After I recovered from my URI, I went to check on John, my friend who had a pacemaker installed last November. He said he was going to go out to the drugstore to get some medication he needed but I could see he wasn’t up to it, so I insisted I go get it for him. Which I did, and bought some dog food and a prepared meal he likes. He looked very weak. When I got back, I opened a can of Amy’s soup, warmed it at home and took it over to him.

When I checked on him on day 2, the soup hadn’t been touched. He was lying in a very dirty bed. I helped him to a chair and changed the sheets. Then helped him back into the bed but he couldn’t stand at all. It was a real effort and affected my compromised back. I washed his dishes which were so grungy, I almost gagged. One of the two sinks was clogged. I made a note to get some Liquid Plumbr.

The dog was in a bad way. He has a skin condition that causes flaking, hadn't had a bath in ages, and was feeling itchy and miserable. I called the Pampered Pup and they were able to take Buster the next day. So I picked him up and drove him down. They washed him and clipped his hair and treated his skin. He’s better since John changed his food to Purina One. When Buster saw where I was taking him, he got all excited and when we walked in the door, he pulled away from me and when to “his” cage and hopped in, happy as a clam.

I got Buster at 5 p.m., and took him back to John. I could see he wasn’t getting better. This morning I called his stepson, Scott, who lives 90 minutes away with his soon-to-be-wife. I was rather plainspoken with Scott because he is in denial about John’s failing health. He said he’d go by tonight after work and I said, Scott if he doesn’t get help now he won’t last till tonight and Scott said then he would get him to the hospital.

I had a physical therapy scheduled and left early. I went to John’s house – and he was gone, so I knew the paramedics had been there. I sat with Buster for a few minutes. He is a sweet West Highland Terrier and very affectionate. I called Cape Coral Hospital and they said he was in the ER. I had time so I went there and Scott was there. I was so very pleased he had decided to take a personal day and take care of John. John was asleep and stayed that way so we didn’t talk.

Then I drove to the physical therapy outfit which was just a few minutes from the hospital. I had missed three sessions while I was sick. Today I was to be reevaluated to ascertain the necessity for continued therapy. The therapist I had today, Gina, lovely girl, very competent, took some measurements of upper body ability and said things were good, some not -- a wash. Then she said the result was she couldn’t justify continuing to the insurance company. I didn’t argue with her. I think the devil’s contract with insurance companies that medical people have to deal with is a corrupting influence and they are caught in the middle. But I did feel rejected and angry, although I did not show it. Also, she didn’t work with me – all that happened was the evaluation measurements and the “no”. I’ll see how I am doing with the exercises they gave me and when I see my internist in June, if I am not better, he can get me some more therapy.

When I got home the insulation replacement was going on and hoses were piping in the material. I had to go to the post office for Ed, and then I stopped at John’s and called Scott on his cell and he was still at the hospital. He said he was coming to the house, would take care of a few things, and would take Buster home with him. Ed had been generous enough to say Buster could stay with us if there was no one to take care of him, but this was the perfect solution because Buster was originally Scott’s dog. That was a great relief to me. I walked him, and was going to feed him when Scott showed up.

All this has been very hard on my back, but rest helps.

xx, zzzzz Teal