It’s Almost Over
Thursday, February 9, 2006
Well, tonight I finally got my nose tube removed. Such a relief! It has been 18 days since I have had even a morsel of food by mouth, and we are celebrating.
We had been told to come to the doctor’s office about 7:30 or 8 p.m. Thursday night was “free” night, and there would be a lot of people. Arriving later would mean we might wait less time.
At 7:45 the waiting room was full, and there were people in the rose garden outside. So much for not waiting long. Oh, well. These people obviously aren’t here to socialize and have needs, too. However, after waiting about 10 minutes, 4 people emerged from the doctor’s office, and a similar-sized group rose from their seats and entered. From that, we surmised our wait wouldn’t be as long as feared.
We noticed that most of the people there were Muslim. Perhaps it is because, as we learned recently, that Muslims are very disadvantaged, especially in the education system. Apparently there is some form of subtle racism which results in the children coming out poorly educated. Which means, of course, they are on the low end of the earning power spectrum, and thus, were taking advantage of “free” night.
Most patients didn’t have an obvious problem, but that didn’t mean the whole family wasn’t there with them, in most cases. Often their children were with them, including, on this night, a beautiful little girl with a round face framed in black, curly hair and the biggest black eyes you have ever seen. Her little ankle-bracelets jingled when she ran around. It was difficult, if not impossible, to tell which of the adults was really the patient. They all went into the office together.
However, there were a couple of old ladies that were in very bad shape. They had to be supported by two other people as they came in or left. They went into another room off the waiting room. That room had beds with IV poles. Perhaps some chemotherapy was administered there. If so, that would explain these ladies’ condition aside from any cancer they had!
We were accurate in our assessment. About 20 minutes later we were called in.
Dr. Thomas cleaned the wound, and decided I had healed enough to remove the tube. He said to come back in a week for a checkup, but was sure everything would be fine.
When we were beside the road trying to flag an auto-rickshaw after our visit, one pulled up and disgorged two people. Then they turned around and, with the aid of the driver inside the back and pushing from behind, slowly eased another old lady out of the auto. They very carefully helped her into the clinic. Actually, with the darkness, it was hard to tell exactly what age range she might have been. She could have been the man’s wife, and he was probably middle age or younger. Cancer can really age a person.
After they were clear, the driver motioned us to enter while he went to collect the fare. The meter indicated 40 rupees, so they had come 7 kilometers. On these streets, that could not have been at all pleasant for that poor woman in her condition.
We decided to come to the Park Lane Restaurant, one of our favorite places, for a relaxing dinner in their semi-indoor garden. We were warmly greeted by waiters and servers. Hand shakes were offered all around, along with inquiries after my health.
I stuffed myself on mashed potatoes, creamy vegetable stew, 2 hard boiled eggs and a cup of hot ginger water. When I was shoving food into the nose tube, I sometimes felt full but never satisfied. Now, I am not only full, but very satisfied.
The ginger in the hot water had a definite bite in the back of my throat, so I think I will give it time to recover from the irritation caused by the tube before I try the spicier Indian food. Otherwise, swallowing was not a problem at all, to my surprise.
I find it interesting. I used to carp about not being able to have things like fresh salad because I can’t chew tough food. Sandra had to remind me that I should be grateful to be alive, which I surely am. However, it seems that we all have the tendency to loose sight of the big picture, in which God has demonstrated His love and concern for us over and over. We tend to focus instead on the little irritations and, in light of eternity, ridiculously insignificant things.
As the old song shining through the mists of antiquity goes:
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometime
You might find
You get what you need.
God has brought this home to me, yet again. He basically said to me, “My dear child, quitcher belly achin’! You really have nothing to be complaining about, do you? Unfortunately, you will have to experience a little worse for awhile.”
After 18 days without passing food through my mouth, I am now much more appreciative of what I can eat! There are people who, after certain operations, have to spend the rest of their lives eating through a stomach tube. Who am I to complain? What do I really have to complain about?
But, you know and I know that I will, no doubt, lose my perspective and complain about something again. I hereby give you permission to remind me of this, should that occur.
By the way, I can’t squirt water through a hole in my cheek anymore. There’s always a downside to everything . . . That’s not a complaint, incidentally!
(Betcha that song is now running round your brain!)
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