My documented area of expertise may be education, however, ask anyone that has had even the shortest conversation with me in the past three years and they'll tell you I've booked more time in hospitals than a third year resident. Just the other day, one of my friends said, "I'd love to see Crys and House go head to head." Um, yeah.
Just a little background so you know I have credibility here: I went to Vegas in July of 2006 for my daughter's dance team national competition. In August, I was hospitalized with a case of mystery cellulitis. On my face. Yeah, that hurt. A lot. Over the next few months, I made several trips to the ER for various infections -they kept calling them MRSA. I later found out they were wrong.
In April of 2007, my (then) fiance and I left for Gatlinburg to get married. I was not feeling well when we left. By the time we got there, I was sick. Very sick. I got up long enough to actually get married. The rest of the time, I slept. On the trip back to Illinois, I started turning blue. I'm gonna skip some steps here and just say that I ended up in a hospital in the ICU with pneumonia. I was there for a week. In Tennessee. On my honeymoon.
It turns out that it all went back to the trip to Vegas. I was lucky enough to breathe in some fungus from the desert dirt and contract Valley Fever. We don't see a lot of that in the midwest, so noone really thought to look for it until I was near death, I guess. It can apparently cause various infections - and pneumonia if it's not caught soon enough.
A month later, I totaled my van. Yay! Another ambulance ride. At least I didn't have to be admitted.
Since then, I've had a baby. Okay, that one doesn't really count.
On June 23 of this year, I broke my ankle, a trimalleolar fracture. It's pretty much the worst thing you can do to your ankle. I was in the hospital for four days. I had two surgeries and ended up with two metal plates and enough screws to start my own Ace Hardware store. I spent the entire summer on the couch. Last week, my doctor told me I was done with my crutches and I was free of restrictions. Granted, I still walk very slowly and with a significant limp, but I'm free!!!
Guess where I'm posting this article from? Yeah. But it's not me this time. It's my husband's turn. I think the guy has had his fair share of trauma since he married me. Don't worry, he's gonna be okay. But we're on day two and have at least one more day here.
I guess I can look at it this way, we have enough pairs of those hospital slipper socks to last through a long winter.
Crystal Pratt is a writer and content contributor for LessonPathways. com, an education-based website that maps online educational resources into ready to teach units.
Crystal holds a Bachelor's degree +24 in education with a focus on middle level education. She lives in Illinois with her husband, four children, and two step-children.
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Crystal, you made me laugh at your sense of humor in sharing your demise. Oh my goodness you have been through a lot! I wish for you that they gave out FF miles - you guys deserve a trip to Hawaii or something. Many blessings and good health to you and your family. May your husband make it home soon. I have had several trips to the hospital, and I can relate. My husband got pretty good at sneaking the kids in so they could see me. I look forward to reading more from you. SO glad you joined us! Teresa
Thank you for the kind words. I was at the point yesterday that I figured I'd better have a sense of humor or I was gonna lose my mind. :-)
I think, maybe, he'll get to come home today. Maybe.
Luckily, his parents are wonderful people. They've been helping with our baby (one on Saturday!) all summer. And our older kids have stepped up too. Whew! :-)
But look at the good side, breakfast in bed, and someone checking on you each and every time you doze off. Then you get to stroll to the bathroom with your backside shining to anyone in the room, plus all the jingling jewelry from the IV stand as you try to keep the needles from injruing your hand and/or arm. An when it's all over you can tell everyone aboutyour escap[ades and scars. Who could ask for more? Me for one. Interesting article and good humor spots.
Funny stuff, Crystal. A bummer that you had to go through all that for your material, though! Thanks for the chuckle and I am glad your hubby gets to go home. May you stay far away from hospitals in the future! (unless you are visiting new moms and babies!)
Coccydiomycosis Emetus (SP?) I remember it well - took my nurse's training in Stockton and saw cases of Valley Fever complete with amphophaterocine (sp?_ in aluminum foil wrapped IV bottles - you are bringing back memories lady! Marijo
It isn't a fun illness, is it? It was kinda fun baffling my midwest doctors - well, in hindsight anyway. I wasn't so amused that they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me at the time. :-)
I and my family have been where you are many times Crystal. --- it seems we convalesce just in time to take care of the other! Our faith in God has been the bedrock of our ability to move through it all. And our sense of humor (I'm guessing from this writing, you have that in abundance) has been a strong pillar in that foundation. My blessings and prayers go with you. Thanks for sharing.
I and my family have experienced this same phenomena as well --- it seems we get well just in time to take care of the other! Our faith in God has been the bedrock that has given us the strength to endure. In that foundation we have the strong pillar of a sense of humor (judging from this writing, I suspect that you do too). Thanks for sharing Crystal and keep your head up!
This is a really well written article. I hung on your words because I felt you were speaking with me. I love the humor despite the pain and suffering with which you wrote these experiences. You kept it to the point and yet I know exactly where you were and where you were going. Awesome job. This one, in my opinion, rates top drawer!
» left by Brianna Popsickle (16 days 4 hours ago.)
Hang in there Crystal it can only get better! (Any luck at all.) Glad you can keep your sense of humor through it all. Sometimes it's either laugh or cry, and you know what they say, 'laughter's the best medicine'. :)
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