Heather Shrinks in Houston!

[Zer]

What an interesting test. Cannot imagine eating rice, just rice, naked rice. Ugh! Buttery rice is another thing altogther! Ron will enjoy rice with his various tv dinners, probably, or maybe as a rice pudding with raisins, possibly cooked with coconut milk if R cannot tolerate cream. Do you think he will like a rice pudding snack to fatten him up a bit?

[Houston Heather]

Well, a lot of "poor folk" in Houston grew up eating rice as a meal-extender. His family was one of them. They'd have a small portion of meat, horribly abused cooked veggies, and a big side of rice.

Their idea of properly prepared veggies: take some potatoes. Peel them. Sit them in a bowl of water (which leaches out the vitamins). Boil them in water, throw the water away. Serve. No nutritional value left.

They also liked to take a can of veggies, greens or green beans, boil them for an hour or so on the stove, and then serve.

I'm not surprised that Ron hates veggies. If I cook veggies, I cook them in the microwave until just hot and serve promptly.

Now that I've cut the sugar out, they actually taste pretty sweet.

I see so many badly managed diabetics, waiting for their second or third kidney transplant, amputations, ulcers, neuropathy, and I won't allow that to happen to me.

Uh-uh. No.

[Houston Heather]

Oh, God, today was AWFUL!

I woke up with a horrible migraine. As I got out of bed, I was swamped with a horrible wave of nausea. I told Ron and he said "I need you at work, a food machine is down". I didn't even check my blood sugar, I just slapped on some deodorant and clothes and took my phenergan tablet.

I carried a bucket with me to work, just in case I had to puke. The driver had some stomach issues himself, poor kid. I was able to share some of my Pepto Tabs with him.

Ron said "I feel like a real (illegitamate child)[for making you work today]".

"You are!" I croaked. We staggered in through the credit union and I walked over to the food machine. I opened it, turned it off. Turned it on again, rotated it, pushed a few buttons, and closed it again. I "fixed" it.

Then I went into the stockroom and collapsed into the folding chair we have for emergencies like this. I actually fell asleep for a while, and when I woke up at 9 I felt somewhat human.

I went out to help Ron if I could. Someone came by and told me the food machine was down. I told him I fixed it. He asked me if I was sure it was OK and I pointed at it, up arn running. "Oh, OK, because your food machine was down". Yes, I replied. That's why Ron made me come to work, with a migraine. So I could fix it.

Ugh. Our ride to come home came pretty fast, but we rode forever before we got home. I got to talking with the driver. He said he was eating healthy, a footlong subway sandwhich for lunch everyday. He'd gained some weight. I mentioned, a lot of bread on those things. Oh, he was OK, he got the whole grain.

I asked when he started eating Subway for lunch. October, he said. I asked when the weight gain had started. Octo- oh.....

He got it. We came home and Ron wanted lunch. I fixed him something. After not eating in over 16 hours, I checked my blood sugar. 108. Damn. Kind of HIGH.

I felt pretty good and I was almost out of veggies.

I decided to go to Foodtown. Here's what I got:
1 pound frozen chopped Collard greens : $1.59
2 pounds frozen California blend (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots): $2.19
"Ends and Pieces" leftover from processing smoked turkey breast, 2 packages for 40 ounces: $5
Ham ends and pieces, zero carbs, 20 ounces: $2.49
Bacon ends and pieces, 2 pounds!: $2.99
1 can tomato and green chili blend, mild: $.50
Cucumber: $.50
Small squash: $.29
Parsley - I love to put it in salad: $.50
1 pound mung bean sprouts: $.99
Red Bell Pepper: $.50
Bunch Celery: $1.29
Cabbage head: $.52 (so far, only $19.85)
Package Hard salami: $4.10
Pepper shaker: $.66
$24.61 - more than enough for a week!

I can use the bacon ends and pieces to cook the veggies, or cook them up in the skillet. Tasty. I used to do that all the time when money was so tight I couldn't afford "real" bacon and I was low-carbing. I love the "leftovers" from the meat processing. $2 a pound for smoked turkey and ham is an incredibly good deal, and it's all good for up to a month.

