Happiness Is Doubled And Sorrows Halved In The Company Of A Friend

Three days before Hurricane Dorian lashed the coast of South Carolina, my friend of 40+ years called her son saying to him only, “Help!” and hung up the phone.  He rushed to her home to find her in respiratory distress.  An ambulance was called, and she was admitted to the critical care unit.

Two years ago, she nearly died.  This time around the situation was not as dire, but she remains in critical care.

Her son and widowed daughter-in-law insisted while my friend remained sedated and intubated there was no need for me to travel to see her.  I have waited on pins and needles for some sign of improvement in my friend’s condition.  It’s approaching two weeks now without success in removing the ventilation tubing or easing up on the sedation that is being administered.

I was told only two days ago that she was also being treated for pneumonia.  I feel strongly that I must leave to be with my best friend.

I haven’t spoken with co-bloggers Proof or Sig94 about posting during my absence, first because I have no notion of how long I will be away and secondly, because they have their own lives to lead and I don’t want to lay that burden at their feet.

I have queued up the very popular regular weekly features of “A Walk On The Wild Side” and “Flowing Curves Of Beauty” through the end of October.  I have notified my neighbor to scoop up my mail and keep an eye peeled on my house while I’m away.

I apologize to my readers for this abrupt notice and hope you will not abandon this blog because I have made the choice to be with my friend.

A quote I love that has been attributed to blind and deaf American authoress Helen Keller seems most appropriate for this moment in time:

“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark,

than alone in the light.”

There Is Nothing Better Than A Friend, Unless It Is A Friend With Chocolate

L to R:  Sophie The Wonderdog, my friend, Teddy, Tika

Last Friday my plans to visit by best friend of 43 years were changed.

I received a call at 6:00 AM that morning from her telling me she had phoned her daughter-in-law to take her to the emergency room.  Ten minutes later she called me again to say she was feeling better.  I knew that was a lie.  I immediately contacted her son to let him know his mother was in trouble.  He rushed to her house and immediately called an ambulance to transport her to the ER.

My friend was intubated on arrival and remained on a ventilator for five days.  She was sedated as well.  I got hourly updates from her son and daughter-in-law and the news was not good.

On Wednesday morning the medical staff removed the tubing and placed my friend on a BI-PAP machine.  Her breathing continued to be labored and the nurses continued to suction out her lungs.

Last night after she’d finished her shift at work, her daughter-in-law went to the hospital.  My friend’s eyes were open but vacant.  Her daughter-in-law asked if she knew who she was.  As she gave me an accounting of her visit she began to cry─her voice was thick with heartbreak.  The reason:  she thought she was talking to me.  I did my best to console her daughter-in-law.

This morning her son entered her room in ICU to find a weak and confused mother.  He had heard about the night before and he was scared as he spoke with me.

I have tried to tie up all the loose ends here in anticipation of a lengthy stay with my friend.  The guilt I have felt over the last six days has been unbearable.  Despite the assurances of her family members that it was better for me to stay home than be there with her and feel helpless, I finally decided to leave immediately to be with my friend.

If she survives this medical emergency it will be a blessing.  The attending physician said that hypoxia is common in situations like this.  The hypoxia may or may not be permanent.

I know we all have to leave this life someday.  I’m just not ready to say “goodbye” to the best friend I’ve ever had.

While I’m away blogger friends Proof and Sig94 have agreed to hold down the fort here.  Sig recently broke his left shoulder in three places and is recuperating after being retrofitted with a new titanium shoulder.  His typing will be limited to the use of one hand and Proof, well, not sure what he’ll submit.  It’ll probably be a bunch of Star Trek babes.  I apologize in advance.