Seriously? Move!

First, got a shout out from Team Allen on their Facebook page today!  Woot!  Thank you!  Check them out if you are over there visiting Team Derek!

Back to business.....

I yelled at two people on the way to the Matc.  I previously addressed this issue, but it just annoys me so much that I feel the need to rant a little again.  I can "almost" understand this problem at a place like the Army Navy game.  Almost.... but not quite.  But at Walter Reed Bethesda?  At ANY hospital or rehabilitation center?  You would think that people there are used to dealing with wheelchairs!  Seriously!  Especially those people running around in the white coats.  My goodness.

Okay.  Enough of the crypticness.  I'll get to the point and tell you what happened.  Sorry.

On the way to the Matc two, not one, two people walked in front of Derek and stopped, not one time, but two separate times.  I said, "Excuse me, please" both times.  One looked at me like he expected us to move and he remained where he was... just standing there.... waiting for the elevator.  I yelled, "Move!"  The other walked in front of us from a cross hall to ask directions of someone and told us to go around when I said, "Excuse me."  Really?  Like that is so easy.  I told her "No" and pointed to the chair.  She rolled her eyes and moved. 

On the way back, people walked right out in front while Derek was rocketing along and almost got taken out!  Look!  He cannot stop as quick as you can.  God forbid two wheelchair crazy kids are coming at the same time....  If that happens, we will just need to close our eyes and hope for the best..  But if one is ambulatory, then the one with legs needs to run, jump, leap, skip out of the way.

It's just common courtesy.  You have legs.  You can move a lot easier than someone who has to maneuver a large chair with wheels that do not bend.  Newsflash here, people..... it doesn't move that easy!!!  It goes forward and it goes backward!  It can swivel a little, too, but not as much as your legs!  You have legs....  USE THEM or lose them when we run you over!!

I think every living person should have to spend one day as a disabled person with various disabilities.  One day as a disabled person without working legs, without working arms, blind, deaf, mute, you name it.  This would give everyone a better understanding of other people.  And maybe we could even have people spend a day like me.... out of your freaking mind!  It's actually fun in my little world.  No one has locked me up...  yet.  I don't let Dr. West get too close with that restraint team he used to tease me with ....  He stopped.  That MIGHT be a problem.  That MIGHT mean he has them hiding down the hall.  Better watch out....  Better not cry (don't do that anyway).  Better not pout, I'm telling you why!  I know who is coming to take me away for Christmas!!!!  Yay!!!!

Okay, rant over.  All I ask is that you please be mindful of your surroundings.  If you see someone in a wheelchair or on crutches, move out of the way.  You have working legs.  Use them.

At the Matc, Derek had a wonderful work out!  He got himself in and out of the wheelchair by his very own lonesome!  He also rolled over and sat up alone!  We celebrate the little things.  It's like cheering for your toddler when he learns to walk again.  It's a big step.  Here is a photo of Derek getting out of the chair all by himself.  Since there were other heroes in the back working out, I Christmasfied the photo to protect their privacy.

Tomorrow, Derek will celebrate 150 days alive.  Given that his commander didn't think he would ever see him again after he left him in Khandahar, and given that a lot of the doctors thought he wouldn't make it, we have a lot to be thankful for this Christmas!

And Santa's helper came to visit today.  She loved the treats that I bought for her....

Her Mommy is really Santa's helper.  I wanted to get some Hallmark ornaments for Derek's nurses, and she not only picked them up for me without me asking but would not let me pay for them.  Thank you, Lisa!

The best news is that family arrives in four days!!  Yay!!!  Happy Christmas to us!  Are you ready for Christmas?  I'm not.  I haven't shopped, but as long as I have my family around me, I will be good.  Well, I will be good if the little midgets in my head having a mosh pit and causing the mother of all migraines finally get evicted.  I've served them with the eviction notice, but they have not left.  I really think it is my neck.  Every time I move my head, I get a sharp pain from my neck through to the top of my head.  I guess the massage I got today did not help.  Derek kicked Krystina and I out to get massages offerred for caregivers by the Yellow Ribbon Fund.  I have a follow-up appointment at the Warrior Clinic this week.  Sgt Archie said he will march me there himself if I am not feeling better.  Rut roh!