I love Foodtown. I went to Jack in the Box and ate some bunless bacon cheeseburgers before I came home. I put up the groceries, gave Ron his tacos (he wanted some from Jack), and took my nap.

Then I woke up and came here!

I meant to add, I did some research yesterday. For insulin resistant people, like myself, exercise really seems to help with controlling the sugars.

I plan to start adding in some cardio every day - 15 minutes a day to start, something moderate. Do that all month, 5 times a week, and add an extra 5 minutes every month until I'm up to half an hour 5 days a week.

It can't hurt.

[Houston Heather]

Today was better. I worked a longer shift at work, but I don't mind. I enjoy my work and my customers. I love hearing about Leroy's bad haircut, Smiley's workout plans, and the shenanigans of Bonnie's Yorkshire Terriers.

I was bad. I ate before I checked my blood sugar, so I didn't check it.

I fixed a coin jam (required 2 screwdrivers and some muttering), pulled out the bad codes (whatever eats out of the dumpster will get a good meal), got the milk, chatted with the customers, did just about everything imaginiable for Ron, and ate a couple of sausage patties out on the dock while waiting on the milk.

Afterward, we went to Walmart. I wanted to return the card reader that didn't work. Well, my media didn't fit into it. I realized today that my jeans were failing the pull down test. They came right off while they were still buttoned. They weren't falling off, but if they come off without unbuttoning it's time to move to the Salvation Army.

I found a cute pair of jeans, a nice basic black in a 12. I found some cute bermuda-style shorts, also in a 12. They fit great. I deliberated between them for a while (today it got up to 70, so I'll need decent shorts pretty quick), and finally decided to get both.

An adorable dress - black satin with some fake "gems" under the bosom, very sexy and stylish. Had been $15, marked down to $7. I decided if I'd been interested in it for that long (months), that I ought to buy it. I got a Juniors "Large". It fits perfectly.

These 12's are a little tight, but the one I just retired is also a 12. I'm beginning to see what some people say about sizing. It can be a bit erratic. I ate a lot of sugarfree ice cream yesterday, so I figure I'm a little bloated. Besides, I'd rather have something a little tight because I am not sizing up!

We have tomorrow off. I don't know what I'll do, other than sleep in of course.

I was actually pretty clear for quite a while today, I was very happy about that. I got some veggies and drinks (splenda drinks) at Walmart today, in addition to my clothes. Ron wanted fruit salad, stuff like that.

I plan to have a big salad for dinner. I had a cup of mung beans with my breakfast - they were fast. I really want to get in the habit, if at all possible, of eating a veggie with every meal. I figure I cannot go wrong eating more veggies, and 4 cups a day sounds very reasonable.

Besides, I want to do Atkins "Properly" and that means adding more veggies first as I move up the carb ladder. I don't want to jump all over, dairy, soy milk, berries, nuts, and then wonder why I'm "stalled".

I'd rather take my time and do it right.

[Houston Heather]

Good news first: I ate 5.25 servings of veggies today, for a total of 30 carbs. Yay me.

Bad news, I forgot I can't have a big salad and take my lithium. Oh, GOD! I'm so queasy! Ugh.

Queasy, Pepto, queasy. Now I'm queasy with the pepto taste in my mouth. Ugh.

[Houston Heather]

Since I already felt like crap, and I hadn't taken my blood sugar, I decided to take it 2 hours after my meal. 106. Very good.

I told Ron I was taking my sugars and he wanted me to do his. I did.

I had a chef salad (2 cups fresh raw veggies, 1/3 cup cheese, 1/2 cup turkey, 2 T dressing) and 1 cup steamed veggies with olive oil.

He had a Banquet brand TV dinner, Meatloaf. 1 slice of meatloaf in gravy with mashed potatoes and corn. Oh, yeah, and flavored water.

His sugars? 113. Disgustingly perfect. Even after eating 23 grams of fast-acting carbs in one sitting.

