I know...
You have heard enough about the medical term, stroke. You have indulged me. You have listened to my story. I have shared. I didn't ask for anything. I got a curve ball. You caught it! I have been helped. You have used the information from my journey to help yourselves, those you service, those you love, and me.
Now it is a year later. I am different. I am the same. Things that affect a person's curve ball can lead to adaptation, strategy, and accommodation. Indulge me in the next couple of blogs, one more time, to tell you about the state of me - a year later.
The first blog will be about the new challenges that can arise on an ordinary, as Judith Viorst writes, "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" in the life of an aging curmudgeon, and as a result of that day a year ago. Now I have had my own specialist - my neurologist!
I made the January 20th appointment at the neurologist's office. A few weeks later, the phone rang and I checked the Caller ID. It said 'Number Unavailable', and I never answer unknown calls. After a moment, I saw that a message was indicated on my voicemail. I listened to it. The woman said that the doctor couldn't see me on the appointment date. She asked me to please call to reschedule, and she recited the phone number.
You have heard enough about the medical term, stroke. You have indulged me. You have listened to my story. I have shared. I didn't ask for anything. I got a curve ball. You caught it! I have been helped. You have used the information from my journey to help yourselves, those you service, those you love, and me.
Now it is a year later. I am different. I am the same. Things that affect a person's curve ball can lead to adaptation, strategy, and accommodation. Indulge me in the next couple of blogs, one more time, to tell you about the state of me - a year later.
The first blog will be about the new challenges that can arise on an ordinary, as Judith Viorst writes, "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" in the life of an aging curmudgeon, and as a result of that day a year ago. Now I have had my own specialist - my neurologist!
I made the January 20th appointment at the neurologist's office. A few weeks later, the phone rang and I checked the Caller ID. It said 'Number Unavailable', and I never answer unknown calls. After a moment, I saw that a message was indicated on my voicemail. I listened to it. The woman said that the doctor couldn't see me on the appointment date. She asked me to please call to reschedule, and she recited the phone number.
As I see it, most neurology patients can not comprehend a lightning fast series of numbers like a 10-digit phone number. Luckily, I could comprehend the contents of the message, but my brain couldn't think and write that quickly. It's an adjustment, and the strategy is there. First try of listening and writing: two numbers. Second try: two more. Third try: three more. You get the gist. After six or seven tries, I had a complete phone number on my paper, and I was on my way to a new appointment
on January 26th. Like all happenings in life - like a new marriage, a new baby, a new house - recovery from illness means adjustment and strategy.
The day of neurology arrived . My son John, works in Philadelphia near where I needed to go. He guided me as we trekked to the 5:54 AM train. I had the cash to pay the conductor, but he didn't have enough change, so he told me to buy the ticket at the station when I get off the train. It sounded good to me, so John and I went to the ticket office. The ticket seller checked my driver's license, and said she charged me the senior rate...no questions asked...and thanked me for paying for the ticket! It was a good day, and I was an honest, cheap, happy curmudgeon...until...!
Anyway, John got me situated in a Starbucks, and he left for work. My daughter Karen, who lives in Philadelphia, wanted to go to the appointment with me, and a snow day for her made it convenient for us all to have her there. I told her that I was in Starbucks near the Hospital. How was I to know that there were more than one Starbucks near the Hospital? She was looking for me, and I was safe...in a different Starbucks near the Hospital. I finally told her the intersection of my Starbucks, and she told me to walk and she would find me. I was calm. I enjoyed my electronic device with WIFI. I enjoyed my coffee. Everything was fine...until...!
Karen and I arrived at the neurology offices and I used one of those things where I typed my name to check in. Of course, she asked if I needed help to type my name. Expressions say more than words,
and the look on my face said it all! I thought, Really? I'm not that gone, girl!
When I was called to the reception desk, and we were doing the question and answer part of getting me to see the doctor, it was realized that they cancelled the January 20th appointment, but there was no rescheduled appointment. I wrote the date and time down during the phone call from the office, and I read it every day, but there was no appointment on the schedule. There were no patients scheduled for my doctor. Frustration, yes! This is where accommodation kicks in. The office manager was there quickly, and the five hours' angst getting to this point was alleviated. I had a new appointment in a new office with a new attendant! Accommodation, like adjustment and strategy, is the key to moving forward.
Karen took the notes of the hour, and I would like to share some of the facts...in another blog. Blogging is tiring and takes time, but I still love it. I am comfortable with missing a couple of errors or typos. And...I am slowly getting to a place where I can type as fast as the words come out. I don't know when or if it will be like before, but it will be!
I can tell you that my blood pressure was high at the beginning of the hour. I can tell you that this world is too fast paced. This world can provoke pressure and emotion. This world is synonymous with stress. Ordinary days are good ones. Most days and happy ones. I am striving to get to a better place. I think I am there some, if not most, of the time. I have the tools and the supplies taught to me - the strategy, the adjustment, and the accommodation - and I can communicate and make it through another "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." By the ending of the hour, my blood pressure was, as the attendant said, perfect!
So, Happy Anniversary to you who have shared this terrible curve ball, and the positivity that went with it!