I do miss our awesome Trauma docs.  They checked in with us so much more than PM&R.  I love Dr. Kim, but I don't see her as often.  Dr. Perdue was always around, and I still see Dr. Diego every day.  Well, I will until the end of the month when he switches to another service and trauma loses him.  He is awesome and he is leaving just like Obi and Ben before him.  But the good news is that Ben will be back in the hospital on Jan 1st!!!  Yay!!!  Can't wait to see him!  We will have all of my favorite docs in the hospital at the same time.  But in the meantime, I need to get PM&R in line so I am happy and Derek gets the care he needs, especially since he is facing one more surgery and needs a consult with a new doctor.  I feel they give Derek attention, but he doesn't understand half of what they are saying and he needs me to talk to the doctors.  Dr. Kim will talk to me, but she doesn't come around every day.  When someone else comes around, I am pushed aside and ignored.  I do not like that.  I need to be in the loop.  Derek admits he does not know enough not to have me there.  We need to resolve this first thing tomorrow morning.

So, here's to a better week for my head, Derek rocking the Matc, the family arriving safe and sound at the end of the week, the medical staff having a wonderful holiday, and a safe and happy Christmas for all of you!!! 

Climb to glory!

And a song with which to sign off:
http://youtu.be/6tNbsQ8eDbA

Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah!
Happy Winter Solstice!
Happy Kwanza!
Happy New Year!
Happy Weekend!
Happy Life!
Thank you for being you!

What a Day!

I awoke this morning at 0600 with the damned midgets hammering away with their incessant ice picks as if their lives depended on getting out of my skull that minute.  The slightest move of my head sent shock waves through my brain the likes of which I had never experienced.  I forced myself back into sweet oblivian for another few hours until the alarm clock awoke me at 0700 so I could shower, dress and get to the hospital.  Unfortunately, it wasn't happening this morning.  I resent the alarm in hopes that another hour would help.  Wishful thinking.  I awoke in just as much pain.  Guess the acutorture didn't help.

I called Angela at 0830 to ask her to order Derek's breakfast and she advised me that it had already been done.  She is an angel.

This morning, I then went to CVS and got a few things while Krystina went to join Derek for his trip to the Matc.  When I finished in CVS, I went to the Matc and discovered that Derek had not gone.  His PT advised that it is very common in the beginning for the guys to skip days.  She also advised me that Derek is doing very good.  He sat up on his own this week, balanced himself, and is making great strides.  She is very proud of him. 

I wish Derek was proud of himself.

Unfortunately, Derek is feeling down.  He is down because he is not improving as fast as he would like.  He will get there, it will just take time.  But Derek was always about instant gratification.  He needs to remember that building himself up takes time and does not happen overnight.

Tonight we went to dinner at the British Ambassador's Residence.  Sir Nigel Sheinwald was very welcoming and cordial.  He served us beer, sparking wine, sausages and prawns before dinner.  Dinner was filet mignon, french fries, carrots and broccoli.  Dessert was a chocolate cake soaking in alcohol, espresso, ice cream for the kids, and mince pie.  Derek wanted some ice cream, too, so he called over Jeeves and requested some.

We had a good time, even though it was quite exhausting on him.

The bus right really hurts him.  The hip disartic is the hardest on him.

The worst part was when we got back.  This very rude officer had pulled someone over to give them a ticket for a traffic violation.  They were blocking the entry for building 10.  I had already called ahead to Derek's nurse so she was waiting for him with his medication.  Our escort asked the officer to please let us pass because their was a wounded warrior who needed to get into the hospital.  He was told, "No."  He was told that it would be at least another ten minutes.  Even though it was explained to him that the patient was in distress, he said that he would have to wait.  They turned to me and said, "Go for it, Mom."

I got out and explained to the "gentleman" that my son was in extreme pain after his pass, and that his nurse was waiting for him with his medication.  I said that he COULD NOT wait any longer.  I said that he needed to get off the bus IMMEDIATELY.  They told me he had to wait.  I told them he could not.  They had not only Bldg 10  blocked, but the way to the ER entrance blocked as well.  There was no place for us to go.  I was livid.

Then they refused to give me their names or ID cards.  I went to the Command Office and got the name of the Officer of the Day and called and filed a report.  Oh, hell, no.  You are not going to tell me my son has to sit in pain while you write a ticket.  Please.  It's a little thing called priorities.

When I called the Officer of the Day, she told me that they are supposed to call more about patients then writing tickets.

The funniest part of the day was when Derek called me a fother mucker.  I told the nurses and they laughed.  One of the corpsman wanted to give him a high five.  Braty Dr. Diego said, "Who and I to argue with a patient?"  Sure.  You'll argue with me, brat, but you won't argue with a patient?  I see how it is.  No bagel for you.

And when Dr. West came today he shocked me when he alerted me to the fact that this is the last weekend before Christmas.  I honestly did not know that.  That's scary.

It's late.  Actually, it's early.  We got back from the Embassy at 11.  I have a migraine.  I need to sleep.  Good night.  Love to all.  Climb to glory!