I guess I don't need to worry about him, huh?

[Houston Heather]

Got up, checked my sugars. 111. Not good! Over 100 is pre-diabetic, 126 is full blown diabetic. I'm glad I added in chromium a few days ago, it's supposed to help with blood sugar regulation and response. I'm also going to look at what I'm eating for dinner.

No berries and cream tonight, and maybe more veggies at lunch instead of dinner. I'll figure it out.

[Izzybeff]

Sorry to bust into your journal, but have you considered adding some cinnamon to your diet. It will help with your blood sugar issues. Also, I miss seeing you post in the playground!

[Houston Heather]

Hi Liz!

I have been adding cinnamon to my decaf coffee at night, and I plan to add in a very moderate amount of exercise too. My post-meal sugars are good, it's just the fasting reading first thing in the morning. I'd like to get that down into 80's or 90's.

It does explain why I am NEVER hungry in the morning.

Ron and I went to Burger King for lunch. Yummy. I had a quad stacker - literally one pound of charbroiled beef, cheese, and bacon. No bun of course. They're used to me there.

Ron had the "burger shots" - tiny little burgers. He can't do big chunks of meat but he did fine with them. And onion rings. Oh, well, his sugars are fine!

I had unsweetened tea with splenda. Tasty.

[Zer]

Have not been to BK in forever, but I'm curious to try a quad stacker, as you make it sound delish. No bun, no sauce? What else do you specify to leave off, so that this is a LC-legal meal?

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

Ron and I went to Burger King for lunch. Yummy. I had a quad stacker - literally one pound of charbroiled beef, cheese, and bacon. No bun of course. They're used to me there.

Nice when folks get to know how you like your food fixed! I just got a tin of smoked sardines in oil (soy, ugh!) and wish my family would quit gifting me with sardines, as I am not a fan of smoked fish or soy oil. I'll put these out for someone who maybe likes smoked fish and is not averse to eating fish packed in soy oil. Or, maybe I'll just drain the fish and... well, I don't know. Nice that anyone is thinking to gift me with anything, as cranky as I am these days. Now I'm off to thank my niece for sending me a DVD (Steve Martin in "Roxanne") and some amazingly fragrant tiny soaps - aromatherapy! Ah, I forgive her the fish!

I think I'll ask Dora to get me the Heather special from BK on Friday. Yum!

[Houston Heather]

Oh, it's good. It's just charbroiled meat, cheese, bacon, and thousand island type sauce.

I just order a "Quad Stacker, no sauce".

I just ate a big salad, I'll take my lithium later with some MEAT. Lithium doesn't like salad and the feeling is mutual.

I went for a nice walk, 40 minutes. I'm curious to see if that does anything for my sugars tomorrow.

[Houston Heather]

Damn. My blood sugar was 111 this morning. Damn.

Not good! I had hoped, with the exercise and lower carbs yesterday, it would "behave". No. AGH AGH agh.

Then, queasy all day! Ugh! I hardly ate anything. If my gallbladder's going to do something, I wish it would do it. I'm tired of these intermittent symptoms. I don't want them to "go" when I'm waiting to see a doctor. No, I figure something nice, spectacular, and obvious.

Other than that, it wasn't a bad day, it was pretty good. We went to Sam's club and I bought $200 worth of candy bars. I ate the tops of 2 pizzas (then came the nausea). We went to work. I organized my hand cart so I had 10 cases of candy bars, 5 flats of muffins, and a big canister of shop towels. I got Ron in and took my cart around the side of the building.

[nasty hiccup and burp there]

I did my inventory and called in the order. We need lots of drinks and chips, not much in the coffee department. I gave the maintenance guys a bunch of out-of-code donuts. They're always happy to polish them off and take them with a big grin and sincere thanks. It's a pleasure to spoil them a little now and then.

I helped Ron, usual stuff. Then I stocked my candy, most of it at any rate. If someone wants a [fattening candy bar] or a [fattening bag of candy] I have them in my machines. I may not have everything in every machine, but it you want it, it's there.

