Catch Up

Elkmont, Alabama

Weather: low 66 degrees, high 77 degrees, partly cloudy skies, breezy

It has been almost a week since I posted. What a week it has been! I guess the best place to start is at the beginning.

The last time I posted was Sunday evening, as my sister Janie was getting ready to go home. The next morning, Janie left. I was feeling really bad, so I called my cardiologist in Athens about it. He told me to get to to his office as soon as possible. An ekg showed that I was in atrial fibrillation, even though the pacemaker I had installed was supposed to help.

I was immediately placed in ICU, where treatment was started to get the AF under control. The AF was controlled that evening, but other problems had arisen that needed to be addressed. When the pacemaker was installed, my fluid retention medicine stopped working, and I gained ten pounds in less than five days. After two days, a combination of drugs was found that started the pump flowing again.

On Wednesday morning at 0500 hours, I was awakened by a nurse who said the area was under a tornado warning. Everyone was moved in to the hall for more protection. That warning did not result in a tornado hitting Athens.

At 1200 hours on Wednesday, another tornado warning was announced for the area. Back in to the hall. This tornado did hit the area, causing deaths, injuries, and destruction.

At 1700 hours, another warning, which resulted in another hit for the area. More deaths, injuries, and destruction. We were trying to be released from the hospital at that time, so it was rather hectic.

One of the tornadoes that hit in the afternoon destroyed the neighborhood where we lived in the 1980s, including a home we had built that we thought was going to be our retirement home.

We finally got home about 2000 hours, where we had no damage, but there was not any electricity. No problem, at least we were safe, and I was doing better.

We saw things that day I don't care to see again. Large amounts of debris fell for hours, including sheet metal, tree parts, insulation, and just about anything else we use in a modern world.

We got everything ready to go to Atlanta the next morning, when we left for my doctor's appointment over there. Leaving at 0500 hours in the morning, we were at the doctor's office a few minutes early. After doing the paperwork, we were called back for a complete examination and personal history. Then, the doctor said he had hope to offer me, which made us feel good, because we had no hope before. He explained my disease again, and said he had several treatment options that had promise for me. The rest of the day was spent with tests, x-rays, and scheduling.

We spent the night in Atlanta, and arrived home Friday afternoon. The electricity was
still off, with no idea when it would come back on. Still, we felt we were fortunate. Many people lost loved ones, had injuries, or lost everything they owned.

Saturday was spent resting and trying to catch up with things that had been ignored all week. The electricity came back on about 1730 hours that night while we were gone to get supper. Nice surprise to come back to. Carolyn put it very well when she the power being off wasn't hard, just inconvenient. We did lose everything in the refrigerator and freezer, but still count ourselves fortunate.

Today was more resting and catching up. I think we're getting there, just in time to back to Atlanta on Tuesday for more testing.

More later, be safe.

Today's Town - Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Together We Can Build A Bridge To The Future

Not all who wander are lost.