Aug. 31, 2004 - 18:19 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Next ?

Old age ? Another name for it I guess, is Doctor Time. Seems like Heather and I spend equal time with doctors and prescriptions. My case not as serious as hers of course. But time spent sort of puts us in a rut.

After running a bunch of tests on Heather, some of which were 'same old" and others new, they told her that they could find nothing wrong with her and that she could go home.

She called me and as soon as I could do the watering and such I made the trek to hospital. Took her clothes in to her (she went to hospital in nightgown and bathrobe), she got dressed and we left. On the way home she was sad, she has been there so many times, went through all those tests, being told there was nothing wrong with her that they could find and still having the same pain and fatigue of a person with something ailing them. I was in somewhat of a similar mood myself.

We made our way home and Heather got settled in her chair, turned the TV on. The phone rang and it was her personal physician (primary care ?) who told her that they had found a node on one of her thyroid glands and she had already put in authorization on the computer for Heather to go to an appointment with a specialist and for Heather to make an appointment. Guess someone at hospital was going through x-rays of her upper chest and neck and found it and called Heather's doctor. Heather called right away and received an appointment for the 17th of September. Remarkable, usually takes on the order of a month to see a specialist.

So it is waiting to go see the specialist, find out what he can find out and what's to be done about it and receive a prognosis. We will wait and see.

But, here in my mind is that trembling, teary, yammering, shaking the bars little kid, who has heard more about "nodes" than he ever wants to hear when our son was in hospital. Nodes are the black cats that cross my path now. Hope my nightmare doesn't come true and am trying hard to be the strong, silent, comforting man Heather needs me to be.

We have the support and prayers of many friends, some who are cyber but super, as well as friends and relatives here in town. We will try to do what is needed, while wondering what's Next ? . . . . . . . . . . .

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