Tomorrow, I'm up at 2 AM to get the delivery and check it in. Then stock it, and the rest of my candy. I need to help Ron do pastries, you can bet I'm going to bring a good breakfast. Actually, I have some cooked hamburger patties in our fridge at work. In addition to my usual stuff. Assuming I feel HUNGRY by then. Ugh.

I hate whiners, especially when it's me.

[Houston Heather]

Night all!

I love you all!

[lisabinil]

There is some evidence that gallbladder disease can also cause high blood sugars in some peeps. The gallbladder works in conjunction with the liver and pancreas-you can Google it for more info. Wonder if your wonky gallbladder could be contributing to your high blood sugars along with your meds? Maybe you could ask your doc.

[Zer]

Oh, I too hate a whiner - especially when it's ME doing the whining. Makes me want to smack myself upside my pointy head, hearing me whine at myself! And I hate having pain at approximately where my gall bladder or liver is (maybe). My fasting BS is about 80, or was the last time a public health nurse checked it on her gadget. Now I'm wondering if I should get a blood sugar checking gadget to see if my BS is involved as an indicator of a serious problem when I have a rigid pain on my right side that FEELS like a liver going gangrenous or cirrhotic or ??? just too full of fatty cells to fit neatly inside my ribcage. Hurts front and back in me sometimes, so I cannot lie back on pillows or find any comfy position. Liver? Gall bladder? Today it's not killing me, but sometimes it gives me fits and scares me about taking yet another ibuprofen - not that I think ibuprofen helps much these days.

Grumpy? You bet! But not as much of a meltdown as I had yesterday, I'm glad to report. Sometimes I just can't bear being trapped in this big blobby body!

I'm going to ask my home helper to get me a BK "quad stacker, no sauce" on Friday, as she checks my mail and shops me some avocados, prunes, yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, cream cheese to go with all the canned fish that I eat.

[skeopple]

I don't know much about the subject but found this while schmoozing on the thread about HCG:

[COLOR="Purple"]Originally Posted by loveslifegal30

I know people that have done the olive oil/grapefruit gall bladder flush before and most of them ended up in the emergency room. I was worried about that, but the more I researched the more I found that the magic to Dr. Clark's flush it the Epsom Salt solution you drink. Drinking the Epsom Salts relaxes all the ducts allowing the stones to pass without pain.[/COLOR]

Might be worth googling?

[lisabinil]

Originally Posted by skeopple

I don't know much about the subject but found this while schmoozing on the thread about HCG:

[COLOR="Purple"]Originally Posted by loveslifegal30

I know people that have done the olive oil/grapefruit gall bladder flush before and most of them ended up in the emergency room. I was worried about that, but the more I researched the more I found that the magic to Dr. Clark's flush it the Epsom Salt solution you drink. Drinking the Epsom Salts relaxes all the ducts allowing the stones to pass without pain.[/COLOR]

Might be worth googling?

You can do more damage with this and cleanses without knowing the status of your gallstones. I had 6 huge ones that would never have broken up and passed-this would have made me very sick.

[Zer]

No joy for me, as my local BK has vanished! Gone! So no quad stacker for me - and now (of course) I really WANT a quad stacker.

Originally Posted by Zer

Oh, I too hate a whiner - especially when it's ME doing the whining. Makes me want to smack myself upside my pointy head, hearing me whine at myself! ...

I'm going to ask my home helper to get me a BK "quad stacker, no sauce" on Friday, as she checks my mail and shops me some avocados, prunes, yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, cream cheese to go with all the canned fish that I eat.

No quad stacker today - or until we locate another BK - but my home helper did find KUMQUATS at Trader Joe's today. Sour small citrus. Love'em!

Not quite fulfilling for a mouth that is watering for a quad stacker... sigh....

[Houston Heather]

Zer!

Frosty cat was a very bad boy. He got out and fought with someone outside my bedroom window for a good 10 minutes. He got the neighbor's dog all excited, too. Lots of yowling, hissing, and very bad cat language in a background of frenzied barking. Just great at midnight when you were sleeping and have to get up in 2 hours.

