A lady recovering from surgery and a post-operative staph infection in her back feels like writing, anything to alleviate the boredom she is currently experiencing.
Anchorage, Alaska, Wednesday, July 28, 2004~
Hello, all! This is Jenna, Jenna Aurora Whitson, writing! Just wanted to let you know of how I am faring.
I am still in the hospital as I write this, at Anchorage Medical Center, where I am currently recovering from back surgery and also a post-operative staph infection. I still feel pretty bad, but I do feel better than I have in recent days, and at least I am starting to eat again! I am also feeling a LITTLE stronger, and I don't seem to be in as much pain (although, if I DO move a certain way, my back twinges, and I have to get my breath back because it hurts from my pulling on the stitches in my back!). I can now get out of bed, but I don't stay out for long because I still get tired from all the walking I have to do, and I also have to take frequent rest stops.
I should be getting out by this weekend or at the start of next week, according to my doctor, Dr. Kissler. He says I am recovering well, and the staph infection seems to be clearing up (FINALLY!). He is pleased with how I am progressing, and I can hardly wait to get out of here; I am soooo bored, it is all I can do to keep from pulling out my hair!
Heard from my friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Sandusky, finally, and she is doing well. She is busy working on her second book, which will be about nursing. She is collecting stories from her nurses, and she has done some of her own; and she will compile them into one fell swoop, and she will put them into her book. She and her family are doing well, and their house is all back to normal now. She says you wouldn't even know their house had damage from the storms back in June because all has been repaired. The kids are all fine, too, she said, and aside from Ronee' getting stung right before her half-birthday and ending up in the hospital for a few days due to her allergies, the kids have otherwise been well and nobody has had to have an ambulance called on them, thank goodness! She says that both she and Bill are still working hard at their jobs, and life is still looking good for them.
As for me and my fiance', we were getting ready for our wedding slated for September 11, 2004, but then my nerve problems started, and right now, our wedding plans have been put on hold until I am well enough and strong enough to be able to handle the demands of preparations and last-minute planning lest any of the plans be changed unexpectedly. Michael is still working, but since I have been ill this year and am still pretty weakened, he has had time off, thanks to the Medical Leave Act, and I have been enjoying his company, and also his support. This year has been rather rough on us both financially and physically, and I don't know how we are going to manage with the wedding costs, and now the sky-rocketing medical bills that keep on coming in! Right now I am at the point to where if I see another danged hospital bill, I am going to do one of three things: A.) scream my fool head off (RIGHT; I am deaf! LOL), B.) pull out the hair out of my head until I resemble one of our bald eagles we have here in Alaska, or C.) strangle my danged doctors (and my nerve!) for putting me into this mess!! GRRRR!!! Bills. Oh, God, how I HATE bills!!! Especially those stupid MEDICAL ones; they are the WORST!! GRRRRRRRRR!!! (She says, growling like a baby grizzly bear...LOL)
Other than my recovering from my accident I had last year and now my very recent back surgery, I have had an okay summer, but it sure is a whole lot different than last year! Last summer, Michael and myself spent our time outdoors, hiking, camping just about every weekend, observing nature and the splendor of the scenery that makes my Alaska so breathtaking, and of course, flirting with the Northern Lights. We would watch the Lights whenever they came out, and I would dance and pretend that they were dancing for me. Now I can't do that this time, and it is going to be so hard! (I am still using a crutch to get by, and I still have the damned brace on my leg; and my hand is still paralyzed and useless! All it does is hang there, and do you know HOW hard it is to try to do things ONE-handed?? NOT easy, my friend!!)
The weather here in Alaska has been rainy and stormy at best, and decidedly warmer than in past years. My Inuit blood can't take the heat, and when it gets to above 75 degrees, I am about to DIE!! Of course, Michael, being the Cajun he is, is used to warm weather, and to him, the weather is delightful. We have had thunderstorms here, and thunderstorms here in Alaska are rather rare. I can't tell you how many times the flashing of lightning or the vibration of thunder has aroused me from a sound sleep! But then, there is Michael, sleeping like a grizzly in hibernation! Of course, because of all the rain, and also the heat, the trees are starting to become affected, and there may be some concern for our wildlife and also the trees themselves; the trees and our wildlife aren't used to this type of heat! I sure hope we cool off soon; I don't want to become a Baked Alaskan! LOL
I will write more later; I have to go to my therapy session. Oh, goody. More time spent with the TERRORISTS! NOT fun!! Thanks for letting me write, but I just wanted to let you know that I am still in the hospital, but I shall be out soon. At least I am getting over this surgery! And the stupid staph infection! GRRR!!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in (Baked) Alaska, Jenna Aurora Whitson. :)
Re-Release! No longer back-listed. Return to the Olde Ways. The hustle and bustle of modern day life has brought many of us to a quick fix attitude.This book is for those of you who are fed up; have looked at your life and your loved ones and realize
Anchorage, Alaska, Wednesday, July 28, 2004~
