[Today I chose not to share at each interval. It was just a too heavy day. It was a hard day. God knows what to do with hard days. And he knows what to have me not do on hard days. My son had a birthday, and he may not call it happy…but on the other end of it was more hope that at the beginning. Hence, the “hope-y” birthday! ]

Morning

The prayer for the drainage procedure to be earlier was answered. J was taken down around 9. They were delayed and he was brought back up around 10:30. He had been switched to oral pain meds but they soon realized that because he couldn’t eat and hadn’t had the procedure, that was no bueno.

Afternoon

Still no bueno. I sat in my chair in the hall (the room is warm, but that’s another story for another time). I face J from one angle and A from another. Pain. A’s husband, my son, your brother, your friend, your nephew, your cousin…whoever J is to you: he was hungry and in pain. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t easy.

Just before 4 pm, Patient Transport arrived to, well, transport the patient. It was actually comical because they were doing all sorts of contortions to transfer him to a be and then J spoke up and said, “I can walk.” Their faces were like WHAAAATTTTT?!?!

(I later realized that the patient next door was also receiving transport but couldn’t walk.)

Drainage begun and completed. He stayed in radiology for observation. I sat being thoroughly entertained by radiology staff giving A two packs of “birthday graham crackers” to give to J and their banter between each other.

Back up to the 5th floor after passing the observation test, only to learn that no one ordered the man dinner. May I introduce you to “Mama Bear”?

Evening

Thankfully, A had proactively coordinated a birthday parade consisting of visits from friends. It began, however, with birthday cake delivery from Mia’s Brooklyn Bakery! Then JR and WR popped in.

I prayed over the food, the room, and J & A. Then headed out for the night.

Today was hard both in watching the splinters my son suffered from the cross he currently carries, but also the hard moments experienced by my fellow caregiving families on the floor; truly, our battle seems small relatively. The day began and ended with a headache with which I would no longer like to be acquainted. I got back to Crown Heights…my Airbnb host and I have texted, but not yet met because I get in so late. She finally popped out this evening and we visited for a while. The headache has subsided, my man-cub is on the mend, and I have made a new friend!

Praises

• Birth & Life! Another year around the sun completed…and another begun.
• Friends!
• Food!
• Drainage!
• Two really good Uber drivers today who were efficient and kind. One recommended a Bob Dylan song that I know must listen to.

Prayers

• Quality overnight rest and strength
• That he gets early delivery of a HUGE protein-rich breakfast that tastes good and he can eat it all.
• Drainage to continue to flow and clear from his body
• The drainage to relieve the pressure in the other area.
• For J to be able to transition to oral pain management.
• For A and I to be able to work through some of the administration tidbits that will simplify J’s transition home; with the actual health challenges, figuring those things out fall down the priority list. I’m here to help and support my sweethearts best I can, but don’t really know the city or it’s resources. I’m trying help in ways that I know I’m skilled, but not obtrusive. Turns out there’s no manual for that. Who knew?! LOL!

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

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A Note to the Family