Wednesday night it hit

Sudden and swift;

First hot, then cold,

Then nausea set in.

Nausea got worse,

Felt horrid, yes I did ...

Felt so bad, I had

Twin sis call for help.

Weak, didn't want to talk,

Karla worried about me.

I was worried too; was

Wondering what was wrong.

Firefighters and EMTs came,

Concern upon their faces,

They took my vitals, decided

A trip to the hospital was in order.

At that point, I ddin't care;

I just wanted to feel better.

They put me in the ambulance;

Twin sister rode up front.

Knowing she was near was comfort,

But unsure of what lay ahread ...

I ddin't cry, but boy, I sure wanted to!

Worried; more expense upon her.

Felt all of this was my fault; I

blamed myself again and again;

Twin sister said don't worry;

My health was most important now.

In the ER, I was put on oxygen, EKG, IV's.

I was aleady starting to dislike the needles;

but at that point I didn't care:

I just felt too damned bad!

For over 9 hours, laid in the ER,

Wondered if I was to be admitted.

I was; settled in my room, fifth floor,

While nurses and doctors tended to me.

Poked, prodded, stabbed: my life

For the next five days ... twin sister stayed

With me, right by my side.  Appreciated that.

Found out I was dehydrated among other things.

At first, no food: nothing by mouth; only IVs

Filling my poor, weakened body with nourishment.

Tried to tolerate the interruptions, but it was so hard!

Rest in a hospital?  No way!  Felt like I didn't sleep much!

Twin sister took lots of walks while I lay in bed,

I wanted to join her but could not.  Hard to do so

When I was hooked up to lines and tubes!

I just lay there, let the staff tend to my needs.

Eventually, I started eating again: liquids, then solids.

Soon started to feel better, slowly but surely.

Day before yesterday started feeling well enough to walk,

Had my personal physical therapist: my beautiful twin sister!

Then I got the green light yesterday; was well enough to leave;

Schedule up a follow up appointment, take some new pills,

All I could do was lie in bed and watch tv or read,

Trying to pass the time away till discharge time got near.

Around 9 that night, out in the lobby, in a wheelchair,

Twin sister (and therapist) right by my side,

Both waiting for her best friend, who would then

Drive the both of us back to our home!

Home!  What a beautiful word!    :)