January 21, 2020

White Dog leaned against me, "Think of it as kind of a graduation day," she told me as we got things set up for Lyndzy's visit. Lyndzy is the nurse assigned by my Complete Care program to be my weekly "Check-in" nurse.

She was assigned when I became bedridden, sort of a step above palliative care. It was she who rode the waves of my recovery and complications and improvement and the White Dog Army loved her for her care and attitude (she even could draw my blood without leaving bruises).

After months and months, the insurance company deemed me well enough to no longer warrant those services. I will continue in the Complete Care program but nurse-practitioner visits are spaced every 6-8 weeks unless I call with an issue. And that fits with my current needs; I am to a point where Steve and my White Dog Army coaches keep me going with physical therapy and redeveloping my skills. My health is stable.

But Lyndzy will be missed. SHE was the one who was my advocate to even get a start on PT; so we decided she deserved to see the fruits of her labor in all of its glory. She has never seen me outside my bedroom, and most visits involved me on the edge of the bed and her on a folding chair next to me (with a pup or two in attendance).

(Cue Rocky theme). So when she arrived today, Steve escorted her to the bedroom where the WDA and I waited with the wheelchair set up. "Watch this" Bella barked to her as I smoothly transferred over, unlocked the wheels and navigated (with Steve's help) to the living room. Once there, I locked down, grabbed the walker handles and let Zsofia lead me across the room to the momma chair. Lyndzy's eyes glistened. "Look at you! Oh Sue!" Bailey jumped up with kisses to remind her I did not do it alone.

The group hug of humans and White Dog Army was a happy dance that STILL has me smiling.