Last week was particularly difficult as I watched hurricane Harvey and all of the damage it did to Texas. The day after the hurricane hit, I got a call from my mom (who was born and raised in Corpus Christi). She told me about a phone call she had gotten from my uncle. She and my uncle are half siblings. My uncles’s cousins lived in Houston. She told me that the cousin, her husband and four great grandchildren had drowned in the flood waters. It was sad to hear it and even more so because of the family connection. I think we all hoped and prayed that it wasn’t true. However, the next day, word came through the media. It was true. The woman who was my uncle’s cousin, Belia, her husband, and four great grandchildren had definitely drowned inside of their van while trying to flee to higher ground. Great, great sadness.
And then last Saturday a fire was started by a very foolish fifteen year old who threw a lit firecracker down a ravine in a heavily wooded (and dry because we have had no rain in three months) area. The entire region caught fire. If you aren’t familiar with the news, it is in the Columbia River Gorge, one of the most scenic and peaceful areas around. It is one of my favorite places to go. It has really grown in the four days since it began. The fire is near the watershed which supplies water to most of the Portland Metro area. If that goes, it could be catastrophic for Portland. It’s so sad to see the pictures and to see the ash falling outside, as if it were snow. Then there is the air which is full of smoke and is causing hazardous air quality conditions.
It also seems that I am getting every single complication from my surgery that I could get. First there was the infection, then the sciatica (which I think is directly related to the surgery because I had to sit and lay down most of the time during the first three weeks post-op, which put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Now the latest is that it appears that I have developed an “incisional hernia,” which is most likely a result of carrying something that was too heavy during the post-op period. So now we’ll see if they decide that I need to have surgery to repair that. I am not looking forward to another surgery before the incision from the last surgery has even closed up completely. That’s actually how I discovered what I think is the hernia. The incision is still not closed. The opening is pretty small but it is still open. I noticed about a week ago that there was tissue protruding from the incision. Then over the weekend it was gone and I breathed a sigh of relief but then last night, it’s back. That’s when it hit me that the doctor warned that a hernia often develops in that kind of incision. So now I have to go in and get it checked out and go from there. Not too happy about that. I guess when the doctor said no lifting for six to eight weeks, I should have erred on the side of safety. I didn’t. I gave myself only the six weeks. Now there’s a problem.
So not good here. I guess you can understand that. I’m crossing my fingers that I’m wrong about the hernia!
Wishing you a speedy recovery. I can well imagine how terrible all of this is, because a friend of mine had a very similar experience. It is hard to keep up one’s spirits when it’s one thing after another. But I hope that you will soon leave all of this behind you.
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Thank you, Shimon. It is definitely difficult to get past things when they keep coming, one after the other. I’m trying to concentrate on the grandchildren these days. Most of those thoughts and doings are happy ones.
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Wow, so much happening! I’m sorry about your direct connection to the tragedy in Texas. Everyone feels bad enough about all of the death and destruction, but I know it is worse when it is personal. And the fire does sound awful. (Don’t watch any news about Irma! Or Jose. Or Katia.))
I’m also crossing my fingers that you are wrong about the hernia! I hope the recovery kicks in a little more!
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I’m so sorry about the loss of your family members. I’d heard about it on the news, but didn’t know there was a connection. I’m also sorry about the fire and the problem with the incision. I hope the fire is out soon, and that the incision heals itself without the need for additional surgery.
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I am so sorry about your relatives in Texas. I didn’t know. That is horrible. And the fires! There and Montana and California! It’s crazy. Try to stay in your daughter’s with AC. You don’t want a lung infection on top of everything. Will keep you in my prayers.
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I am so, so sorry. I had read about the family drowning in the news. How awful. And a hernia? What? Gah.
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No hernia! Yay. The part that is sticking out is scar tissue and it is not allowing the wound to close. So it got cauterized and scar tissue cut off. Hopefully it will heal close up. If it doesn’t, he will have to open it up again and I’ll have to start the packing all over again. Yuck!
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So sorry to hear of the loss of family in such an awful and tragic way. I am also sorry to hear your healing is not going well- maybe that hernia will go back in by itself, rest up Corina!
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Thank you. It turns out it is not a hernia. Yay. There is scar tissue protruding from the incision and it is not letting the wound heal and close. So it got cauterized and cut off (the tissue that was protruding). With luck, it will heal properly now. If not, then the doctor will have to reopen it and I’ll have to start all over again with the packing, which is a pain because it’s in a spot I can’t see so someone else has to do it and that means my son in law which is embarrassing (the wound is between my breasts). Hopefully that won’t be the case!
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Hope all that’s wrong is set right soon. My condolences for your loss. Please stay safe and wish you recover soon.
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Thank you.
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I am so sorry for your and your family’s loss! The world is in turmoil and it’s hard to keep a mind at ease. Sending a hug and a prayer for your troubles.
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Thank you!
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So sorry to read all this. It never rains but it pours. I hope the sun comes out for you soon.
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Thank you, Tric. Last week’s hurricane did’t help. I have very good friends that had to evacuate and leave everything behind. But in the end, all was okay for them and they are slowly returning to their homes to see what is left. I’m still struggling here with medical issues. The grand kids keep me going.
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Glad to see in comments that it wasn’t a hernia after all–whew! But wow, you’ve really been through the wringer these past few months…actually the past few years. So sorry that you lost family in the hurricane; that’s a really tragic story.
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Yup. It seems like this latest medical episode really has gotten me down. The incision still won’t heal. Sciatica is still giving me trouble, including a leg that is partially numb, making it difficult to walk and sometimes I don’t drive because I don’t have feeling in the leg or foot and don’t want to risk it. I keep hoping that it will take a turn for the better, like the local weather!
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