More surgery, recovered, and back once again!
Gosh, long absence again. Last post was about a long absence for surgeries, and then on to the delightful experience of having a sweet pair of finches build their nest right above where I sit at my computer, on the lanai. Well, they did indeed have not one egg but two, and both hatched, and both babes did fine. A wonderful time was had by all, watching the babies get ready to fly. So much uncertainty, first peeking over the edge, then practicing wing-beating for several days, and finally the larger babe--with more than one gentle parental nudge while the other parent called from a nearby tree---airborne! That was a thrill for me, and I didn't even raise the little thing. Well, the second one must have flown without the benefit of my delighted eye, because a couple days later the nest was empty.
And the next year--repeat performance by the tiny finches. I did a bit of a repeat too, in the way of more surgery. This time on my brain---yup. For real. I had developed hydrocephalus and spent quite awhile in Baltimore being seen, as we say in medicine, at Johns Hopkins, in what I think is probably the finest place anywhere to have brain surgery these days. All the elements worked beautifully together: world-class surgeons with marvelous nurses for postop care, all in the most amazing physical facility I can imagine. I'll skip the details, but I am sure grateful to all those people!
So I am feeling well, happy to be back swimming once again, and back to the computer.
Recent Comments
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Welcome back and it is good to read that all is well once again and you are ready to rock and roll!
The bird story reminds me of the time spent at my house in Florida when my mother and step-father were living in it...
In the morning we would sit outside enjoying our morning coffee (morning started early around 5-6 am)....I could count on a daily visit schedule as follows: Birds, bigger birds, squirrels, and sprinkled in between dog chases scaring them all away, The "icing was often the dogs finding a turtle to get excited about...
Nice start to the day or a break from your activities!
Have a great day!
Dave
: )
Wonderful that you came through your surgery. My Niece suffers from the same malady.
I hope mom and dad finch tolerated your presence better this year. It can get a bit annoying being driven from your relaxing space by protective parents.
Welcome back.
hey labman
thanks for the note! My kind of hydrocephalus is the adult onset kind known as normal pressure hydrocephalus, a confusing name if ever there was one. Does your niece have that kind,or the one from birth? In either case, Johns Hopkins is an amazing place for care.
I will probably write a small Kindle book on the experience, because there is so little out there to teach people what this is.
How ru? and all those labs?
She has been dealing with this all her life, first shunt was installed when she was 3 mos old.
Doing well, Labs make my life interesting.
Welcome back!! And your finch population doubled… :) The circle of life… so wonderful. Great to hear you are doing well.
thanks, you! glad to see your name pop up again. and what a wonderful reminder of the circle of life. It was a finch variety of working on his roar, huh.
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So nice to have you back and hope you find your recovery smooth and complete. My little grandson just went through brain surgery also due to leukemia and has a long road ahead of him.So, you can understand how much I understand what you went through. All the best and welcome back.