History VIII

Here is an amazing fact, that I forgot to mention. Every day that I was in the hospital Linda was right there with me. She even stayed over night in my hospital room on the couch. She was right there to help with my recovery. It's amazing how important it is to have someone you love so much, right there by your side, going through everything you are. It makes you want to work that much harder to recover. Now, don't get me wrong, she didn't look when they drew blood or inserted another IV, she's a little squeamish. But everything else she was right there for. She was definitely my Rock...... Every 12 hours I had a new nurse and a new assistant to the nurse. Most were very knowledgeable and all were very caring. I believe I got the best care anyone could hope for at Tampa General. No, they didn't pay me for this advertisement........ I also had a great surprise when my brother, Jim and his daughter, Lauren, came to visit me for a couple of days while I was in the hospital. They didn't know what they were in for. I looked worse than the second picture in this blog.........  While in the hospital I couldn't talk much nor very loud, as my vocal chord had been paralyzed by the stroke. So, another surgery was suggested. This time they wanted to add a filament to 1/2 of my vocal chord to allow for better vibration which they thought would help with my voice. The doctors said it is not a permanent fix but should last six to twelve months, at which time we will discuss the next step. I agreed to the surgery and they did it. Unfortunately for some, it worked and I am able to talk at almost the normal range..........The last operation, before discharge is a lung biopsy. I should be used to them by now, but they are a bit uncomfortable.  They stick a long tube-like device down your throat, after numbing it, into your lungs and snip a piece of your lung for the lab. It is about a twenty minute procedure and I will have one done every 3 to 6 months for the rest of my life. Oh what fun....