On Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), Riverbend held a Mardi Gras parade and meal. The decorated carts and costumes people wore were fabulous!
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| Lois and Bonnie |
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| Donna and Bernie Davis |
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| Gwen and Dick Wieboldt |
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| Linda & Bernard Karl |
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| Pat Noel & Cammie |
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| Marlene & Tom "The King" |
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| Mary Davenport |
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| The pulled pork cooks |
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| King Cake that Sue baked |
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A dinner of pulled pork with cole slaw was served after everyone returned to the Riverbend Clubhouse. I made 2 King Cakes and sliced them into small pieces so that everyone had a bite for dessert.
Our good friends Joe and Angel had to go back to their hometown of Binghamton, NY to visit their newest grandchild. We volunteered to "puppy-sit" their 2 chihuahua's, Lucy and Peanut whom we adore. We are always so lucky to be able to get our "dog fix" wherever we go.
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| Roger with Lucy and Peanut |
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The night of Mardi Gras I woke up with horrible stomach pains and vomiting. The symptoms continued throughout the night; the next day and then again through the night. By the 2nd morning of horrible nights Roger insisted that I go to Lehigh Acres Medical Center. They ran a CAT scan and told us that they were not equipped to handle my condition and that I needed to be transported via ambulance to a larger hospital in Fort Myers. I was told that my condition was fatal and that I needed to be treated immediately. When I got to Health Park Medical Center emergency room I was told that I had Intussusception.
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Intussusception (in-tuh-suh-SEP-shun) is a serious disorder in which
part of the intestine — either the small intestine or colon — slides
into another part of the intestine. This "telescoping" often blocks the
intestine, preventing food or fluid from passing through.
Intussusception also cuts off the blood supply to the part of the
intestine that's affected.
Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in
children. Intussusception is rare in adults. Most cases of adult
intussusception are the result of an underlying medical condition. In
contrast, most cases of intussusception in children have no demonstrable
cause.
With prompt attention, intussusception can often be successfully treated without lasting problems."
Even though I was told that my condition could be fatal, I waited in the emergency room for 7 hours before a doctor even came to look at me. When the doctor did come, he was an arrogant young doctor with no bedside manner, who just couldn't imagine why we were so upset about not being taken into surgery. He even suggested that it "might" correct itself. Finally Roger and I had had enough and told him that either he do something "NOW" or transfer me to a hospital that will. Even the Riverside Pastor; who was with us and his wife could not believe their ears. The doctor slumped away and then came back later to tell us that he wouldn't be able to operate until the following morning because they received 2 "code blue" patients. We said OK, but that it absolutely had to be done the following morning.
The following morning he did the surgery and I was finally on the road to recovery. After 6 days in the hospital, I finally got to come home. I'm sore and it'll be a while before I'm kicking up my heels on the dance floor; but I'm grateful for all of the prayers and kindness extended to Roger and I during my illness. The friends that we've made here are truly a blessing.
