When you live with chronic illness for a while, you find out how often your plans get wiped out. You can anticipate an event for such a long time, and then at the last minute, sickness flares. For so many years, it’s been me that caused our family to miss out on a good experience, but today it was my husband.
As we were packing for our trip, hubby fell face-first onto the driveway. He scraped his nose and cheek and got a bump on his forehead. His bump sticks out a little, but it’s not huge. It’s going to be a really ugly bruise. He’s talked to the doctor and he told us about all the possible symptoms that could occur.
If any symptoms occur, he wants us to go to the ER. Thankfully, he’s feeling good so far and not having too much pain. We’re both very sad that we can’t make our trip. One of our grandchildren turns one and we wanted to be there for the party.
We’ve both been dragging so much this past week with severe fatigue and weakness. The trip (two days of driving) is really too hard for both of us. He is 75 with cancer and I’m sick everyday. We need to start flying instead of trying to drive so far. It’s hard to admit things to yourself, when admitting it makes me feel old and helpless. But, it’s better to live in a way that doesn’t make me even weaker and sicker.
Hubby is finding out how difficult it is to face these life changes. He tells me more and more that he now understands how I feel. Although he believed me when I said that I was just too exhausted to do things, now he can say that he really understands what I was saying. Unless someone lives a chronic life, they can’t totally understand a chronic life.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
@2022, copyright Lisa Ehrman
Disclaimer: I’m not a medical expert. This post contains my opinions and experiences and is not meant to be taken as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, please consult your personal physician.
