This is a big week; I have medical appointments every day. I’m scared, excited, and hopeful all at once. I wouldn’t wish to be living inside of my head.

First, this Wednesday. The day is about tests on my kidney to make sure those sound waves destroyed the kidney stone.

That’s an ech0-cardiogram to make sure my kidneys are happy. I hope they got the bugger. Then, there is another echo-cardiogram the next day to examine my heart, my bi-annual Cardiology exam is arriving, and Dr. Dalaban wants the latest data.

That cardiogram comes on Thursday right after Dr. Daly is performing surgery on a toe that used to be propped up by the big toe but is now alone and is what they call a “hammerhead” toe in that it curves downward. It is thus prone to callouses, even blisters.  That was the toe that got me into the hospital a week ago.

Dr. Daly will perform an operation whose name is too complicated for me to remember, but she will rebuild the toe so that it will be straight and lift off of the ground and the shoe, a great thing to do if it works. It will be invasive, for sure.\

I’ll leave off all the details. Then Friday, I met with David Missiner of CPO Orthotics; they are making the $3,000 new brace to help me walk normally and often. Hopefully, I am very excited about that, even though the process will take a few months to finish and polish up.

(Out Of The Sun)

Dr. Daly (my surgical podiatrist)  wrote the prescription, my insurance company accepted it (all but 20 percent, which I pay), and David will take a cast on the foot on  Friday. He will build it in his lab in Albany.

All of this has my head spinning and will distract Maria, who has a lot of work to do. I feel bad about that. But I can’t drive myself to most of these things, and Maria insists on coming along.

I do have a good feeling about it all. I could never live without hope.

I believe Dr. Daraban will find my heart okay (it was tested just before my amputation); I’ve dodged the bullet with my foot. Without the big toe, an infected middle toe, and a kidney stone clamoring to come out, I will be much improved, more mobile, more comfortable, and busier than ever.

I have my crew at the Mansion, which I visit regularly, and a new crop of refugee children who may need assistance as they put their lives together in America. I’m excited about that too.

And I have my booming garden beds, my life on the farm, my miracle partner Maria, and Zinnia, who is snoring at my feet.