Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Back from Phoenix, Surgery and Nice Cousins and Friends












Phew! What an experience this last week has been! The week started out well in Prescott Arizona and the classes were lots of fun with really imaginative girls who were great to be with! Visited the most darling quilt shop downtown Prescott and spent lots of cash....
Packed my things into my rented car and drove to my Uncle Phil and Aunt Cora's house. Got there in time for lunch and I didn't feel hungry. We talked old times and then dinner time came and I felt tired but my back was hurting (again). About 2am I knew I was in worse pain than I thought and I thought it was heart related. Because my relatives don't drive any longer I didn't want to wake them so I packed everything up and using my GPS drove to a hospital an hour away. My gas light went on and I had to pump gas while having the dry heaves and a chip delivery man gave me a nasty look. I figured out later that at 2:30 in the morning, my hair a mess and me pumping gas with the dry heaves probably looked like I was drunk or something. Who else would this happen to?
Anyway, I made it to the hospital and spent all week there while they did loads of tests. The fourth day, they did a gall bladder surgery for a badly infected gall bladder with four stones over 2 centemeters,I have no idea what size that is.
And I have a spot on my liver which they took a biopsy of. I still have not heard what that means. I stayed two more days, went back and slept at my Aunt and Uncles house. I was MOST lucky that my cousin Mary Eleanor (my age) is an RN and came up every day to the hospital as my advocate and when I went to fly home, she took all of my luggage and handed it in so I would not have to lift anything. She is wonderful. Got to see other cousins who also helped in different ways and friends Curt and Joan Pintler while in the hospital also. I commented that it was lovely to get sick in a city where I had family. And lovely family. My hope now is that I can go back to Phoenix soon and visit my cousin Patty who is dear and funny and fighting cancer (her daughter is the RN).
I decided that photos of the trip would be fun to show....no photos once I got into the hospital though....
Sorry this sounds so long and drawn out. I love my family who were most worried and friends who wrote on facebook etc. It is nice to feel loved when you also feel so vulnerable. When you are alone in a city with no family, it is wonderful to count on letters (emails) from friends who send prayers and positive thoughts...and those who bawled me out for driving myself to the hospital as well. :0) lIFE IS GOOD AND IT IS GOOD TO HAVE GOOD HEALTH.

25 comments:

beth said...

Oooh! marylou! I'm so sorry you had to drive yourself in...but thankful you had such a support system even though you were away from home! I WAS thinking about you wondering why you hadn't posted a blog for a few days. Now I know. THinking of you. ;)

Kim Schory said...

Whew! Glad to see your post. Was getting a little worried. I'm praying the spot is a rogue polka dot that rubbed off a piece of cute fabric. Hope you are feeling better.

WoolenSails said...

I haven't been on facebook in ages, get lost in all the messages. Sorry to hear about your hospital stay and hopefully the biopsy shows it was just damage from the infection. The retreat looks like fun and lots of wonderful creations.

Debbie

West Michigan Quilter said...

So glad to hear that you are home. There is no place like home when you're not feeling well. You are in my prayers. Please keep us posted. Loved the pictures of your class. I particularly like that one of Grandma in the Kitchen!I hadn't seen that one before.

Wendy said...

I'm so glad you're back to write an update .. that means you must be healthier :) While I understand you are getting the "shame on you's" for driving yourself, I would probably have done the same thing ... so hugs to you and happy healing!! Take care :)

Patty ♣ said...

OH MY GOODNESS! How Blessed and strong Y♥u are! I am so thankful that you are home and have had such an array of angels. Wish the 'chip man' could see this!

MB in MI said...

Just leaving some good thoughts and prayers for your continued recovery!! You are a brave and lucky woman! Really enjoy your blog. sending hope for your cousin's fight too!! Be well! p.s. Prescott is beautiful isn't it? :-)

Lynn said...

I'm so glad you're on the mend! The class was great. Thanks.

Lynn said...

So glad you're on the mend! The class was great. Thanks.

Karen in Tucson said...

Dear Mary Lou, I am so happy you are back home safe and sound. Don't get buried in the snow--hope you got in before it hit.

Hope all is well with your liver.
Your friend in Tucson!

Wacky Woman said...

Oh my, what an experience. I'm glad you are home now and on the road to recovery. Hope the spot is just that, dirt on their lens. We have a retreat next weekend. Hope to find out about 2012.

BJ in TX said...

So sorry to hear about your time in Phoenix...bet it's good to be home! Hugs to you.

Pam said...

Glad to hear your home.. safe and sound after your adventure.. and wow.. driving yourself to the hospital!!! an hour drive too. you are a brave woman my friend..
and yes.... we're going to be waiting for this story quilt!
hugs

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

What an adventure you had. I'm glad that you had an advocate and that made it home. I too, hope you arrived before the snow hit. Rest and recover. I missed you!

Anonymous said...

So good to hear that you are safe and at home. I hope that you will be back on your festive feet soon.

Miss hanging out with you and the gals. Hoping to find you in CA so I can pop in for a class.

Get well wishes for you!
Ginger DeValue
"Festivus Gal"

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

oh my! what a trip! Hope your feeling better and recovered! fingers crossed on the "spot". keeping you in my thoughts..

Nancy said...

That is a story and a half! What a night. I'm sure it was a relief to arrive home, and you were well taken care of in AZ. Be well!

Quiltdivajulie said...

How wonderful to find a post from you ... spot, schmott ... here's to polka dots and hearts and hoochy-ness!

HUGS and loads of wishes for continued healing!!

Carol said...

Goodness, gracious! I'm so grateful that you're home and able to relax and recuperate with family. I hope you get to enjoy some good peach cobbler soon! I've been craving a good fruit cobbler ever since your Facebook post about hospital food. I think awful hospital food may be part of their strategy to get people to leave the hospital earlier!
hugs,
Carol

Maree in NC :-) said...

Many prayers and lots of healing thoughts headed your way, dear Mary Lou! I was really worried about you driving yourself to the hospital and now that I read it was for such a long distance, I know that you had angels flying with you that night! Shame on the chip man for not helping you!

Feel better, my friend! :~D

The little book of Nessie said...

Well, Mary Lou, that is the kind of adventure you could do without! Gall stones and having your gall bladder out is no fun and I am glad to hear that you are on the mend now. Loved seeing all those lovely quilts regards, Nessie

Donna Avila said...

Mary Lou! You are somethin' else...driving yourself to the hospital like that! I am not really surprised tho 'cause you are always helping others when you are not traveling. I pray the liver is nothing ......just a plain 'ol spot and nothing more. Rest and feel better soon! Donna Avila

Karen said...

Holy cow!
Very relieved you had family to help.
You do know that any quilter would drive you to the hospital in their PJ's.
Glad you are home, you can relax & recover. Now that you told us about the SPOT, wish is was on fabric, you have to update us when the results come back.
Wishing for good news and good health for you...K

Kim D. said...

So sorry you were sick, glad everything went well with the Gall Bladder surgery. Well wishes and positive thoughts that the spot on your liver won't be anything major. The class looks like it was so much fun, thanks for sharing the photo's.

Nedra said...

Oh my. What a trip. Prayers are being sent for a speedy recovery. I'm in the Phoenix area a lot, and I would help you in a heart beat!