Track Record

I'm asked sometimes how we're doing.  The truth is, we're not doing well.  I nearly put myself in the pysch ward on Friday last week because we're just getting snowed under despite all the efforts we're putting in to stay solvent, stay sane and stay healthy.

The drunk driver that nearly killed Lisa ended up causing severe disc injury to her spine (L4 - S1) for which she is going to physical therapy now.  She loves the therapy and says that it is helping her feel better.  There is a stim machine that the therapist puts her on and as she is using the machine, she says she can feel the machine helping her spasms lessen.

We're tallying up bills to send in for restitution when the guy is sentenced November 28.  As of tonight, Lisa's bills total nearly 50k, and we'll be finding out the remainder tomorrow when she calls her physical therapist to get those totals as well.

I worry that she will not win restitution.  As it is at present, nearly every day we get a new bill from a hospital, service, or car place telling us how much we owe here, here and there.  We got another bill today saying that the tow yard where the wrecked car was taken is billing us, and has been since the 18th of July.  What a nasty way to get a surprise additional charge.  What can we do with a wrecked car except...?  What?  Take it home and look at it?

So it's another bill to pay.

I am not recovering well either.  The doctor put me in a wheelchair on Tuesday.  People are talking and spreading rumors at work about me, that I "want attention," and I'm doing this and telling people about what we're going through because I don't have enough attention being paid to me.  Each setback is met with a "what's new" attitude, accompanied with much eye-rolling and negative commentary.

Like we planned this.  I tell people at work about what's happening because I'm reaching out for help.  To get kicked in the teeth is brutal.

Nobody plans to nearly lose their wife, and lose their own health in the process.  I fear I'm losing my sanity.  I will be meeting with my doctor in the afternoon to evaluate starting me on anti-depressants.

Thank God for our friends and family stepping in to alleviate some of the pressure and stress.  One donated food today.  Another donated ten bucks.

Thank God for people that actually have hearts.  Thank you to those that have helped.  You mean the world to us.

Among other things

Lisa went in for an MRI the other day.  Getting her in for the MRI itself was difficult enough: because the drunk driver that hit her didn't have car insurance (though he was driving a late-model Bimmer), we're on the hook for all of her medical expenses.

The morning of the procedure, she nearly backed out.  "I don't think we have the money to pay for this procedure," and "I don't want to have to lie there for an hour, it's going to be so boring."  Nevermind that the night before, she could barely walk, and is regularly popping percocet to manage the pain. 

What frustrates me is that Lisa is not willing to go through and get an examination done because she's worried about the cost.  I don't give a damn about the cost.  Cost means very little to me right now because I am seriously concerned about how much Lisa is hurting.  It's NOT NORMAL to constantly be in pain, to worry about being able to walk more than one block, and to have to take a pill to function.  The most common refrain out of her mouth is, "my back is killing me."

No surprise I jumped all over Lisa when she considered not going in for the MRI.  We now are waiting on results of the scan.  The technicians told her that she would be getting the results within a few days.  Every time I get home from work and see her smiling at me, the first thought that comes to mind is: "did we find out anything about Lisa's back today?"

Nothing yet today on any results.  Frankly, will we even see anything?  She had an MRI done in the E.R. the night of the accident.  Lisa was unable to feel her pelvis, legs and feet for several hours after the collision.  We all thought she was going to be paralyzed.  The initial scan that day came back with no obvious broken bones or soft-tissue damage (I don't know if the E.R. staff were looking for soft-tissue damage, the thing that I remember most is that they all were saying that there were no apparent broken bones).

The scan on Monday I hope can give us some results on what, if any, issues Lisa is continuing to have.  It's not thrilling to see Lisa in pain, and concerning she is still on percocet.

On my side of things: I'm still recovering from my hip arthroscopy.  The surgery kicked my butt, and the recovery has been difficult.  I was supposed to be off crutches two weeks ago.  Still not off them.  Have a doctor appointment in the afternoon and am afraid that he'll yank away the crutches from me.  I'm on percocet every day as well.

Welcome to October?