Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Monday, February 2, 2009

Clouds and Sunlight


These are pictures of my sister and I. We used these sweet stand-ins to show the story of my sister's ordeal. Sis is not going to be photographed for a while, by her request. Both little dogs were given, by me, to her many years apart. The little puppy is her's from many years ago when (as a little girl) she found it in her stocking at Christmas. The yellow hound was brought to the hospital with me when we picked her up after the operation; a week ago last Friday.
Sis was released from the hospital two days after she had a Craniotomy to remove a tumor from the left-front of her brain . They do not let you stay long these days and want you up and walking around if at all possible. She had a half-circle scar from the top of her forehead to her left ear and her left eye was swollen shut and very black and blue. She had a horrible headache and couldn't talk too well. The doctor wanted to know if there were arrangements for her to recouperate with as little noise or disturbance as possible; especially in the first 48 hours. So we decided that the best place for her was her condo in Pacifica and that's where she and I went for a week. Her husband came everyday with food, get-well cards and flowers from friends and family.
The first 48 hours were scary and I was reminded, again, how much our bodies can suffer recovering from modern medicine's ability to keep us from death.

Each day was long and nights even longer for Sis. The pain was extreme until about the 4th or 5th day. I fixed her food and made her drink WATER. I made her as comfortable as possible. She slept a lot the first few days and then..., slowly, she felt a little better. I read her a Mary Oliver poem on a card I made for her and waited for the clouds to lift.

By the 7th day Sis was doing so much better. Her eye was open and she could see out of it but it still didn't work with her right eye,yet. That will take more time. Her headache had subsided and she ,generally, felt better. I drew this picture of her on the kitchen blackboard with the beginnings of a smile. The clouds disappeared and the sun showed it's reflected light across the room from the suncatcher in the window.
On Friday, we packed up and went home. On the way we stopped at the hospital to have the stitches taken out. All went well and the doctor said a biopsy showed that the tumor was, definitely, not malignant. Such good news. Such very, good news.

We returned to Sis's house, in Lafayette, 9 days after the operation. It was filled with people and dogs, movement and noise. (This is what LIFE sounds like.) Everyone was glad that she had returned and, even though she was tired, she was glad to be home.

Life changes. What was normal is, now, a different normal. and , as Mary Oliver says, each of us "....just happens to be where (we) are in the universe...".
I believe that we all have a purpose; maybe more than one, and with good intentions and a kind heart, we will do the thing that needs to be done..., and life will become less a mystery.

So, as I drove home, yesterday, I thought again of the words in the Oliver poem and I finally cried tears of relief for my sister.
"...good morning, good morning, good morning.
Watch, now, how I start the day...
in happiness, in kindness."
and with a great sigh of relief I added..., in thankfulness.
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8 comments:

  1. Praise the Lord! I am so glad that all is well for now. How good those tears of relief must have felt. Your sister is truly blessed by you dear Farm Lady.

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  2. It is so good to see you posting again. I have thought about you and your sister. It is so wonderful that she had you there to help with her recovery. What a wonderful sistership you two have.

    My mom had a similar surgery many years ago to remove a nonmalignant tumor as well. I remember it took her a while to not slur her words, but then she was fine.

    Blessings to you and your sister
    Terry

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  3. Have checked back here several times to check on your sister. I was so glad tonight to read its over,she is better,and she is back home.:)

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  4. My dear sweet Elly Mae, what an ordeal you and your sis and the rest of the family have been through. As I read your post tears ran down my cheeks and I felt the joy that was given to you with the gift of the knowledge that the tumor was not malignant. It warms the heart to know that yes, prayers are answered and the mysteries of life does indeed unfold for us a little at a time. May blessings continue to rain down on you and your sis as your journey continues.

    Great Big Hugs to you both from JD's Mountain Ridge in Southrn Ohio.

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  5. thank God she is feeling better and there is no cancer. I missed you and thought of you often as we have been eating alot of grits :)

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  6. So glad to hear that your sister is on the way to good health. She was and still will be remembered in my prayers, as you will be too. Madeline

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  7. What Good news! Thank you for catching us up on the progress. I had been wondering how things were going for both of you. Seems to be an answer to prayer. Best Wishes!

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