LIFE AFTER TUM
On Thursday, January 31st, around eight thirty in the morning, I arrived at Cedars Sinai hospital... My family members and close friends were already waiting... They stayed until I was connected to an IV and was wheeled to the surgery room. I would later be told how amazing it was, to see so such a"Calm and Fearless Patient" like me !The worried expressions on my visitors face, made me laugh out loud "Why do you worry?" I asked "Look at me, I am not scared at all!" Before long a nurse came and gave me a shot, which made me feel a bit tipsy... I was searching among the young, good looking doctors for a possible candidate' for my future Son-in-law, but fell asleep before finding one...
The surgery took about Five Hours... I was later told, that when the nurses tried to wake me up, they were unable to do so... When I finally opened my eyes, I could see my husband, my daughter and few other people, sitting by my bed crying...x"Why are they crying?" I wondered"x Am I dead?" Looking around I found myself in a beautiful room, decorated with lovely paintings. Near the windows was a sitting area, with a sofa and few chairs, upholstered in calming pastel colors... For a few moments it seemed as if I was staying in a magnificent hotel... Later I would learn, that Al made sure I would be in the most beautiful (and expensive) part of the hospital and seen, by the Best Doctors only!...
There were several flower arrangements and cards, on the oval table by the window, as well as several colorful 'works of art', decorating the walls...Through the sparkling glass windows, I was able to see the lights of the houses in the Hollywood Hills... For a moment it seemed as if I was staying in one of the five stars hotels,which Al introduced me to, or in a fancy cabin on a cruise ship... I noticed the IV Tubes which were attached to my arms, but remembered very little from the first day... Karen and her (then) boyfriend who spent the night sitting on chairs by my bed side, would later tell me, how happy I was to see them when I finally woke up! They said I was very funny; "Almost as if you were a real Stand up Comedian!" I was also told, how I tried to convince two doctors, three nurses and some of the Cleaning Crew, to join me in a very Important Spiritual Discussion, regarding the "Up coming Golden Age!" using words like X"Oneness consciousnesses and unconditional Love!" They also said how during one of the most interesting moments of conversation, I would suddenly fall into a deep sleep.My friend Iris Suggested "To fill up bottles with Shira's Laughter, sell them in the hospital's Gift Shop and make a Fortune! "
On the following day (so I am told) I was 'getting short' with one of the Night Nurses,who asked me for my date of birth, were was I at the present moment and why was I there... After asking me the same questions for the third time: "Is something wrong with your memory? I have just told you several times, the date of my birthday! What is yours?" X After she answered I told her she was a 'Leo'x as well as the "Meaning of her sign!" When another nurse came in to ask how I was feeling, I said I was fine, accept for having difficulties keeping my eyes open..."Do you have double vision?" She asked “How can I tell if I have double vision when my eyes are close?" Came my answer...
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| Dr. "Ali" and Rabbi "Karebear" |
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| Karen and Allison at 12 |
Alison and Karen, were Best Friend since the fourth grade and were spending a lot of time together! Ali had two siblings, to compete and fight with, and enjoyed the"Peacefulness and Calm at Karen's small family home... Since Al and I, decided to have 'One Child Only', our home was always open to the young visitors from Karen's school, who were always welcomed by us; more then the parents of several kids! We loved to have young people around , who enjoyed our attention! Karen accused me once that X"You love Alison more then you love me!"... After Alison graduated from Medical School, she would always come to visit me, at one of the hospitals I stayed; due to the new 'Exotic Illness' I had at the time...Whenever 'Ali' and 'Kare Bear,' were getting together, they seemed to regress to an earlier stage of their lives. I was always amused by the conversations of the two "Valley Girls", who grew up to be a Physician and a Rabbi...I can not remember how long was my stay at the Hospital, to find out if my Tumor was Malignant or not... Eventually Al and I heard the good news: "The Tumor is Benign!"
When I finally came back home after my sugary, our dog Moses was barking with joy, running around me...I was told how he was sitting by by my bed, during the better part of my Hospital Stay... During the first two weeks of my recovery, I was waking up around three or four in the morning, to the delight of my Israeli friends and family members... We were able to chat on the phone, 'before I went to sleep', in L.A and They, just wok up in the morning... During the time of my long recuperation, Al was taking such good care of me,I told him he is the 'Male Version' of Florence Nightingale; the 'Legendary British Nurse' during the second World war...X"I was afraid I am going to loose you!" Al said with tears in his eyes.X"I am going to record you and play it in the future, when you criticize me!"xI said...
After we came back home, Al was telling the many people who wanted to see me, that I was not quiet "Ready for Visitors"... My protests did not help; he made sure I was taking my medicine, arguing me to eat and was constantly asking me how I was feeling... I am convinced, that the love and care, my family members as well as our good friends; helped my recovery more then the 'Bitter Medicine' I had to take... Before my 'Bon Voyage party', I wrote a goodbye poem for "Tum the tumor" X and shared it with my visitors.x "Don't you Hate this Tumor?" One of my friends asked me... I had to think about it. The truth was that I did not hate Tum, I was actually grateful to this tumor; realizing that because of Tum, I got in touch with old friends, made new ones, had a great party, inspiring people to be more calm and positive during challenging times and learn to overcome fears; by using Hope and Laughter, during difficult and scary moments...This challenging experience encouraged me to write Poetry, once again...Below is a poem, written and dedicated to Tum the Tumor, who is now far away ...
A poem for Tum
Some of my friends don't like you and this is what they said:x"Good by
Nasty Tumor; get out of Shira's head!
We Toast to your departure; good by Unwanted Brat! Don't even try to visit, forget we ever met!
Although you were not welcome I thank you 'Tumor Tom'
You came when you were needed
and left when it was time The 'Tumor Humor' blog 'was born' thanks to you. xxand this lovely partyXX
is your doing too!
♥♥♥
Bon Voyage!
♥♥
Adieu!!
♥
Good Buy!
"It is during our darkest moments, that we must focus to see the light!" Aristotle Onassis said...
With Love and light,
Shira
