Rocky comes home today from the nursing home. With a walker
that will be a regular part of his life for some months to come, he will
continue home based physical therapy for another two weeks. After that he and I
will hopefully be able to visit the local park district gym three times a week
to keep both of our stamina in order.
I am happy to have him home. It has been a lonely time. I
moped. And the dog moped. She did not understand his absence, but we did take her
to visit Rocky about once a day. While there she guarded his room, facing the
door on alert! Then, when exiting the building, she would head into
every room on the corridor to greet each resident. A smile on her face, and a
‘dogged’ determination to visit each room. Finally, the elevator and soon after
the exit.
When she reached home, she had a drink of water, found her
resting place (in the sun, on the heated floor, nearest the patio door). Her
naps were long and languorous.
Through the cold weather neighbor Pam has walked the dog and
sheltered her for a few hours to brighten the dog’s day. It has worked to keep
the dog happy and me from exposing my horrendous lungs to the cold air. The
result is a steady improvement in my health; still cough gobs but am breathing
regularly without oxygen during the day.
Now it is up to us to determine how our routine will shape
up. Will it be with exercise? Will it be with renewed scheduling with quiet
times, TV times, computer routines, and errands? Or will it be sitting idly by
getting older by the hour? That’s what did us in this last time.
Meanwhile, I have decluttered the house, spiffed up each
room and have a checklist of tasks yet to be done. If only I had someone to
wash the floors, clean the windows, and vacuum the carpets. These are the tasks
not done well by an emphysema patient. And I cannot see Rocky with a walker
doing these duties. Any ideas?
For now, we face the new days with a smile and hope. Surely
things will be better than these last three weeks?
December 29, 2017
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