Not long after the last posting here, the evening of May 22,
I became violently ill and the accompanying pain was so severe I called 911 and
was taken by ambulance to the Community Hospital where I was put in ICU on
oxygen and a morphine drip.
After a few days I was moved to the critical care wing, the
drip was replaced with injections throughout the day and night for pain, and I
was put on other IVs to deal with pneumonia, fluid on the lungs and another
infection. CAT scans and x-rays, an ECG and blood tests, became part of the
routine while I remained very weak and bed ridden. Also, I was only on fluids
for nourishment. The team of 3 doctors said I was suffering severe pancreatitis,
which had them baffled as I had none of the underlying conditions for such an
illness.
While because of Covid-19 protocols, no visitors were
permitted into the hospital I was able, as I had my cell phone from when I
called the ambulance, to have my family drop off a charger so we were able to
keep in touch. This was particularly helpful when – still in hospital, bed
ridden, hooked up to oxygen and IVs, the doctors, on May 31, my 35th ordination
anniversary, said no longer in my life could I consume even a teaspoon or less
of wine for Holy Mass. This was stunning and heartbreaking, but I recalled
something Pope Benedict had granted years ago for priests who cannot consume
fermented wine, so called a friend who checked and verified that priests may use
a non-fermented wine called Mustum, which my own doctor approved my using once
I was back in the poustinia.
By June 1st I was off fluids and starting solid food, small
amounts at first, off the oxygen, pneumonia and fluid on the lungs healed,
though I remained on high doses of pain meds as the doctors said that aspect of
healing would take a few weeks. The physiotherapists helped me start to walk
after the long time in bed and by June 6th I was released and now in poustinia
continue the long journey of recuperation.
Around the world in various ways people are saying thank-you
to Frist Responders, Doctors, Nurses, and countless others caring for us during
this pandemic.
Living in Canada where we are blessed with free universal
medical care I did not have, as people in many countries do, the stress of
wondering how things would be paid for and so I am grateful to those in
government, politicians and civil servants, and to working men and women who
pay taxes, for our system of medical care.
Deep gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and all the staff who
took such care of myself and everyone in the hospital needing care.
Thank-you also to my family and friends whose phone calls,
bringing me back from the hospital, getting prescriptions, groceries and
lavishing love and prayer, helped me get through the long hospital stay and to
continue this journey of recovery.
1 comment:
Just read this, father, glad you are back with the living, as the saying goes!
Back last October (2019) I developed Diverticulitis, which resulted in 3 small pin-sized holes in my intestine which leaked the 'bad stuff' into my bloodstream, resulting in Sepsis. I was in the hospital for 5 days, at times with a fever of 103°, not good for a man of then, 64. Lol, unlike your free medical in Canada, here in Connecticut we pay and pay and pay... and I'm still paying for my hospital stay and tests. But we have both recovered, God has more plans for us, I guess. Take care.
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