I woke up early Friday morning, a couple of weeks ago, in absolute agony. Stomach pain like I've never experienced before. It immobilized me, and took me back to four years ago when I woke up in pain that ulimately led to losing my sense of smell. I was scared, and alone. So very alone.
By the time I was well enough for a doctor's visit that afternoon the pain had subsided. No clear diagnosis was made, but when I got home, it started to hurt again. Not as bad, but accompanied by chills.
I spent a next day in bed, all alone, with the pain coming and going. Finally I reached out to the Facebook Universe with a small plaintive cry....and the Facebook Universe responded. I was NOT alone, and got good advice that eventually led to the discovery that it was my appendix that was causing all the problems.
My appendix??!!
Life-saving surgery (a laproscopic appendectomy) was performed by a cute *young* doctor - and life-affirming *support* came in many forms:
- Shelley came and got the keys to the studio and took over running Tuesday night, with Larry helping her teach and Clem doing the deejaying
- Rita went to my condo - braving an attack by Zouk! - to feed the cats and retrieve such necessities at a Blackberry charger, glasses, and slippers; and she brought me cough drops and a newspaper the next morning
- Clem and his fiancée, Cherie came to visit and keep me company - and Clem showed up first thing in the morning and brought me a Starbucks coffee!!
- Shelley came by and visited late in the evening, laughing with me - reminding me of the time we annoyed the guests at that funny little hotel in New York
- Joanna got on Facebook to let everyone know that the "show would go on" on Tuesday night; and then she sent John the next day to escort me to the pharmacy to fill my prescription
I was no longer in pain. Nor was I alone.
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