Dear Blood Clot,

Your payment for room and board in my left thigh is more that a week overdue. Your residence of over three weeks is now no longer welcome. Reviewing your renter history, your landlord has found that you disturb the whole rental unit: you do not allow others to comfortably exercise on the premises without your interferenece; you often cause physical pain to those living in nearby units; and early on it came to my attention that you're causing "bad air" throughout the unit, making it difficult for others to breath at times. Your eviction process will be lengthy.

You have already avoided the attempts of the Coumadin agency to remove you. Coumadin was an agency that required too much time an oversight. Because of that, Lovanox has been employed. I am very pleased with its results so far. As your belongings have been moving out, the other residents have been complaining less frequently. It has been noted that the upper left thigh has been in less pain, and the fatigue you've been causing the entire left leg is subsiding. Subsequently, the whole community has been able to excersise in more comfort. I speak for the community when I say that we will all be in better spirits when you are gone.

I must take some of the blame for failing to screen you out as a renter from the start. Illness previous to your arrival prevented me from my normal activities, thereby preventing me from fully screening your application. I did not notice that you wanted not only the leg space, you also wanted to invade the lungs. I also note now that Mr Cancer was one of your references. From here on, I will be more active, and I will screen my applications more thoroughly.

Mr Clot, you have caused me to realize the importance of taking more active management of my prized rental property. Joy will abound in this property more so after you have left than before you arrived. The landlord did not realize just how good he had it with the previous renters. I have also enlisted the help of Mr Father and Mrs Mother to help me care better for the property while you are here. They are doing a superb job.

Your landlord,



Adam

Blahhhh

Lots has gone on, but I feel I have little to say. I just got out of hospital on Saturday. I was in for a bloodclot in my leg. The doctors and nurses keep calling it a DVT. I don't know why they don't just speak in human terms. Once again, I had lots of visitors -- 10 at one time in an evening. This time, bloodclot is actually painful, which is a first. I had pain in my upper left leg for several days. Finally, swelling ensued. The doctor received a late evening call and finally told me to get meself to the ER, which I promtly did. I was admitted at 3AM, and we all got a few hours of sleep before breakfast came as a great disturbance.

Lots of narration to do, but I don't really want to. Nor do I think it particularly necessary. I haven't been feeling up to narrating for a while. So I'll bypass that and maybe come back to it in a while. I think I've had much to learn over the past couple setbacks. As you know, I've had a shoulder fracture which required my arm be in minimal use for the past month. Also, the aformentioned bloodclot in the left leg. What does all this mean? I've been feeling pretty good up to this point. So now there's some discomfort and temporary disability.

What have I learned? First, it's possible to get by with one arm (although the second hand has been available to help out on certain things, so one armed, two-handed). Second, it is possible to get around on one working leg, while hobbling around on the second. What makes it possible? Two parents who take care of my every need! Wow! Thanks to both Mom and Dad! I'm working on getting back to both feet and both arms. I'm quite excited. I have learned all the things that I cannot do without arm and leg. I will much appreciate having full ability again as I have a bit of understanding what it's like to have some minor disabilities. Yesterday I found it  more than a bit fatiguing to make it from car to blood lab for some routine testing.

Some other things I should be learning but don't think I am? Patience -- when I want something and can't get it immidiately for myself; Humility -- none of the good or bad is from myself, etc. I really should go into that more (no, I'm not a fatalist); oh so many other things.

Now that I think about it, there's so much to say. I've been working on this for a while and I'm easily distracted by things I think are more fun, so it takes me a lot more time to do this than you might think it should. But for now, I'm finished. Let me know if there's something particular you want me to write on -- an assignment, if you will. That will make for a good challenge for me! (of course I might not do it)

Misserable

It will be hard to make you feel sorry for me as I tell you about my experience in my hospital room crowded with friends, family, and loved ones for four days straight, but I am going to do my best. As many of you already know, I was rushed to hospital in a dark ambulance early last Friday morning upon my mother's alert dog's notifying my parents of a problem: My body had seized-up in the wee hours of the morning as result of a brain metastasis. This resulted in the fracturing of my left shoulder. I'm told this was quite painful for me, but I have no memory of it.

I don't mean to make light of this difficult situation. I was, and am, in some serious trouble. Hours after arriving, another seizure hit. This was more than a little disturbing to those around. However, my memory begins foggily with the awareness of the presence of Mother, Father, and several friends, and perhaps sister at bedside. I was pleasantly doped-up and highly oxygenated. The comfort levels of the coming days varied, and the bright yellow "Fall Risk" arm band secured to my wrist indicated how I felt upon standing-up during the first few days. The low-lights of a hospital stay do not need to be reinforced!

Saturday I was informed by my niece and nephew that I had several early birthday presents to be delivered immediately. The first was a rubber chicken and four Sharpie pens -- this because I was fitted with a useless soft sling, rather than a hard cast for my hurt shoulder. You guessed it! I needed something upon which to collect signatures of my doctors, nurses, aides, family, and friends. The various delighted responses to my dictate to "Sign that chicken over there. . . " were priceless. Each joyously added a special signature. Doctor B's signature stands distinctly on the belly.

Additionally, my room was maxed-out with balloons, plants, drawings, posters, flowers, sweets. . . I cannot name everything. I wish I could thank you all individually. I would also thank those who brought nothing. You are all valuable to me, not just your gifts.

I'm home now, as are the balloons, etc. My parents are marvelousely taking care of me and stuffing me with more protien and calories than I've ever seen in my life. Unfortunately, I will not be driving for many a month. . .

There is much more to write, and I acknowledge that this report lacks completeness, seriousness, humor, and many other things that require two working hands to include. Unfortunately, I only have one for the time. I will fill in more details in future postings. However, my right hand is tired, and it is now being given a much needed rest.