PUTTING IN THE PRACTICE
Have you been practicing lately? You know, practicing your Gratitudes!
They don't just "happen"--not on their own. Gratitudes only exist when you acknowledge them--give them expression--share them with family and friends (maybe even the world, if you write a blog).
I'll share mine with you today--and in case you've just tuned in, I'll mention that I've recently spent a spell getting ready for heart surgery, then two intense days in the hospital for a valve replacement, and now well into the aftermath (blood work, echocardiogram, doctor appts., cardiac rehab, and the good old etc.).
People - it takes a ton of people to make even the shortest hospital stay fall into place. I started out with the intention of remembering people's names: nurses in pre-op; techs who did pre-op echos and EKGs; techs who had special assignments (x-ray, testing body fluids). Finally had to give up because there seemed to be an unending stream of them. They all told me their names, which I appreciated; but my memory got stuffed full long before they moved on. I also had no food or water for hours before my procedure, so brain power wasn't up to snuff.
In addition to those named above, there were the surgeons (takes four hands to guide the valve into place); anesthetist (I loved that gal! She offered me music which she played in my ear while I was undergoing whatever I was undergoing at the time); nurses who shifted me from the gurney to the operating table (those gals and guys have to do a lot of physio to have that kind of strength).
Aftercare - When the surgery was over and I was not yet quite with it, I was moved to the 5th floor, cardiac care unit. Or ICU. But every patient on that floor was in cardiac care. I had a lot of companions on the journey, though I was in a room of my own.
Again I tried to keep track of the nurses--the first one was going off her shift, so I got acquainted with Becky, the night nurse. My daughter was staying in the ICU room with me, so we both talked with Becky. By the middle of the night, we were entertaining Becky with our brand of goofy humor. Passed the hours for us, and kept my mind from receding into a corner and refusing to come out. Also--I had been lying on my back, legs straight, no lifting my head, for 18 hours or more. Humor was the best medicine at that time.
Eventually I was allowed to get up to use the toilet, naturally with a nurse to hold me up in case I folded. After that, I was able to sit up in bed, bend my legs a bit; eventually they got me up to take a walk around the unit, past all the rooms with folks like me in them, and once I passed that test, I was free to go home. It was mid-afternoon.
Family & Friends - Everyone who goes through the unusual things of life--surgery, death of a loved one, caring for those with long-term illness (you know the list as well as I)--every single one of us needs our family and friends. Their prayers--their caring--their phone calls and notes--their other ways of communicating their concerns--what would we do without them? I give thanks for family and friends, for folks near at home and far away. You've all made a difference, and my recovery is supported by what you've done and continue to do.
-----
My gratitude covers so many people--in so many roles--who did so many different things--all for my benefit.
Yes, I was ecstatic to go home after only one night in the hospital. Yes, I knew there would be a time of healing and more appointments and more tests.
But the overwhelming feeling I had was thankfulness--that there is a procedure to lengthen my life, that it is available in a hospital near me, and that so many, many people were giving their time and talents to make the procedure and my recovery possible.
-----
I am beginning to experience renewed energy, one of the pluses of the surgery I had. Thus begins a learning curve--how to handle extra energy, how to schedule events and make time for interests I've had to put aside. No doubt you'll hear about my progress.
Blessings,
Thursday's Child