I was so tired I forgot I was mad at him. I gave him tuna and shrimp for breakfast. Hopefully he won't associate his num num with the fighting. As far as he's concerned, he's protecting his turf. He is very territorial and goes buggo if he sees another cat in the yard. He used to live on the street, eating out of trash cans, so he's not about to "lose" a good thing by letting in another cat.

I'd never do that to him anyway, but he doesn't listen!

Well, some good news. Up at 2 AM. Checked my sugars. 96! Yay!

Then off to work. Queasy, a little achy, but not bad enough to go anywhere. I have gotten a lot of "ER" pats on the head and "go home missy, you'll be fine". Of course, now I realize they never even did an ultrasound . Anyway, I'm a little paranoid.

I figure if God wants me to deal with it, He will make it really obvious. It's not such a big deal to ask, I think. I don't want surgery, I don't want to have a recovery period, but it I need to, then I need to.

Just kind of QUEASY today. Ick. That could very well be my lithium, but I dunno. I am tired of this. I don't want to be sick. I don't want to think about my body. I just want it to work.

While I'm at it, I'd like to be 30 pounds lighter, with better skin, and have Ron get his sight and "legs" back. I have to laugh at myself sometimes.

Oh, I was "bad" at lunch, I ate sugarfree apple pie.

I don't have insurance so I would never risk something that would put me in the hospital. I'll suck it up unless it gets scary, then I'll get the proper medical care at the NONPROFIT hospital.

If that happens, and I could very well resolve this on my own, I'll have my aunt post in here. My only concern if I have a gallbladder emergency is the recovery period. I tried to do all my heavy lifting today at work, just in case.

[Houston Heather]

Ron's new wheelchair just arrived! I've got that "new chair smell" in the house, fresh vinyl and rubber. I removed the chair from the box (no way Ron could have done so without a major effort) and set it up. I don't see how to make the swing-away footrests swing away but other than that it looks perfect.

And if MY butt can fit in the chair, his can easily. The old one has some problems, mainly bad footrests that stick out horribly and a bad armrest. When I have to pick up the wheelchair I can't even use the "handle". This one is great, built like a tank, weighs like one, but a good Ron B chair. He tends to be hard on his toys.

Funny how excited I am about my husband's new wheelchair. Just part of my charm, I guess.

[skeopple]

Heather, that's what I love about you; silly AND smart!

[Houston Heather]

Awww.

Funny thing, I just called the pharmacy. "Hi, I need a refill. Can I just give you my name and the medicine?" She goes "Is this Ms. B?"

They knew my voice! At the Walmart pharmacy!

I thought that was so sweet. They are really neat people there and I love 'em to death. Without them I'd be in BAD shape.

I think someone might be buying a bag of mini snickers and leaving it on the counter, with the receipt, tomorrow. Not that I'm naming names.

[skeopple]

That's really neat how you and R treat your service people!

[Zer]

Heather, when you are queasy, do you think ginger might help? Just to settle a ticky tummy, not "cure" anything; just help you get past 'queasy' so you can work/feel better. I filled a plastic salsa cup full of sliced ginger root in water, for me to gnaw on for fresher breath and better digestion. Daily I sip out the ginger water and add fresh water. It's snappy, but tasty, water; refreshing. My intention is to eat the small bits of ginger, just 1/4" bits and slices (across the fibrous grain) that go down easily once I've gnawed them a bit. I think it's good for any tummy. Ginger is also a thermogenic spice, said to crank up a metabolism a notch or two. Let's just HOPE!

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

...off to work. Queasy, a little achy, but not bad enough to go anywhere.... Just kind of QUEASY today. Ick. That could very well be my lithium, but I dunno....

I sure don't know, either, if your queasy tum is a blood sugar thing or a lithium thing or a gall bladder thing. Dunno. Just figure raw ginger root MIGHT help with a symptom, settle your tummy.

