WDM, IA - The New Normal

Sometimes it’s amazing how fast one can be laid low by physical problems. One day, healthy without a care in the world, the next day, flat on your back in the hospital. We all think we’re still kids and will be kids forever with the physical strength and stamina to match. Then something happens to make us realize that good health is not a given. A friend of ours, 63 years old, without a sick day to his name found himself in this position recently.

He had a bit of a backache, really, nothing to worry about. What’s called ‘over doer’s backache’ on TV. Just a little rest and an Advil. The next night, he awoke in such pain that his wife had to call the ambulance to get him to the emergency room of the hospital. A few tests, a bit of poking and prodding and then the doctor noticed that one side of his abdomen was swollen. He poked it, it was as hard as a board. A few more tests and our friend was life-flighted to Iowa City 180 miles away into the care of the specialists at the University of Iowa Hospitals.

To make a long story short, our friend had 2 staph infections, probably in his back. This had caused a abscess, a fluid build-up in his abdomen the size of 1/2 a volley ball, which pushed against his pancreas, shutting it down and causing diabetes.

He was released from Iowa City but then had to find a place where he could stay where his special needs could be met. He needs a 1-1/2-hr daily antibiotics drip to kill the infection. The fluid is still draining from his abscess. He is too weak to walk without a walker. Luckily he lives in Fort Dodge, Ia where there is a nursing home / health center which has a floor dedicated to short term disability patients who need rehab. But he was the one who had to come up with this idea and had to make some of the arrangements himself.

To look at him in his room, he looks great, as if he’s sitting, relaxing in his own living room. He still has the same old smile, the same old wit and the same old mile-a-minute conversation speed. But, he has a ‘pick’ for his daily 1-1/2 hr intravenous antibiotics drip, a plastic container hanging off his abdomen catching the fluid as it drains and a walker by his side. Nice room, great service, excellent food, but, what in the world is he doing there?

His nurse in Iowa City told him that he had a ‘new normal’ and he’s been told he would probably need a walker from now on. He and his wife are facing this head-on. They know what the ‘new normal’ is but that doesn’t mean that they are not continuing with the ‘old normal’ in many ways and that they won’t continue to strive to regain the ‘old normal.’ He is determined to walk without a walker and, I have no doubt that he will, with the determination he has shown recently.

A good day is when he can walk down the hall and back with a walker. And, he’s having more of these as time passes.

Now, I realize that the twists that fate can play on us is not a new revelation but sometimes it is brought home more forcefully. Sometimes we find it on our doorstep. Gary and I are very cognizant of the fact that we are extremely lucky. We know how lucky we are to be physically and financially able to do what we are doing. But, every now and then, it slaps us upside of our heads.

We’re impressed with the fortitude and courage shown by this couple, wish them all the best and know that they’re going to shine.