An update on life events that have happened to me during this year.

During Chritmas of 2014 , I developed a cold. It became worse and I spent New Years Eve in bed.
On Jan.3, I was extremely short of breath and having trouble breathing. My daughter, Deborah, took me to the hospital ER and I was admitted with Bronchial Pnuemonia and COPD. IV's were started with antibiotic therapy and I received breathing treatments four times a day. A lung specialist was called in and a bronchoscopy was done. They cleaned a lot of mucous out of my lungs. It took quite a while to recover as I had a fever and was not eating much. While I was there I met two women who had just found out they had early Alzheimers and I was able to offer suggestions that could help them cope better. When I came home I was extremely weak. I was still on breathing treatments. After a few weeks I began to get my strength back, but I was still quite short of breath. Breathing exercises helped to expand my lung capacity.

In Feb.I was next door at my daughter, Debbie's house and was helping her get dinner ready. I accidently tripped over a puppy that was laying in the kitchen. I fell and hit the refrigerator with my head and injured my pelvic and hip area. I could not get up by my self. The pain was intense. Finally I let them lift me into a wheel chair where I sat for a while. I knew something was broken, so they took to the Hospital ER. Xrays showed I had broken my pelvis in three places and I was admitted to an orthopedic floor. The fracture on my right pelvic area was the worst and I had a large internal hemotoma. The Doctor gave me a blood thinner as I have a history of emboli.
My sugar was high and they put me on Insulin. Physical therapy came twice a day and helped me to learn to walk with a walker. The pain was pretty bad at times. I took extra strength tylenol and a low dose of pain medication. My blood count dropped and then dropped some more. The hemotoma was seeping into my body. They were very concerned. If I got a blood transfusion, I had a chance of getting a blood clot and they were trying to avoid that. They gradually reduced my blood thinner and after more than a week, my condition was better. I could not lift my right foot when I tried to walk and the Dr recommended that I go to rehab for a while so I did in March. I had to learn to get in and out of bed by my self before I could go there.
I dreaded going to a nursing home, but I went so I could walk again and get much needed therapy to help me. I worked hard and did as much as I could for my self. I was only there eight days. When I came home, my daughter took a week off from work and my son, Tim, came to live with me, as they said I could not be alone.

I got better and finally could walk with out the walker. Then I tore the scapula in my right shoulder and have had trouble using my right arm. It's better but still bothers me at times.
In April a close friend on mine died and then my dear cousin, Jim Lyons, who lived in Vermont, passed away. Both deaths affected me deeply.

The journey to now has been a difficult one this year. With the help of God, my loving family and good medical care I have made it through all this.
They say God never gives a person more than they can handle, but he sure makes it tough at times to go on. Since 2006 I've been combating Alzheimer's and have a small amount of memory loss. I feel very fortunate to still have control of my thoughts and life.

I miss my husband and I always will. He's been gone three years now! I try to help others and set goals. By doing that, I help them and my self. Life is what we make it and if one has a positive attitude, it helps bunches. It's easy to get depressed or absorbed in self pity, but if one stops and looks around, there is always someone worse off. There are so many wonderful and beautiful things in this world. All we have to do is notice and appreciate what the Good Lord has offered to all who see it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I wrote it under poetry, as some do not read the stories or articles I write.
Blessings to all! I really appreciate the comments left on my den.
Mary Grace