An Unexpected Journey

Friday, February 4, 2009 (Written from my hospital bed)

Patti (my wife) and I have been on an intense, unexpected journey for the past few days ... a very complex and life-changing one.

Patti had fought a very nasty cold for 3 weeks, one I seriously wanted to avoid, for many reasons, including my planned trip next Wednesday to meet son Justin in Portland to celebrate his 38th birthday and attend the first weekend of the Portland Jazz Festival.

Last Friday, I noticed what seemed like typical flu symptoms invading me, and since I had neglected to get my annual flu shot, thought ... aha!

For the next two nights I pounded down vitamins, etc. to fight it, but wasn't sleeping well. Then, Sunday night I had a terrific night's sleep and enjoyed Monday as if I were winning a short war waged against a bad cold or the flu. Wrong! Monday was probably the worst night of my life, not being able to sleep for 13 straight hours. Things got even worse, and now some skin lesions appeared out-of-the-blue.

Late Wednesday afternoon, a physician we visited urged us to head to the Emergency Room for a deeper evaluation, which we did.

Bottom line: Pneumonia, shingles and extreme shortness of breath, from past years of smoking, made far worse by this Pneumonia.

I've been in the hospital since 5:30 that night with 24-hour oxygen, antibiotics, antivirals, and a new inhaler system. This is the first time that I've been hospitalized since I was an infant. I'm much improved now and expect to be discharged sometime tomorrow.

The Portland trip is still on, with portable oxygen added to the "baggage".

Patti and a health care provider named Kathy probably saved my life two days ago. I am humbled, and will be forever grateful.

(Continued February 7, 2009)

The care and compassion I received while hospitalized was truly remarkable, and the food was considerably beyond tolerable ... considering.

Patti and I are still reeling from the positivity we experienced from the entire staff at Providence Alaska Medical Center, just five minutes from our home. We've driven by it for over 20 years, and now it has a whole new significance. If I could single out two people among my many favorites, one of them would be my ER Physician, Dr. Hanley (no photo, unfortunately), who wished me well to continue healing, and to enjoy the Jazz Festival in Portland as I was wheeled upstairs to my room. Also, my final nurse, Nan, a free spirit, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, who locked-in to Patti and me within seconds of her 1st visit, and was with us until my wheelchair went down the hallway when I was discharged. She's an extraordinary lady — an artist/illustrator, liberal thinker, activist and health care provider for over 25 years.

Now, on to Portland, Oregon, the hometown of one of my soulmates, Jim Pepper.

"... makes me feel glad that I'm not dead"
(from Witchi Tai To)