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It’s just before 6am and I’m sitting up in my home hospital bed in the living room writing this. In an hour Kasha and I will be on the road, driving to Los Angeles for a weekend by the beach among family and friends.
It’s surprising, all the little precautions I need to take nowadays for a vacation. But considering what’s growing inside me, and all the medications and their little side effects– and the catheter hanging off me– I guess it’s a gift that I can go at all in my condition and not break the bank. My California family is helping make it possible, and I’m so grateful! This is my first trip away from Phoenix all summer; my first reprieve from the desert heat and daily health grind since learning I had cancer.
So how am I traveling? In medi-style, I call it. My sister loaned us her mini-van for the trip, so we have a Honda Odyssey with all the back seats removed. I’ll have my hospital mattress laid down on the floor, with pillows and comforters tucked in every cranny. A large ice chest contains tons of juice, fruit and veggies for an easy grab, and I’ve got both a heating pad and ice pack for whatever ache ails me. (Not to mention some strong drugs for “breakthrough pain,” as it’s called.)
I have a catheter, meaning that all my urine drains into a bag, so this is emptied every several hours. Also, when my condition worsened a bit last month due to the spinal cord compression, I lost feeling to my buttocks and upper thighs. This has caused me to have to wear a diaper. (Humiliating? Telling you now, a little bit, but I’ve mostly gotten over it on my end here.) I don’t have too many “accidents,” other than a serious amount of urine leakage around my catheter that my urologist says is due to bladder spasms. I have a special pill for that I take once a day called Xanthura, but to no noticeable effect so far.
And so, I’ve got all my pills, medical supplies and healthy food. Packed are my long sleeves, a new Aussie floppy hat, and sunscreen for protection. Also important– my laptop! I’ll have it with me, of course, but will also be able to use it in the van to watch movies along the way, thanks to an AC converter. I have I Love You Man and some documentaries. And I’ve got some mp3s loaded up, including the latest release from Iron and Wine– Around the Well.
Well, I’ve got to get up and get ready for the trip! I told Kasha I wanted to leave by 6:30am, even though I knew there was no chance of that. I figure we’ll be lucky to get out of here by 8am. Always last minute things to do for late preppers like us, and it’s especially true when you throw in my health issues.
If I find wi-fi en route to LA I’ll post another blog entry. In the meantime– thanks to everyone who’s helped make this trip possible!
Melissa, Mom, Scott, Vicky, Larry & Sheila, Boone families, Ruth & John, Dan…
(It takes a village or something, eh?)
Filed under Travel
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It’s so good to see a blog entry, especially for those who don’t get to talk to you or see you everyday.
Happy TRAVELing! Enjoy eachother and your time away together.
xo
m
We made it! The drive was fine, and Kasha & I are ready to take a stroll by the beach. I’ll post more about the drive up and our hotel later tonight or in the morning. In the meantime, know that we’re so grateful to be here, and to have the encouragement of all our family and friends!