[Houston Heather]

I LOVE to spoil people, Sharon. It's my spiritual gift, actually. I figure no one gets love at a pharmacy. It's all about how long I had to wait and it's HOW MUCH? Who else is gonna do a happy dance because risperdal went generic (that was a big hit with the pharmacist, who was worried I might not want the generic )?

I have some ginger root, Zer. Off I go to liberate it from Ron's clutches.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by skeopple

Heather, that's what I love about you; silly AND smart!

I agree!!

Heather ~ I hope you don't end up in the hospital AND I sure hope you start to feel better fast!

Hope Ron likes his new chair!

It's good medicine to laugh at ourselves!!

[Houston Heather]

He does. He doesn't want to need it but he's glad he has a "tool" as I phrased it. Guys love tools.

Lisa, I think you're right about the sugars. Last night, not fun, pretty uncomfortable. This morning, sugars 111.

I made a decison though. I'm going to stop WORRYING about it. Either things are in God's hands or they aren't. If God's in control, He's got everything perfectly choreographed and planned. I don't need to do anything except live my day-to-day and try to keep an ear to the ground for His will. So, I'm going to stop freaking out everytime I get a little twinge. I should know better by now.

Long story here, if the cab comes I'll just post and complete it later. In 2003, Ron and I were [cough cough] shacking up. We had been for over 10 years, but Ron wasn't "ready" to get married.

Anyway, he was my boss, I helped him in the business, until the fateful day a Postal Worker ran a red light, hit Ron with the pickup truck and dragged him a block and a half. Ron was life-flighted to the hospital, where he recieved EXCELLENT care.

In the meantime, Ron's boss comes knocking on my door and wakes me up out of a dead sleep. Poor man, I weighed 210 pounds and slept naked. I thought Ron had left his keys at work so he got a real eyeful when I opened the door. One of the first things he demanded were my work keys.

Then he fired me! I worked for Ron, and Ron worked for the State Comm. for the Blind, and I couldn't run the business for him unless we were married and Ron was coming back to work.

So, Ron's in the hospital. The officer who investigated the accident robbed him of the cash he had in his backpack - money I needed to pay my bills! My rent is ALREADY late, I have $40 to my name, I've been fired, Ron is laid up, and only family can visit in ICU.

I was a wreck. In addition to not knowing if Ron would live or die, I had no security at all. I turned it over to God. Next thing I know, my aunt is calling and paying off every bill she can get her hands on. People are sending cards and taking up collections. One guy at work even collected a bunch of books for me because I complained about being bored.

Wonderful people. And it all happened BECAUSE I TURNED IT OVER TO GOD.

More later, but if God helped me through all that, He can certainly work out my gimpy gallbladder. I'm just embarrassed it took me so long.

[Zer]

What a life story - and a reminder what power there is in faith - when we reach the point of remembering how FAITH WORKS when we let it work! Heather, your story and Ron's story too is such an inspiration. I'm glad for your Auntie and others who are instruments of how faith brings forth solutions we cannot manage on our own. So...how about writing some of this at a website that might sell/download books for folks who need to be reminded that faith works!

[lisabinil]

Heather I think you are on to something. Good for you noticing the blood sugar spikes after the gallbladder attacks. Hope you feel better!

[Houston Heather]

I wrote a book actually but it wasn't meant to publish. Besides, why charge when I'll give it away for free?

Part two is even MORE exciting.

Ron had an uncle "Ralph". Ralph had a very bad stroke. Ron's parents did a lot of major caregiving for him until they got totally burned out and he was placed in a nursing home. They didn't want any help. They wanted him to realize, they had been the ones to help him. He had some money, see.

Well, when he died they didn't get anything. His parents were furious. If anyone ever had a stroke, they vowed, it was off to the nursing home with them. His siblings agreed.

Ron and I had a talk when it all happened. He is 20 years older than me, odds were high he would need some help at some point. With his family history of diabetes and stroke, we'd have been idiots not to talk about disabling conditions and plans.

