LIVING OUT
BY SALLY SHEK LOW
The Shedd Institute
www.theshedd.org - 541.434.7000
In Sickness and
in Health
WAITING TO RAISE HELL
I
arranged the covers in front of my face to block out the red, blue and
green lights on the various machines monitoring Wifey’s vitals. Creat-
ing this tiny dark space, I managed to get at least a little sleep during
the incessantly interrupted post-knee-replacement surgery nights.
Nurses and CNAs popped in every hour or so to check her pain
level, blood pressure and “output.” I’d glance over the peak of my bunched-
up comforter to check on the expressionless face of my vulnerable darling,
who lay in a drugged stupor, under the influence of what otherwise might be
a party-mix of muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories and heavy pain meds.
When her eyes were open I’d wave hello across the two feet between her
mechanical bed and my cushioned window seat, and she’d reply by raising
her index finger with the pulse-ox clip on it back at me. Even that tiny gesture
took effort. But we like to stay in touch.
We’re already very close — one of those ooey-gooey merged couples still
in love after all these 29 1/2 years together. This rehab period is even more
hyper-intimate. I’m so attuned to the minutiae of my spouse’s needs, I’ve
barely even thought of the world beyond our cozy nest. Winter weather and
political insanity make it easier to withdraw, but normally I’d be out there
raising hell, especially now.
Priorities have a way of asserting themselves. When the rest of the world
was marching in pussyhats, I was helping Wifey into her clothes and driving
her home from the hospital. While resisters have been organizing, volunteer-
ing and calling elected representatives, the two of us have been cocooned in
our own private little world, focused on pain management, icing, elevation,
PT exercises and that all-important output.
That and sleeping.
Our first, sleep-deprived night home, I crashed so hard Wifey couldn’t
wake me to switch out her ice pack. Our actual bedroom is up a flight of stairs,
an Everest to the freshly post-opped, so before she went under the knife, we
set up the air mattress for me downstairs, just steps away from the guest room
cum infirmary.
After unloading the car and getting the patient situated I was so exhausted,
I flopped onto the camp bed conked out. Wifey tried the little bell on the bed
stand. Nothing. She tried yelling. Nada. She phoned me, still zilch. She ended
up having to drag her tender, dopey self out of bed and hob-
bled on wobbly crutches to my bedside crying. I have to
believe this because she wouldn’t lie, but I was totally
oblivious. It wasn’t until she walloped the airbed with
her crutch that I finally woke up.
That was two weeks ago. Now that she’s getting
through the night without needing me to help her
with meds or pillows or ice or anything, I’m caught
up on my sleep. She’s improving every day, but as
long as she’s still on the narcotics, she can’t be alone.
Friends have brought us soup, groceries, and flowers.
They’ve come to sit with her so I can get out for a
walk, or a swim, or a Costco run. Other than
that, and our Monday/Wednesday/Friday
trips to physical therapy, we haven’t been
interacting with anyone else, or tuning
in to the world beyond the knee.
That’s okay. I’m enjoying this
sweet time, just the two of us lying
low and hunkering down beneath
the chaos. When she’s healed, I
know we’ll be doing our part.
For now, we’re cuddled up
watching M*A*S*H reruns
and working on flexion and ex-
tension. And output.
Award-winning writer Sally Sheklow has kept
EW readers apprised of her personal life since
1999.
Clarinet
Marmalade
Thu, Feb 9, 7:30 pm - cabaret seating
Sun, Feb 12, 3:00 pm - concert seating
theshedd.org/JazzKings
In memory of
Jean Glausi
1937-2015
The Tony Glausi Sextet
Friday February 17
Bill Mays at the Movies
Wed February 22
Villalobos Brothers
Wed March 1
Coming up next at The Shedd
3.2
3.3
3.9
3.19
Tommy Casto & The Painkillers
Jake Shimabukuro
Chuck Redd
MTTA: Puttin’ On The Ritz -
The Songs of Irving Berlin
3.21 The Shedd Choral Society
3.22 Dervish
3.23
3.24
3.30
4.6
4.14
4.15
4.20
Keola Beamer & Jeff Peterson
Davina & The Vagabonds
Ana Popovic
Carl Woideck: Miles Davis
Honey Whiskey Trio
A Night of Vocal Arts
Vasen
eugeneweekly.com • February 9, 2017
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