Wellbeing

Live-Blogging Cheryl's Surgery

The promised update 2:06 p.m. It’s been a long day yet it seems it’s only a little more than half finished. Cheryl’s sleeping for the moment and I’d really like to do the same. I’m ready to call it a day. I’ll post something brief tomorrow to let you know how she’s doing.   1:45 p.m. (recovery) The bandages are striking. I’d like to post pictures but Cheryl’s likely reply (if I…
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Wellbeing

Maybe it's better I didn't know

Who knows what kind of anxiety I could have built up if I’d known. Until Friday I had an umbilical hernia. I preferred this name to the more common “belly-button hernia.” Until Friday night I thought the surgery to repair it would be nothing – no more harmful than its silly sounding common name. I have a couple days under my belt now, and holy shit on a popsicle stick, it…
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Wellbeing

Cut 2 C Spine

A word of warning: I’m going to do a fair bit of whining to start, but I promise it will get better. I’m done. Cheryl thinks I should have come to this conclusion a year ago. That’s how long the pain in my neck, shoulder, arm, and head have beat me up and down. For now I’ve given up on physical therapy, massages, chiropractors, pain management specialists, and a few others…
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Important Stuff

Help out a good guy

My friend Richard is having surgery. A pituitary tumor (it’s all in his head), unending migraines, and a body that doesn’t play nice in general, does not pave the road to financial stability. A hospital stay isn’t going to help. So do me a solid. Help my friend with a donation. You’ll get some good reading in return – a collection of short works donated by his friends…
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Wellbeing

Soma relief

I’m not sure where I heard this, but Disney supposedly inflates the estimated wait times on their amusement park rides. Makes sense, right? I’ll bet leads to fewer disappointments. The day of Cheryl’s surgery, I remember the doctor saying her pain should start feeling better by the following Monday. As I’ve mentioned before, it didn’t. In fact it got a little…
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Beth

State of the Kauffmans

The obvious place to start is Cheryl, the recently cut open. The doctor said she’d have a rough weekend and she did. Hoo-ray for the wisdom granted those who study modern medicine! It’s supposed to start getting better this week, so maybe we’re almost in the clear. It seems like the end is near. I mean that in a good way, but with every bit of sarcasm mixed in you can muster. In…
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Family and FriendsWellbeing

Cheryl speaks

Cheryl posted a couple comments to the last posts, in reply to the thoughts, good wishes, and prayers sent her way. I’m reposting them here to give them the visibility they’re due (and because one reflects well on me). Thank you all for your good wishes and virtual lasagna. I just got home and am already feeling better. I have discovered they don’t let you sleep in the…
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Family and FriendsWellbeing

Back in the hospital

Naturally, the first song to pop up on a random play of the songs on my phone would be “Hymn to the Fallen.” Hospitals have been a benign place most of my life. While not exactly money in the pocket of a forgotten pair of jeans, it hasn’t been the center for suffering and death it can be for others. Growing up I had my share of stitches, broken bones, and dislocated hips. The…
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