A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WIFE IN THE WAITING ROOM

John Cleese for Westinghouse Salad Express catches my attention on the tube. I wonder how much they paid him for that commercial? Dr. Brown, dial 853 blaring ever so loudly from the intercom. That sound could wake the dead. I made myself smile. Must be my sick sense of humor at this time.

Jan is resting quietly again. Who should I call when I get home? I’ll certainly call James
Alexandra, my prayer partners, cousin Ann, Cheryl Jones, the church those are a few a names that come to mind. Blood thinners for a month for Jan, no heavy lifting for three days, he’s still resting and that’s the best thing he can do. Dr. William Brown, dial 853 is blaring again but they reduced the volume. No doubt someone said something about it. Thank God!

Just called James and Alexandra. They weren’t around so I left messages on their cell phones. James just called me back within the hour. He was in class. After asking about his Dad, he told me not to be mad at Alexandra. I told him I couldn’t discuss it right now. Hopefully when we get home the problem will be resolved. I thought that was very grown up of him to say that if she needed to be in Chicago it was all right with him, if that was her higher calling. I can only fight one emotional battle at a time. This one is a heavy load for me to carry right now.

I must call Fun Time Tennis and tell them I won’t be playing tomorrow. I think I should take care of Jan and monitor his progress. My friend Lori came in to check on Jan. She is Dr. Ducker’s PA. I didn’t recognize her at first. That seems to be happening from time to time with other’s too. Must be a senior moment. But the story fell into place in my mind. Lori and I had gone to India several years earlier on a medical missions trip. She was still in PA school and used that trip as clinical experience. We roomed together so I got to know her a bit better. She’s married now; changing jobs to a Family Practice PA in the next month, and seems happy. I’m happy for her. She tells me that Jan can get off his medications. There in only one medication that has to be reduced gradually over the next week. Remember that was the carrot for me when I even considered letting Jan go in for surgery. She checked Jan’s heart and everything is looking positive at this point.

It’s 3:53 p.m only 37 minutes to go, 37 minutes and counting down. Dr. Drucker is supposed to come by and see Jan again. He has to write his discharge papers before we go anywhere. He will schedule Jan for an office visit in 6 weeks. There is only one half hour left and I am still counting. The nurse just came in and pulled the cath and removed the various lines, needles, and patches connected to his body. She gave Jan one of those portable urinals but he couldn’t go in bed. He’ll wait till he can get up so that he can use the bathroom in the room.