“Go to the Emergency Room immediately.”
Not the sort of call you want to receive upon entering your house less than an hour after having an MRI. That’s the message my wife got in response to a search for why her back pain suddenly increased.
Funny what stands out the ER. Overhearing doctors discussing a helicopter to move her to a level one trauma center reinforced the seriousness of her situation. Eventually, a ninety minute ambulance ride with Vancomycin dripping into her arm made the move.
Five days in a hospital — IV antibiotics, biopsies, pathogen cultures, disagreeing medical teams, bad sleep and too much food changes you. Fatigue changes to exhaustion and you lose track of time. And there’s the watching, watching someone you love vulnerable to unseen demons. Bless the calm, gentle, compassionate nursing staff that seem expert at making sense of the chaos and bringing humanity to the bad dream.
Osteomyelitis. A spinal infection of bone and dura matter.
Home now and embarking on a different medical adventure. Forty days of four times daily infusions of IV antibiotics. Technology, a PICC line and a little training has me working toward my junior nursing badge. A few minutes ago I completed a midnight infusion followed by a saline flush and Heparin.
Perhaps as I get more comfortable with the schedule I can push the Vespa out for a ride. Three inches of snow covers the world right now but it can’t last. And I have material for posts going back to summer. Perhaps the current constraints will push to finish some stories.
Or not.
Just a few words to say I’m still breathing and my wife appears to be doing well.
Ow and Wow. I’d been thinking about you both, interestingly enough. Really glad to hear Kim’s okay, though that episode had to be a bit harrowing for both of you.
And, yep, snow won’t last long. Barely sticking around in these parts, though it seems everyone else I know is getting pelted elsewhere.
Hard to really assess everything. Outwardly the infection doesn’t seem to be doing anything. But inside, in the bones, only time will tell how the antibiotics are doing.
I’ll have to go outside to shovel the driveway and clear the cars. Since I’m not going anywhere there’s no rush. And the scooter will just have to wait awhile longer.
Not the story I wanted to share with my coffee this morning. Hope everyone is on the road to recovery. That said, it is another great piece of writing, conveying, to me anyway, the struggles that come in a life. I am sure you will both conquer this like all the other battles you have had to fight.
Sorry to sour your coffee. Life brings challenges. From my perspective now, everything in the past has been rather simple. This infusion schedule is rigorous and feels a bit overwhelming right now. But I suspect I’ll adjust and things will feel a bit more “normal.”
Handwashing, handwashing, handwashing. That’s my motto.
Hi Steve;
I’m so sorry to hear of Kim’s continuing troubles. I had hoped that you both were past all that. I had an eerily similar call exactly like that about 5 years ago. My wife Jean’s back pain turned out to be a tumor inside her spinal column. Thank God for MRI’s! Scary days for sure, but it all turned out well as after surgery and treatment she has been declared cancer free and improving for the past three years. I’m certain that this will be the case with Kim and you as well.
On a cheerier front, I managed to get out on my 400 Burgman early this past month! Eleven degrees Celsius, a clear sunny day, and it was wonderful. Unfortunately, we haven’t had a day like that since, here in the Great White North. However, that one ride has whetted my appetite so I hope to have a similar day this month too.
The images from an MRI seem like minor miracles to me. Magic almost. Glad they caught Kim’s infection before it really got going. Glad it had a great outcome for your wife and yourself.
Had to convert 11C to understand what you were riding in. That’s still chilly but tolerable with the right gear. I’m looking forward to that kind of weather again. Did a ride in the 40s (F) here a couple weeks ago. Will post it sometime soon.
Steve,
Very sorry to hear about Kim and also glad to read she is improving. Take care of yourself and your new patient. Those junior nursing badges are not the easiest.
Doug
I’m glad I’m able to do the nursing gig. I suspect not everyone would like the time constraints or the idea of infusing stuff into an artery.
Thanks for your thoughts and concern. I appreciate them.
Good morning Steve. That had to be a scary experience for both you and Kim. Will keep both of you in our prayers that all goes well moving forward.
It was scary. Imaginations can run away with things. Now that we’re home and going through the antibiotic treatment the situation feels more focused and concrete. That’s a good thing.
Thank you for your prayers. We appreciate them.
Gosh Steve, Martha and I are glad to hear Kim is seemingly doing well after that rather stressful and scary experience. I hope the treatments are providing the desired results with little to no additional pain. The feeling of helplessness you must have felt….glad you found a good nursing team and support system that was so proactive in ensuring Kim got the help asap.
It was odd to spend so much time continually in the hospital without really knowing for sure what was happening. You get into an almost surreal place mentally. Especially walking the halls in the middle of the night in a giant building with no one around.
On the positive side — I learned some new terms. Put an elastomeric pump into play this morning!
Wow. So sorry to hear that. I do appreciate your little stabs at humor. (Stabs at a little humor?) Good outlook. Getting old sucks. I will make it to Daytona one more year. I’ll think of you and Kim every time a scooter passes.
