Bill's Home

 

Bill leaving the hospital today

Bill is home from the hospital. 

I picked him up at 4:30 this afternoon, in the sun glare of a late winter afternoon. 

Even though Bill went in for a massive blood clot in his right leg, they were very concerned with his swallowing difficulties. I will just have to manage his food preparation better in the future. One of the options was a feeding tube in his stomach. We're not going to do that just like we're not going to a rehab facility. Someone from Medicare will come by the house in the next few days.

Bill is weak and has to regain his strength. We've been through this before when he had his two strokes almost two years to the day (January 12th and 14th, 2021). We'll do it again.

Today started out horribly. I couldn't get my iPhone on! Every night before I go to bed I put it on a charger. I didn't drop it or do anything else unusual to the phone. But this morning I couldn't get it on. I was starting to panic because the hospital calls me on that phone. And Bill goes berserk if they can't get hold of me. He thinks I'm in an accident or worse. 

I couldn't call Apple because I have to use my phone to call Apple support. I would have to use my neighbor's phone but I know he doesn't get up until around ten o'clock. I didn't want to wake him. And to top everything else off, I had a dental appointment (cleaning and examination) at  11 AM. I had to do some quick thinking. I decided to go down to the hospital and visit in person and tell Bill's nurse my phone was out. Then by the time I got back my neighbor was up. I asked to borrow his phone (what would we do without one another?) and he readily agreed. I called Apple support and they showed me how to reboot my phone. I was doing it wrong. Up volume button, down volume button then hold the power switch in for about thirty seconds until you see the Apple logo. I read on the Internet that you only pressed the volume button down. WRONG. 

Relieved that I got the phone working I headed off to my dental appointment. Of course I forgot my extra partials and had to come back to get them. I just made my dental appointment on time. And my dental hygienist was very gentle. My mouth didn't feel like razor blades whip sawed through it for once after a teeth cleaning.

Back home for a quick lunch and a call from the hospital telling me my options. After lunch while I was brushing my teeth, another call from the hospital with more options including one taking Bill home today. I'll take it!

I'm so glad to have him home even though he is still a bit confused. But he knows he's home and he knows me. I had several intense sad moments today driving around without Bill riding shotgun in our car. At Royal Farms I had to lock my car after getting gas and going in to order my usual of eight biscuits to go. Will Bill as my wingman I don't worry about anybody stealing my car from the gas pump.

I did a lot of riding today without Bill in that passenger seat. When I got emotional was trying to imagine the rest of my life without Bill. I just can't do it folks. I talked to my neighbor (the one whose phone I borrowed) and asked him if the loss gets any better. He lost his wife almost three years ago (January 26th.) He said "No, but you learn to accept it." I don't know folks. It is going to be tough. But for now, Bill's home where he belongs. We're together again.

Bill is home in his favorite chair