One thing we can be thankful for this past 12 months is that we are still here in the United States.
As you remember, we are still here in beautiful Key West. The marina is at the Naval Air Station on Boca Chica, a key about 3 miles from the main entrance to the Island of Key West and another 3 mile farther to Duval Street. This is a beautiful place, and if we were to be someplace, this IS the place to be!
Annually, the base has a terrorist exercise, and this year was no difference. The last post was on the 20th of March, and we were in the middle of this exercise. On Thursday morning, we decided to leave before things got hectic, and head for Columbia, South Carolina for a birthday party. Before we left, Renne' had scheduled an appointment with her physician, as she had not been feeling well for several days. He asked her to have a blood test, so we headed over to the hospital here in Key West. By 1pm, we were on the road headed up the Keys for Orlando to spend the night with Renne's parents, Bill and Wilma Fletcher.
We were adjacent to Fort Lauderdale, at 5pm, when Renne' received a phone call from her physician. He requested her to check into the Emergency Room to begin testing to rule out difficulties with her gall bladder. When she informed him we were headed for South Carolina but would be stopping for the night in Orlando, he was surprised, but told her to continue on unless she began to feel poorly. When we got to Orlando (actually Kissimmee), we went directly to the ER at Osceola Regional Medical Center.
We had already been in contact with the surgeon who removed Renne's appendix in November, so when we arrived at the hospital, they were expecting us. Renne' was admitted immediately and testing began. By 3:30am, all the tests had been completed. She didn't have any gall stones. So they let us go. We went home and slept and relaxed until Saturday morning. We left early Saturday for Columbia and arrived by 5:30pm. We made the birthday party.
Now this was special, as it was not just one, but four birthdays we were celebrating: Renne's mom our granddaughter, Payton's; Renne's Sis-in Law, Leigh; and our niece, Kali. We were glad we got there and a good time was had by all!
Sunday was spent relaxing, and Monday, about noon, Renne' gets a phone call, again, from her surgeon. This time he is a bit irritated with the hospital and asks Renne' to check back in to the hospital for another test to check if her gall bladder is actually functioning. Well, we left early Tuesday for the ride back to Kissimmee. When we arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, we were ushered into the lab for the test. Four hours later, Renne' was returned to me not looking well at all! The test was difficult and left her really feeling badly. But Thursday we were called and told her tests showed her gall bladder was not functioning normally and Renne' and the surgeon decided it would be best to remove her gallbladder as soon as Renne' was ready. Friday morning we were at the hospital.
Now when Renne' was checking in, she mentioned besides her abdominal pain, she was experiencing some radiating pain from her left upper chest and into her left arm. At which point the cardiologist decided to get involved!! Tests, upon tests, and by Saturday morning, when her surgery was scheduled, she still had not been cleared for surgery. The nurse said the surgery had been delayed until Sunday, I left the hospital for some badly needed rest. By 10am I am back at the hospital with the possibility of doing surgery. The cardiologist finally relinquished, signed her clearance, but the surgeon had not returned the nurses call by 10:30am. The nurse ordered breakfast for Renne' and 10 minutes after Renne' had begun eating the surgeon walks into the room ready for her to go to surgery. All in all, it was mass communication confusion.
Sunday morning she actually had her surgery.
She was released on Tuesday, and by Saturday, Renne' and I were on our way back to the boat for recovery. So here we are back at Boca Chica.
This picture was taken here at Boca Chica by our friend, Rebecca Lacy. This sure is a beautiful place.
Yesterday, we met friends of ours, Doug and Susan Henderson, whom we had met in April of last year while they were vacationing here from Illinois. They are back, and we had sundowners at the sandbar off Boca Chica with them until about 7:15pm. They had to leave to get back to their marina before sunset, so Renne' and I headed back to our marina. We watched the sunset with our friends, Dave and Leigh Pfefferkorn, aboard Woodstock, the trawler we stayed on while JonNe' was in the yard. I had too much to drink on an empty stomach, and by the time we were leaving, I stepped aboard the dinghy, lost my balance, lost my phone 22' of water, and I ended up in the drink! Wet, a bit tipsy, and tired, I drove the dinghy back to the docks.
Doggone, this morning, I don't have a phone. So if you need to send me a message or call me, call Renne'!
So tonight will be more sedate. Several of us are getting together at the Navigator Bar and Grill to play guitars. I either will eat something before we go up there, or I won't drink!!
So join us tonight for music at about 6pm. And sundowner's for you! Tonight I will save my money!
Best for now,
JonNe'
Awww! Poor Renne'! Hope this month is less eventful. And may you always hold onto your phone. ;)
ReplyDeleteHugs to you both!
Some of the recreations that one always like every year at a new place.
Deletevehicle wraps ft lauderdale