When Kim asked the doctor how to prevent all this sort of stuff he said, “Don’t get older.” After a few moments he added, “That’s a gloomy option.”
Good luck on your trip to Daytona. It would be nice to feel some warm air!
Steve, The longer we live on this Mother Earth, The more Life Arts we experience and if we can be present to what ever is changing our rhythm. I found for me I have to skip a bit to be in step with the new rhythm. Know that You & Kim will be in my mine when I’m throwing my stone for the next skip. The 2 wheel story will always be part of you. PEACE
Good image — skipping a bit to get into the new rhythm. That’s exactly what it feels like.
I figure I’ll have a four hour window to take the occasional ride. That will work!
I wondered where you’d disappeared to Steve. Needless to say, the importance of helping Kim any way you can, is a big win over blogging or pushing the scoot’ out. Thank you for the update. Be sure you take care of YOU as well. The snow will melt, temps will warm and Kim’s medical crisis will be under control. I feel the positive energy from all who follow you and send my own.
Much too hot here in Florida, much too soon. 91 degrees yesterday. Go clean and shine the Vespa. It will do you both good.
Mike
Everything will have to take a backseat to the medical support I’ll provide for the next six weeks or so. I’ll likely be able to do some short little rides but nothing major. Since it’s 11F outside right now I’m not really missing the riding. And a break in blogging may mean I can finally start writing that book about getting old and riding that I’ve been thinking about for a few years.
I appreciate the positive energy and well wishes. As an only child, I get the sense of what a big family feels like.
A few 91 degree days would be ok with me right now.
I may do the spring Vespa shine up as soon as the weather warms. Good idea!
I never get it. Women are supposed to be bullet proof to take care of us guys who do the stupidest things in this world. Burying Sara was my coldest bucket of water splash ever. I always envisioned my last moments with Sara standing over me growling, “I told you this would happen.” as the darkness covered my eyes. I hope Kim heals quickly to save you later.
Life never seems to deliver what we think it will. Can’t imagine how cold that splash was. I’ll save Kim now so she can return the favor later. But really, who knows what tomorrow will bring.
Steve,
Thoughts and prayers from the Yeisers for a speedy and complete recovery for your wife, and an eventual return to routine riding, writing, and photographing for you.
Rusty (Emily PSU CAS ‘07, Amy PSU CAS ‘12)
Thank you Rusty. Our fingers are crossed that the antibiotics will eliminate the infection.
Say hello to Emily and Amy for me. And I think someone told me you’re a grandfather now? Not sure where I heard that. As a retiree I run into all sorts of Ag Science people in the grocery store and catch up on all sorts of news from alumni and the college.
I can only imagine how unnerving a call like that could be. I have spent many days in the hospital with my wife waiting to get a diagnoses of a mystery illness. You are so lucky not to have to worry about work. Good luck to you both.
I am endlessly grateful for Penn State forcing me to pay into a pension for all those years. Left to my own choices, I would not be retired right now. Can’t imagine how difficult all this would be if I had to work. Would mean losing a lot of money if not a job.
Right now — full speed ahead. Time to go and make the 8am infusion.
‘thoughts are with you and your family . Best wishes to all for a good resolution.
Be well,
Te
Thank you. Taking things as they come day by day.
Goodness, not what I was expecting to read when I wandered over to your blog tonight. So sorry you both are dealing with this. In my nearly 40 years as a chiropractor I’ve been reminded frequently about looking out for spinal infection, but never saw one. The pain must have been pretty awful….or going to be. Glad you’ve got it cornered. I happen to be nursing a broken ankle from falling on ice, and everytime I start feeling sorry for myself, someone’s got it worse….Hang in there, it sounds like a long haul. At least it gets better.
Debated whether to post anything at all. Sometimes it’s good to unload what ails me here. Like saying things out loud.
Kim’s condition is rare alright. She feels the universe is out to get her. And the pain is bad. Pain isn’t something you want to have in the current pain medication frenzy. Simplification doesn’t allow much room for things off the end of the bell curve.
You’re right about there always being someone in worse shape. Kim had a roommate at the hospital. A 30 year old woman who had open heart surgery, got endocarditis followed by a stroke and now may lose a leg because of it. And outwardly you would have thought she was a healthy, outgoing person.
I suppose the lesson is to make the most of our situations however messed up they may seem.
Yes….making the most of our situations. I think at some level, they’re learning opportunities, albeit unwanted ones. Unfortunately in the middle of them they just feel sucky. Here’s to an uneventful recovery and finding something reasonably safe for the pain.
I.. uh… I come back after too long and find out you two are going through all this? Yikes Steve! I don’t know what to say. Thoughts and prayers for you both.
Harv
Hello Harv. Hope things are going well with you.
Kim is improving and we hope she’s over the hump. An appointment next month with her neurosurgeon will shed more light. Until then we try and make the most of things on a day-to-day basis.
Appreciate your thoughts and prayers.