Wick3 said: "whoa didn't know you had a stroke but am glad you're ok. BTW, I thought of you today when I learned Carol Channing was the first solo celebrity performer to perform at Superbowl halftime show."
Okay, let me explain:
On February 19, 2019, I went for routine prostate cancer surgery. The surgery went well but while in recovery, I developed a blood clot in my right thigh. They treated it with Heparin and I had a FIERCE allergic reaction to it: I swelled up to the point where they had to perform a tracheotomy so I could breathe, I had a heart attack, a stroke and died. Yes, I died. I don't know how long I was gone but I do know I was placed in a medically induced coma for several days.
For 5 months I was not able to eat or drink anything that didn't come through a tummy tube (I lost 70 lbs) and I was kept on a ventilator for about 2 months. I was hospitalized for a total of 6 months and had to learn to walk all over again after being bedridden for all that while. When the tracheotomy tubes were removed I had some scars on my vocal chords and, although I could talk, I sounded like Bea Arthur with a head cold. Vocal therapy was very effective and I'm back to singing in church.
Throughout all of this I continued to play the HELLO, DOLLY! albums that are available on YouTube because it's the most positive-life-affirming music I know. When my 10 year old grandson came to visit he introduced me to "Uptown Funk" and the nursing staff welcomed a bit of variety in my room.
When I got home I amazed my neighbors when I started packing up my rollator and heading to the train station to see shows by myself. (They insisted I keep in touch by text messages throughout the day but were relieved when my car pulled into the driveway)
I'm still going for physical therapy twice a week but making good progress. I'm walking and driving without difficulty. My biggest problem now is my memory but I watch JEOPARDY! every night and have been amazing myself with how well I'm doing in categories that are in my field, so that's good news.
The best news is that I'm now cancer-free.
I thank you all for your good wishes.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
Updated On: 2/10/21 at 03:12 PM
