Hello World, pt III.

 Ohhh...kay.

Let's see:

• I had a bacterial infection. 
• Did a few weeks in the hospital.
• Got sent to Care Life to rehab. 
• Had a massive pulmonary embolism. 
• Went back to the ER. 
• Was prepped for a thrombectomy. 
• Slipped into a  coma and my organs began to shut down. 

According to my sister Kathleen; my case quickly became critical.  There were crisis - level medications being pumped into me. All in an attempt to keep me from dying. 

Strike two.

Of course, while lying there unconscious at death's door; I flat lined a couple of times. 

Strike three.

My family in Alberta came to Vancouver. My kids were told they needed to say goodbye. 

My father, as any LDS patriarch would, gave me a Priesthood blessing. I don’t know what was said, (I was unconscious at the time) but I do recall some very fun and even a little prophetic dreams while I was out.

I finally woke up in an isolation ward at Royal Colombian Hospital. The private room, I was told later; was due to my vulnerable situation, and because COVID had finally arrived at lower mainland hospitals. I remember seeing a mylar helium balloon with a happy birthday printed on it. Which means I missed my birthday last year. 

I'm writing this on my birthday this year.

That was early August last year (I think), and a few weeks later I was back at Surrey Memorial for some iv medication treatment. The antibiotics cocktail was administered over the course of six weeks. However, my toes had gone necrotic (right foot), so back to Royal Colombian I went to get 'em amputated. Normal post-op recovery; and afterwards I was once again sent off to Care Life.  This was in September, I believe. The only outstanding memories I have of my time this time around was Thanksgiving, my kids visiting and bringing me Macdonalds, and Paul Tomlinson dropped in to visit for an hour or so. By November/December; I was transferred again to Queens Park physio facility in New Westminster. They were supposed to teach me to walk. Didn't happen. 

Got out of Queens Park December 8th. Spent about 90 days at Kathy and Grant's place. Moved on to live with Dad in early March.