cancer center here. 

I’ve finished chemo last Tuesday and came in for blood work and results of that as a followup on Thursday at 6;45 a.m.  They sent me straight to the emergency room and 13 hours later I was leaving after transfusions of platelets and two pints of blood.  

This as my first experience as an outpatient here in the emergency room.  As I waited I heard they had 33 patients waiting to get in on one of the three leukemia floors. They were able to take care of mine without making me the 34th.  

As I pondered my feelings about being sick, now riding around in a wheelchair, and using a walker the other time, I could really be overwhelmed beyond belief.  It is certainly a different life going to a restaurant or a pub.  We went to a british restaurant the other night and they had to get the ramp and put it out so I could get in.  

It’s also interesting how people respond to you when you are out in public.  Some turn their head, others greet you with a smile and a hello.  Still others will offer to reach something for you if it appears too high for me to reach.  One man even offered to help Pierce get the wheelchair in the car, telling his story of having a family member who had been wheelchair bound.  Most are very friendly.  

Many of your cards have said, one day at a time.  I hear nurses and friends here say the same thing.  When you look at it that way, it seem manageable.  I also hear that the more positive you are the better.  

After all, it’s all about living from day to day, especially since we really are not guaranteed anything beyond that. Living your day to the fullest is the best we can all do.  

My wish for you today is that you savor each day as though it is your last.  Then, you won’t be disappointed if one day you find yourself in a different place. 

~ Joellen

This entry was posted on Monday, August 17th, 2009 at 10:08:am and is filed under illness, Making wise choices, Medical. 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.