By Edward A. Forbes
The Bulletin
Have you ever wondered how that squirrel feels as it continually changes direction when confronted by an oncoming car? I have.
I have written before about being one of eight children in my blended family.
My stepbrothers and I have been together since I was six and Donnis was five; Doyce was three years younger.
Donnis and I were always the closest because we did so many things together throughout our childhood; he was always my partner in crime. We worked together and played together. He was a big part of all my childhood adventures.
He is in extremely poor health and now is in hospice care. Having lost five siblings over the years, it is sobering to realize how much I have taken for granted and not appreciated those familial bonds.
I miss the weekly lunches that Donnis and I shared when he was able. I enjoyed and looked forward to those visits as I know he did. I can only imagine the emotional and physical damage he has endured through the trials and tribulations in his life.
So, as I worried about him, I had a new crisis with my son. My son suffers from ITP. He has been in remission for nearly six years, and suddenly his platelet level dropped to 2,000. He was in the hospital for five days and is now home, at work, and he’s going to have chemotherapy weekly for three weeks, and then we will see.
My son bores easily, and one self-appointed task involved the coffee in the nurses’ break room. When not encumbered by an IV, he would get his own coffee, and if there wasn’t any, he made some. He said drinking their coffee was like drinking tea.
He solved this by doubling up on the amount of coffee grounds used. One of the nurses inquired while setting up a new IV medication if he had made the coffee. He confessed that yes, indeed, he had. She then told us that it was so strong that the nurses were running around and bumping into the walls at their station.
They were saved from frequent caffeine overdoses when my daughter-in-law started staying with him in the evenings. During my son’s five-day hospital stay, I felt the pull to go in two totally different directions.
His arrival home was just in time to see his youngest’s performance as a tomato in an elementary school program. I was there, too. It’s funny how your priorities change under these circumstances - Wednesday at the hospital with my son and Thursday with Donnis and his family, then Thursday early evening watching that little tomato with my children and grandchildren.
I am in awe of the love and attention shown by Donnis’s wife and stepdaughter as they tend to his every need.
His ability to care for himself has become nil over the past months, but neglect is one condition he has never suffered. I had never noticed their halos before. His sense of humor is intact. He remarked to his wife after a hospice nurse dressed some wounds and cleaned him up, “Well, she has seen my behind, so she’ll be back.” Humor makes dark times pass quickly.
Oh, and by the way, when was the last time you drove to Galveston? The never-ending construction has eased the transition from highway 6 to I-45, but woe unto you upon the return trip. Exiting I-45 to highway 6 remains an adventure. I exited twice unsuccessfully and succeeded only on attempt number three.
Today, I am cooking some axis deer back strap that an old hunting buddy of Donnis’s brought when he came to visit. I don’t know whether he will be able to eat it or not. We shall see.
Update: Donnis didn’t get to try the back strap; his journey ended March 11 around 9:45 p.m. He will be missed.
(Email Edward Forbes at eforbes1946@gmail.com or send comments to The Bulletin, P.O. Box 2426, Angleton, TX. 77516.)