5 October

Time To Get Cleared. Good To Feel Cared For

by Jon Katz

“You are an explorer, Jon. One of the many things to love about you and learn from you. I do both. Thanks, Kally” – Thanks, Kally, I love that message.

Maria and I are color and light addicts; as the dark, rainy, and gloomier days set in and the season of color and light fades, we find ways to bring these things into our home. Our candle holder, which we love, was a good start. So were these beautiful flowers I got for Maria at the Farmer’s Market on Sunday.

As Maria tends to her succulents in the background, our dining room table is aglow with color and style.

This morning, I head into Saratoga for the final two doctor’s appointments before my foot surgery tomorrow. First, the podiatric surgeon will perform the surgery, and then the pulmonologist will (hopefully) complete the final clearance for my surgery.

He wants to make sure my breathing won’t be affected by the anesthesia. I’m not sure I merit all of this medical attention, but I have learned a lot about my health and body this week; I don’t think I’ve ever been checked over so thoroughly, certainly not for the heart surgery. Those people don’t have the time.

I have to sign consent today and have my foot x-rayed and examined one last time after this evening; no more food, medicine, or insulin. I’ll be back this afternoon. Thanks for all the good words, everyone, but I don’t think this is too big of a deal for all the fuss and clearing. I feel pretty well cared for, and I’m happy to learn my health is good. After this, back to more exercising and continuing to re-think my diet.

I need to heal quickly. Maria will take great care of me for a couple of days, and then she will start to freak out away from her art and split, leaving me with a cellphone and some food and Zinnia. She is not a born caretaker and I hope she never becomes one.

6 Comments

  1. Praying for all to go well with your surgery, and a rapid recovery! You are valuable to so many! Blessings to you both.

  2. Best wishes for tomorrow. You are so blessed to have such excellent medical care in driving distance. Lots of color and light is a good thing indeed!

  3. I don’t pray, per se……but I am keeping you in my thoughts tomorrow and in the ensuing days for a successful surgery and smooth (if perhaps too lengthy for your liking LOL) recovery afterwards. May love and light shine upon you, and Maria as well
    Susan M

  4. Jon, I wish you speedy healing and recovery. I know that you have a community of people where you are who will no doubt be there for you. You don’t know personally, but if you ever need anything, I’m only in Nyack, just let me know! Bodies are so complicated, but you do have to take care of them. I had undiagnosed JRA as a kid, so by the age of 50, I had to have both my hip joints replaced, then came a knee, and I’m a candidate for shoulder replacement. There isn’t a part of my body that’s untouched by osteoarthritis (The rheumatoid arthritis burned itself out a long time ago, but the initial damage had been done at a young age.) But I can move and I thank my lucky stars and the doctors for all of it! It also helps to have a good attitude, which you seem to have, and that goes a long way. The key to aging is to just keep moving. And remember, your best friend in a hospital is the anesthesiologist. Glad Tylenol works for you! Doesn’t do a damn thing for me! But a large part of it is mind over matter, I guess. Best wishes!

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