And Just Like That...

 

I remember being a late bloomer to HBO's Sex & The City (mainly because I didn't have HBO). Once I started watching the show, I immediately became hooked following the antics of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda as they navigated their way through their lives in New York City. One of the main catch phrases of the show that was often said near the end of each episode was..."And Just Like That". That catch phrase of course is bringing new life to 3/4 of the original characters (though they recently gave Kim Cattrall the world no doubt to reprise her role of Samantha on "And Just Like That" for a few seconds...and I'm not mad at her...LOL).   Unlike for Sex & The City, I do have access to HBO MAX now just MAX (stupid name change) thanks to my friend Sally adding me to her account.   So I'm able to watch "And Just Like That" which of course pales to the original though some episodes try to bring that old SATC magic back.   Plus it's nice to see Nicole Ari Parker get some work.   Loved her on Soul Food the TV series.

Life has had many "And Just Like That" moments.  The latest one has a major impact on Dom and to an extent myself.   I mentioned in a recent post how Dom has an enlarged prostate and has to wear a catheter in his uretha for relief.   Unfortunately he started to feel feverish and had zero energy or appetite.   He ended up having a serious bladder infection diagnosed when we went to the ER.   His ER doc was debating whether or not to admit him to a hospital bed and at first it was decided to send him home.   But the next evening we got a call from the doc saying that Dom needed to be admitted.   

I dropped Dom off around midnight after a brief debate on whether to go that night or wait till morning.   Dom literally had no energy and was sleeping over half the day in his LazyBoy.   I repeatedly begged for him to get up so he could go to the ER but he couldn't move.   I know he wanted to but his energy wasn't there.   Plus the catheter was bringing him intense pain whether he sat still or moved.    It was several hours before he finally found that inner strength to slowly get up, each slight movement bringing him unbearable pain.   He had to slowly make his way to my car crying in pain.

He insisted I go back home and get some rest, both of us knowing he'd be at the ER for a long time before a room opened up.   I felt bad but I knew he was right.   He was thankfully attended to once I left but he was still in the waiting room once I met him there around 7:30 AM the next morning.   I did feel hopeful though when he asked me to bring a sausage McMuffin, hash browns, and unsweetened iced tea from McDonald's.    At least he had a little bit of an appetite.

The ER of course was filled with patients that were also waiting to be admitted to a room.   We were ushered to the triage area of the ER where Dom could at least lie on a bed.   Even sitting felt like a discomfort to him with the pressure the prostate felt.   That was a little after 9AM.   He did start getting antibiotic treatment when he first arrived after midnight and he continued to get treatment while in bed.   Finally just after noon (over 12 hours after he arrived at the ER), a room finally opened up that we were moved into.

Dom wound up staying there for 6 days where he continued to receive antibiotics.   He unfortunately also had an enlarged testicle which started to flare up Day 4 of his visit.   The first couple days he also went back and forth between having energy and feeling feverish again.

As Dom's sole caretaker it was a bit of hell on me as well (though mine pales in comparison to Dom's).   I needed to commute back and forth to the hospital, which of course I didn't mind since I do love him.   But the hardest part is needing to help Dom change his clothes since he isn't able to bend down and do it for himself.   I also had to wait several hours for his prescriptions to be ready at a different Walgreens because the one we normally go to decided to close their pharmacy for the weekend.   He also needs to go to the hospital once a day to continue to receive antibiotics.   It hurts for me to even move still so I've been taking him.   He wants to do it himself tomorrow since I'm working but I'm praying that he is able to make it okay on his own.

It's been a grueling experience so far.   It's almost reminding me of everything I had to do with my parents in their later years though in that case at least Trina and Tasha were there as well.   But it's part of life.  It's amazing how things are going okay and just like that, life throws a lot of shit your way that you need to navigate.   He just lost his Dad and younger sister and now he's dealing with his own health shit.   Life is a trip but we just have to keep on pushing.