I told him, I'd like you to take care of yourself so this never happens. He agreed. OK, what if you have a stroke, or some disabling condition. What do you want me to do? He said, take care of me if you can. I trust you, you know me better than anyone, you know what I'd want. Give me at least a year to get better. If I'm not better in a year, I don't know you, and I don't even care if you're around, go ahead and put me in a nursing home. Walk away. Get a divorce. I don't expect you to stay in those conditions.

Ron told me again, about a year before his accident, that I was the only one who really understood him. He was drunk at the time but I could tell he meant it (truth serum). He said he loved me, and he was so glad he had me in his life, and he wanted me to make choices for him because his family was ignorant.

This is the man who wouldn't marry me or even sign a medical power of attorney, because "My family respects you and will abide by your decisions". [cough] Remember this.

So, Ron has the accident. TERRIBLE head injury. I had no choices because we were not married. I was furious at Ron and actually cussed him out pretty good in the hallway outside the ICU because I had just KNOWN this would happen. His family had to give "permission" for me to see the man I saw as my husband. A good lesson to those who shack up - marriage matters tremendously.

"Don't worry" his sister told me "If Ron's had a stroke we'll just put him in a nursing home".
"Are you trying to KILL HIM?" I shrieked. - remember I didn't have a diagnosis or medication at the time.

I immediately went to the doctors and said "I'm his wife in all ways but legal, I'm the one who knows the medical history and his desires." I explained what had happened with the uncle, and said "Please don't use the word stroke if at all possible. I don't even want to know." I met with a social worker privately and explained my plans to care for him in the worst case scenario, and gave her an album of photos to show the ethics committee, who were actually meeting on whether to keep him on life support.

The doctors told his family Ron had had a "Intra-cranial hemmorhage" - turns out, he'd had a hemmorhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain) as a result of the accident. His brain damage was explained as "bruises" on the brain. His sister walked out of that meeting convinced that the normal human brain spins around in the skull, and Ron's was "pressing on the bad spot" occasionally. Oh, boy. So, they did a smoke job on the family.

I did research. I realized a coma for longer than a week would be VERY bad. He'd have permanent damage, maybe mental, maybe physical. When a doctor told me "He'll have some weakness and numbness on the right side" I said "Oh, good, that's the broken up side anyway" (he had been hit on his right side). I'm always an optimist.

When he woke up out of the coma, he didn't know me. He knew his family. He screamed at me when I told him I was his wife, that I was a liar and to go away. They threw me out. Ouch. Up to this point, Ron had ALWAYS done better with me around, and they wrote orders that I could stay with Ron in ICU as long as I could stand up by his bed.

I prayed about THIS. God said "He fell in love with who you are, Heather. Be yourself and he'll love you. What would you want to hear in his shoes?"

I thought about it. The next time Ron asked me who I was I told him: "I'm someone who loves you. When you get better I'm going to take you home and spoil you rotten." Ron grinned with the good side of his face. The doctor came by. "You know who this is, Ron?
"Important!" Ron replied.

I could work with important. In the meantime, Ron's family was desperately scheming to find a way to get rid of him. It was obvious by now he'd need a while to recover. Everyone was terrified that Ron and "Crazy" - they didn't think I knew would end up at their house. They tried to get him into a nursing home - but Ron had turned off his Social Security and Medicare a few years back, when he was able to support himself off the proceeds of the business.

No Medicare = no nursing home. I, of course, reapplied for Ron's social security. I knew everything they needed, so I rode hours on the bus each way to do it.

His family was agitating to get Ron anywhere before he was discharged. One plot involved my so-called "Bad Back". I had been living at the hospital with Ron - a doctor wrote orders - and assisting in his care as much as possible. I helped with all the CNA jobs.

His sister told the doctor I had a bad back and was unable to care for him. I'm sure she played the "crazy" card too - I was too nuts to care for him. The doctor laughed in her face.

That didn't work, so they tried to get him into the rehab hospital. I told them, they won't take a charity case. They told me by the time he got in there under the charity program it would be too late for them to do him any good. Just get me the information I need on home, care, I pledged, and I'll do it myself.