A Get Well Card from God

TC is struggling.
On a scale of 1 to 10, her “misery” is a 7 and climbing.
Thankfully her pain for the most part is being managed for now; it’s her quality of life that sucks so badly.

I sat on her bed today, having gathered up what strength I could muster before going in.
It’s important to have your game face on.
Although it was always she who held us up, the tides have clearly turned.
She cannot take much more.
She shouldn’t have to.

Tomorrow she goes back to the surgeon again.
I was wrong about him; he is an exceptional, caring person.
I think he may have put his guard down a little bit with TC; he has a definite soft spot for her.
He and his partner went above and beyond what could possibly be deemed as ordinary care on an emergency visit yesterday. They worked on her for over 3 hours, brought a “scope guy” into the equation, and (hopefully) figured out a way to improve her quality of life with a somewhat tricky procedure tomorrow back at KU.

There is a lot riding on tomorrow.
A lot.

During our visit today we cried.
I try really hard not to cry in front of her.
I want to be brave.
I don’t want her to know how scared I am.
But we’re running out of time.
And I am scared.
I am still her little sister.
And damnit, I shouldn’t have to be brave.
She was always the brave one.
Always.

Crying is good for the soul.
I know, because I cried all the way home.
And while I was crying, a new little miracle was happening in the bed I left just moments ago.

It seems a “lost” Bassett Hound found its way to TC’s house right after I left.
That in and of itself, for anyone who knows TC’s passion for lost animals, has got to be divine intervention.
But wait…it gets better.
Len, recognizing the moment for what it was…an opportunity to bring a little joy into TC’s day, let the dog in.
He went right to my sister and managed to get up in her bed.
My family has a special affection for Bassett Hounds; we grew up with “Rigby” a neighborhood favorite/nuisance, depending on your tolerance for animals. Needless to say, he was a favorite of ours.

Buddy, according to TC, rolled right over and with all four paws up in the air, commenced to enjoy his belly-rubbing.
He was polite, didn’t shake the bed too much and smelled good too.
He had on a collar and tag; his owner was called.
When they showed up to get him, there was even better juju to be had.

Lo and behold, they are both nurses at KU hospital!
Does it get any more full circle than that?
Buddy had crossed a busy road and they were so grateful that TC offered him a safe place. (A bit of an understatement there!)
Recognizing how much his visit meant to her, they offered to bring Buddy over to hang out with her whenever she would like.
AND…they are just down the road a bit, if she ever needs ANYTHING “nurse-wise”, they insisted she give them a call.
Good people continue to both bless us, and blow us away.

I just called TC to say goodnight; she was still happy from Buddy’s visit.
“God sent me a big ol’ Get Well card Chrissy" she said.

I don’t know that she’s going to get well...literally.
But I do believe Buddy was a sign.
And she will be well again.
But I will miss her terribly