This Here Hospital

I sure wouldn’t want to leave UK Med Center without saying what an amazing place/people/culture this is. I arrived a week ago and I haven’t met a single person who wasn’t kind, compassionate, caring, and openhearted. I am very well cared for. If I had to guess how many patients were on this floor based upon how responsive the staff is to my needs, I’d say there might be one other. Two tops.

Obviously I’m not going home yesterday, and likely not today, either. But perhaps tomorrow. What we’re waiting on is the final pathology report from the bone biopsy, followed by a visit from a troop of oncologists. I was originally told I may have to wait two weeks, but that’s been updated to ‘hopefully this afternoon’. My ‘hospitalist’, the general medicine guy who cares for me on this floor, doesn’t want me to leave here without a final report and a plan. He doesn’t think I should have to wait at home, when he can get a whole team to come to my room. He has been such a great caregiver, and I may be the only one around here who can pronounce his name. The staff calls him ‘Dr. E’. His name is Elghezewi, and it’s pronounced just like it looks. What’s so hard about that?

(He ordered an MRI yesterday morning, just to be sure that this tumor in my skull isn’t pushing my brain around, and that there are no tumors IN my brain. I didn’t think there were, and I was right – no problems. But I’ll get a different oncologist for my head than the one for my leg and the one for my back. Everyone is such a specialist these days. I’m grateful they all know each other, though. )

I have so appreciated all the comments and love people have sent my way. I am grateful every day, for so much, and one of the things I’m grateful for today is knowing that people love me. It didn’t take me being sick to find out, either. I already knew it. And all of you know how much I love you, too. Isn’t that amazing? We sure shouldn’t have to have misfortune to be made aware we are loved.

I’ve learned much in this week, as well. I am more patient than I realized. I don’t mind waiting. I know that it takes however long it takes. I know that when I learn more about what’s going on with my body I’ll also get a boatload of information and resources that will help me make decisions about my care.

I had a strange feeling this morning, reflecting on this waiting time. I felt almost as though I were waiting for a gift, a surprise, or a present; to see what prize I had won. That brought me a laugh, but I realized it’s the perfect place to be. Curious. What could this all be? My friend, Donna, spoke to me about acceptance, and I explained I’ve been on that course for quite a long time now. I shared a favorite Eckhart Tolle quote –

“Accept…then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it….This will miraculously transform your whole life.”

All things considered, I am a most fortunate person, and I know it.

I’ll take notes when the gang gets here, and add a journal entry so we’re all on the same page. My plan is to go home, rest, watch a few sunrises and sunsets, and consider the prize I’ve won.

Love,
Marcie