Well this past week was interesting to say the least.....It has been about 6 weeks or so that I have been experiencing a flare up from a condition called spinal stenosis...It is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. This is usually due to the common occurrence of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging.....It can also sometimes be caused by spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis or a tumor. .....My first clue that I had this was about 2 1/2 years ago and I was treated at the Syracuse VA.....Lots of pain meds and physical therapy was what got me through that.....The pain I had was mainly down the left leg to just below the knee and the pain is almost beyond bearable....I recovered and began enjoying a normal life without the pain.....That is until just recently when it began again......The pain once again started in the left leg and about 3 weeks ago moved from there to the right.....Trying to run the 'Cafe' has been a challenge and the more I stress out the more the spasms escalate....Last Monday morning around 8 am the pain even prevented me from cooking or completing any of my tasks....Ella Mae had to bring me to the ER at the VA for which I waited in an appropriately named 'waiting room' for almost 5 hours before I could be seen by an MD!.....I must have been a sight because to get into a pain free position I was constantly moving and moaning for all those hours....When I finally was taken in, I was given morphine and all other methods to relieve the pain......I did have xrays but could not obtain the needed MRI because I am extremely claustrophobic and this facility does not have an open MRI......After being sent home...I was back to the ER at around 3am Tuesday morning for more pain meds an evaluations.....I had to make the (painful) (no pun intended) decision to not open the 'Cafe' for the day as we just did not have enough manpower and we were not prepared to properly serve our customers.....I went in to the 'Cafe' to try to help out on Wednesday but once again had to go back to the VA.....I am writing this at home because I still can't stand for more than a couple minutes before the pain overwhelms me.....I need to thank Ella Mae who once again pulled everything together and has enabled the 'Cafe' to remain open.....She started back to her own jobs today and before that, she opened up until more 'troops' showed up....She is also been taking care of my getting dressed, showering, eating and keeping me up to par with taking my meds.....Thanks to Trevor, Kiki, Stan And Barbara whom all have stepped up for me....They are a blessing to me and more than I can even state here.....My next step is to be assigned to someone at the pain clinic and to begin some physical therapy.....For me to not be in the 'Cafe' is one of the hardest things I have ever endured.....Just as we are trying to grow this business and turn a profit, we hit this bump in the road......I am asking for all those who are inclined to praying that you would add me to your prayer list.......I have no doubt that God will see me and Ella Mae through this and that much good will come from this episode......I will always give God the glory, honor and praise in all seasons of my life.......Thanks for allowing me to share and thanks for your prayers and support.....Today is Martin Luther King, Jr's. birthday and this is one of my favorite quotes of his:
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools".
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools".
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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