Lottery from Hell

Tuesday was a very busy day for me. I had a lot of things that needed to get done and had to work everything around my appointment with the neurosurgeon at 1pm. As you may or may not recall, my oncologist arranged the appointment with the neurosurgeon after my latest MRI showed "disc issues" which is why I was/am having the Pirate Peg Leg. As it turns out, the neurosurgeon has worked me into Monday's schedule for back surgery. Yes, THIS Monday. Yes, as in six days. Apparently, if surgery is not performed immediately, then all my sentences will end in "Argh, Matey!" and all punishments for all those in my charge, will be forced to "walk the plank".

I do not own a plank, therefore I must have the surgery...yes, in six days.

The medical jargon, while fun to pronounce because it makes me sound so very smart, is still beyond my comprehension, but I will try to explain what is going on... There had been some degenerative issues with one of my vertebrae for a while now, but I was unaware of it because of no symptoms. However, chemotherapy accelerates degenerative conditions and the breakdown of tissues already compromised. My inability to "clear stairs without concentrating" is becoming worse because the nerve damage is increasing at a rapid rate. The sooner the surgery is performed, the more likely I will be to regain full usage of my extremity. I will have to wear a brace for a while and undergo physical therapy. As for how long for both, I do not know. It all depends on the success of the surgery, my willingness to push myself in physical therapy to regain full mobility, and if I stumble upon some magic pixie dust.

I have always insisted that no one touch my back with a needle. No epidurals for childbirth or anything else. Now, outside of childbirth, no one has asked to touch my back with a needle, so that whole plan has worked out well...until, today when it became very apparent that I have somehow been given the winning ticket in the lottery from hell. I do not buy lottery tickets. I do not win anything, ever. In fact, if my name was the only name in a hat, you would draw out the "Made in Taiwan" tag before you would call my name. I never win anything!! Until now...and it's the lottery from hell. Now, ain't that sumthin'????

The hospital wanted to have me come in for pre-op labs this Friday, but I said "No, can do, missy, because we are leaving Thursday for Indianapolis to watch our kids perform in the Grand National Marching Band competition and I am NOT missing it." They were very nice about everything and I am able to have my labs Thursday morning before we leave. It's all about priorities, y'all. *smile*

So, my back surgery is scheduled for Monday, November 16th. It is outpatient surgery, so "no big" after all the other times I have been put under. Big Daddy is taking off, again, to take care of me, again. I can tell you this much, if you feel compelled to pray for somebody, make it Big Daddy. He has had to balance my medical schedules, my agenda, my moods, and my care with his career-job along with our personal business. This man is, as I have certainly said before, a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Not convinced? Add this to the mix...our daughter has her first real boyfriend...and they are kissing.

Anyway, to whomever purchased this winning lottery ticket from hell for me, hey, thanks. I think I know who you are, but there are two or three people to choose from, so I am not 100% sure. Oddly enough, all three people were once trusted members of my inner sanctum. That's okay, though. I will get through... I am actually becoming a better person for all this. Even when my disability claim was denied, thus no income until I go back to work in January...or even when my insurance company denied my chemotherapy drugs which total over $6,000...or even when all four tires on my Suburban had to be replaced last week for over $800...

You see, I used to place a lot of value and worth in money because I wanted to save it "just in case", and now "just in case" is here and I had not really saved much at all, but I learned something...it's just money. If I had not won the lottery from hell, then my friends at work would not have sent me $60.00 in gift coupons to Pizza Hut, which I used to take my family and a whole bunch of hungry teenagers to eat until their heart's content as our son celebrates turning 17. I was even inclined to pay for the table next to us, a mom and a little boy who ate as much as my teenagers were eating! I told our waitress to secretly add the other ticket to ours. Of course, the mom wound up asking who paid and she came over to the table and thanked me. Turns out, she is a foster mom and the little boy had just come out of a very abusive home and had a hard road ahead of him, but she found out he loves Pizza Hut pizza, and there they were.

I did not tell any of the kids what I had done, because to me, bragging about doing something nice detracts from the deed and makes you look self-serving. I know because I have served myself a LOT in the past, always looking for that kudos, that praise, of someone to be in awe of my humility. Man. What a dingbat. Anyway, I did not tell the kids but they asked after the mom and the little boy left. It was a great lesson for them because when asked why I did it, if I "knew" them, I said "no" and went on to explain that because of the generosity of others toward me, I wanted to do something nice for someone else. That's how it is with being nice...it's contagious.

I know that without being in the position I am in right now, I would not have even considered buying the meals of two total strangers not holding up a sign begging for help (because I do give money to people who do that, but that's another story...) Anyway, if I were not experiencing all that I am, I would have fed my family and their friends and called it a day. But, like I said, being where I am in my life right this very moment, I am becoming a better person and I like her. So again, whichever one of the three people who purchased this ticket for me, thank you. I think you are getting your money's worth, even if not the way you had hoped.