Health Marathon

Joy Acey wrote this poem posted yesterday on her blog. It brought to mind the day I had yesterday, not rain, but many blue demands on my time.

Rain makes the road shine black.
I listen to the pitt-a-pat.
Dripping from the tree leaves,
falling off the edge of eaves.

On this day, I could feel gray
but the shine on the road
takes the blues away.

Yesterday was a marathon of health care:
1 go to physical therapy for broken wrist @7 AM
(bring fresh blackberries for breakfast)
2 rush to Doctor’s appointment for 9:15 in next town
leave with 4 prescriptions to fill and future blood test
as well as a referral for a sonogram at 11 AM (across the bridge)
Stop at Don’s Doctor’s office to find out his doctor quit and there’s
no replacement yet. Plead with the nurse to schedule a test for sleep apnea,
recommended by the cardiologist 2 months ago.
3 Drink to have a full bladder and then no peeing until the tech has
pressed the death out of it and then can repeat the pressure from hell
after peeing. Wait 3 days until the doctor can interpret the scan.
4 Phone the nurse at Empire to ascertain the meaning of all the red numbers
on the 5 pages of the last lab results. (One hour)
5 Phone my big brother, the doctor, to explain the results of Don’s
colon-endoscopy. ( In the absence of a doctor for him)
Inquire about the efficacy of controversial vaccinations for shingles and whooping cough.
6 Wait 3 days to leave the prescriptions at the Pharmacy. Too exhausted to move.

What did I learn?
Love brother’s care.
Learned how to spell many words about western medical treatment.
Managed my time strategically yesterday.
Cared for my partner.
Reserved procedures for another day.
Self-cared to the point of confidence.
Lived with the resources available in this great country.