The Life Of A Veterans Wife.

The hospital stay.

I was in the hospital recovering from surgery and everything went good. The doctor said as soon as I no longer needed the pain pump I could go home. First thing I said to him was take me off this damn thing I am going home. The doctor wasn't so sure I was ready but told the nurse to slowly wean me off the pain pump. Martin was worried. He thought he was helping me by pushing the button every time I felt pain.

The doctor said that if I used less of the pain pump then I could go home. I tried to tell Martin to stop mashing the button so that I could be at home in my comfort zone to heal. He agreed to only let me push the button when I needed it. The nurse would check on me often to make sure I was ok and if I needed anything.

The next day the doctor made his rounds and agreed I could go home after a hard fight I put up. Martin was scared and expressed it to me and the doctor several times. We asked the doctor the next step and said I had to go see the oncologist for the chemo. He scheduled my follow up with him and gave the nurse instructions to put on the discharge papers and left to finish rounds. The nurse said it would be a bit before I could go home since she had to get everything ready.

She went to leave and Martin stood up to follow her out. Expressing again how worried he was and chattering to her about how to help care for me after going home. She stopped short of the door and turned to him with a smile. She told him she would explain all that before sending us home. For him to relax and have a seat while she got the discharge papers together.

Martin gave her a look and reluctantly sat down next to me. The nurse left and Martin was crying now. He was so scared that he wouldn't know how to help me if something went wrong at home. I put my hand on his and told him not to be scared that he would do his best. Told him that my mother and neighbors would help him every step of the way of he needed them too.

Shortly after leaving the nurse came back to give us the instructions and papers to sign and made us promise to return immediately if something happened. We promised and she gave me a reassuring smile and turned to Martin and said for him to watch what she did so he could help with rebandaging me and how to drain the tubes that were attached to me.

He watched and listened carefully and asked question after question. The nurse answered and said it's time to take the iv out and she asked if I wanted one more pain dose before she did. Martin answered for me and before I could say no he mashed the button. The nurse waited til the meds dispensed and then removed the iv. She instructed Martin to he the car around and she would have me waiting in the chair when he returned.

After Martin left to get the car I began to cry. The nurse assured me I would be ok because I had a wonderful man to care for me at home. I wasn't crying because of that but let her think that. The nurse helped me dress in the loose clothing and into the chair. She pushed me down the hall and to the elevator. She pushed for the elevator and when it came to open wheeled me in.