Cancer Sucks, Life at No.22, The Good Fight

Keeping up the Good Fight #7

Suzanne

Doesn’t every day begin like any other ordinary day until an unexpected event occurs?

For us, Monday morning on the 17th February was not dissimilar to any other in the last few weeks. I went to basketball and usually had coffee with the girls, though this time, I had a nagging feeling that I needed to do a quick supermarket visit and head home. Luckily, I did, or else the rest of the story would have a different ending, and in most stories, we tend to enjoy a happier conclusion.

I arrived home to a quiet voice saying he couldn’t help me put the groceries away, which is unlike Les to dodge the job. I went into his office to find him lying down on his daybed, very pale and clammy with high levels of pain. “I think it’s indigestion,” my reply was too short and not repeatable, then I called the ambulance.

By the time he arrived at the emergency room, he had bled half his blood system; he was to receive 8 litres of blood transfusions by the end of the night. What we found out later was that he had an arterial bleed as well as a ruptured spleen, which occurred while he was sitting at his desk.

All up, he has had his spleen (what was left of it) removed, a surgical incision from his chest to the groin area and another four units of blood. Unfortunately, he didn’t receive Irradiated blood components, which are treated with radiation, a blood usually used with patients who have had a transplant, as it wasn’t available and without any blood, Les would’ve died.

Until now, I haven’t witnessed so many blood products being pumped into anyone or stood in an emergency room with blood everywhere; it was very dramatic and traumatic. It wasn’t until one of the doctors said, “Do you realise this is very serious?” Well, actually, if you don’t share information, how am I supposed to gauge that, I felt like replying. Then I realised it was manic and no time to spare talking with me until it was necessary. Instead, I followed her instructions in a daze and spoke to Les before they wheeled him out to the theatre.

After a long surgery, Les was in intensive care for a few days and then transferred to the ward for a week and was discharged yesterday, 26th February. He has improved, though, as you can imagine, many complications will result from this happening; what they will be will only be evident as time goes on. Though we are grateful to the medical team for all they have done, I have become more aware of how broken our health system is and how frustrating it is to deal with it when you have a loved one in care. Did you hear that scream? It was me.

After all this, I was going to take a break from writing, though now it will be something that helps me deal with everything as we process this rather large bump in the road.

Best of all, Les is a courageous man and a fighter until he decides it’s time to say, “Enough is enough”.

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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

50 thoughts on “Keeping up the Good Fight #7”

  2. I will remember the day also, 17th was my birthday.Thankfully he is home now, no place like home when you are sick. Just hope you will keep improving Les.Love and good thoughts go to you both.Love Jan 💕 Sent from my iPad

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  3. God, how scary, Suzanne! I imagine not having irradiated blood will have consequences? I hadn’t any awareness of this, and I don’t suppose you did until you both landed in this situation. Poor Les! He’s really gone through it, hasn’t he? He must feel like a punch bag. I hope you two can enjoy each other’s company in a quiet way till he regains some strength. Hugs, darlin!

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  4. Oh I’m so, so sorry Suzanne. Poor Les and poor you, but you’re both such troopers and despite all the odds he is still with you! Hopefully he will get stronger by the day. Sending love and positive vibes!❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

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  8. I’m sorry to read about this trip to the ER. I’m sure it was scary, anxiety-producing to the nth degree. I know the health care system is broken, but to experience it in real time… so sorry.

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  9. How scary for you both – but also how amazing that you had the premonition that sent you home early that day. I’m glad they were able to operate successfully although I appreciate that the lack of irradiated blood may add to the challenges Les faces.

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  12. It’s weird, but only yesterday I was thinking I hadn’t seen a post from you for a while. Now I know why. What an absolute nightmare for you both. You must be so grateful that he has pulled through yet another traumatic event, but so fearful too. Poor Les, he has truly suffered and it is unimaginable what his body has gone through and yet his remark to you that he wasn’t able to help put away the groceries shows what a trooper he is. Your experience makes me cry. But I know the pair of you will be strong for one another and I send you both much love, and a lot of gentle hugs.

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      1. Although your circumstances are very different to mine, I know how extremely hard it is to see a loved one suffer and how afraid you probably feel. Your Les is a fighter and something within him is telling him that he’s not finished yet. I hope YOU have some support on this difficult journey. As for the answer? I wish I knew. xx

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        1. I know, Jude and I appreciate your understanding. I have some amazing people who are being very supportive. While some are supportive when it suits them, those ones I have removed or will be doing as a waste of time to be with.

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  16. Suzanne, Les is so very lucky to have you. I am sure he knows this. Do you have friends or family supporting you? Please get coffee and cake delivered. It is not an indulgence at times like these. I hope Les is not in too much pain.
    PS. We are all well. I know you will be wondering.

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  18. How good you went home when you did, but what a shocking way to have the day go. Glad he is home and recuperating now. Writing and sharing can help with the emotional upheaval of it all, I believe.

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    1. Most of my writing will be kept private, as I don’t want my blog to be all about the tough stuff—hopefully, it will be more lighthearted. I could spend many hours and words describing our broken health system and the lack of communication between departments, Doctors, and other medical staff. I won’t, as I don’t have the energy to waste.

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  19. So sorry to read this Suzanne, but at least Les is back in his own home, with its familiarity and peace rather than in a busy, noisy impersonal hospital and he’s being cared for by the best person, You. Thinking of you both.

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    1. Thanks for your kind thoughts, Jim. ICU was wonderful as I felt confident he was receiving the best of care. The other ward was a different experience and yes we’re pleased that episode is finished.

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  21. How terribly frightening. I’m glad you were there and that Les in now home. Our healthcare system is far from perfect and the more I interact with it, the more I realize that we need advocates who ask questions and speak up even when busy staff doesn’t seem to have time for us. I’m glad you were there. No doubt you made a difference.

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  22. Oh this must have been dreadful for you both Suz! I do hope Les is a bit better now and thanks for sharing this dreadful situation with us. You are both fighters and I wish you well as you navigate this next step. Take care x

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  23. Pingback: Keeping up the Good Fight #9 – Life at No. 22

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