Yes, I'm back!

 In early 2020, I fell on my face.  Apparently I had passed out and wasn't able to protect myself in a fall.

After a 911 call, and a chilly ambulance ride, I spent some time in Baltimore's fantastic Shock Trauma facility.  In my underwear, and shivering from freezing cold at the Intake area, I shared my time with several policemen wrestling with some "Drive by" shooters. Even though my butt was frigid, I found the experience very interesting.  After listening to my complaints for an hour, they found a warm room for me and a comfortable bed.  Now I was an official Shock Trauma patient.

I knew that I was in a marvelous place.  My two daughters had their lives saved by the "MASH-like" care they received here. One of my daughters had suffered a head wound when struck by the edge of a garden hoe. We called 911 and a Shock Trauma helicopter came quickly to take her to the Baltimore facility.  In the meantime, a brain surgeon was flown in from New York. The doctor and my daughter met up on the facility's roof, where surgery was performed that saved her life.

My other daughter's car was hit by a careless speeder.  My daughter's car was pushed over a median strip and was hit head-on by several vehicles.  Once again the Shock Trauma helicopter flew one of my daughters to Baltimore, where this daughter was patched up with lots and lots of metal.

Both daughters would not have survived without Shock Trauma.  God bless that organization!

Now it was my turn. In my case, facial reconstruction was needed. (They didn't listen to me asking to look like a famous movie star.  I won't say which one, and it wasn't Lassie!)

Part of the reconstruction involved my right eye. That was fine, except that both eyes were now a little out of sync...so, good bye driving.

While the doctors worked on me they apparently found other bodily problems, and decided that I should get into the Home Hospice program. I spent over a year in that program until they told me I no longer needed their care.  I had really enjoyed my constant contacts with Hospice personnel, especially because they seemed to like my stories.  Anyway, I am one of the few patients to have ever "graduated" from an "end of life" sentence.  I feel like a new person and hope to be around for a little while longer.