Guest blogger: Nan Macomb, a character from MURDER ON MUSIC ROW
Hi everyone,
Kay asked me to update everyone on Ma Sue. She’s such a sweetheart. (Ma Sue, not Kay–we all know how she can be.)
From what I’m told the surgery was what they expected. They removed her stomach. There was lots of cancer and they are hopeful they got it all. She was only in surgery for a couple hours and went straight to a room from recovery. That’s good because she didn’t have to go to ICU or critical care.
Of course Kay and Greg were there as were Greg’s sister, Susie (who live’s here) and his brother, Alan, who was in from Phoenix. Ma Sue’s sister, Helen, came up from Mississippi. She’s a retired nurse and she’s spending the first night at the hospital. When Ma Sue goes home Helen and their other sister, Nancy, from Mobile, will go home with her to care for her there the first few days.
Kay said they called everybody on Ma Sue’s list, but had to leave lots of messages, so don’t be mad if you were expecting a call and didn’t get one. They tried. Kay and Susie also posted updates on Facebook throughout the day–mostly Susie ’cause Kay found a comfy chair when the surgery was over and took a nap. A long-time family friend, Pat, showed up like little red riding hood with a basket of goodies. Of course Ma Sue can’t eat them but the rest of them can.
One more thing…Kay said they’re requesting no visitors until the first of the week. Ma Sue’s gonna be doped up so she probably won’t know you’re there anyway, so you might as well just stay home. The family will be there to make sure her needs are met and she doesn’t get lonely, but until she gets through the first few days, she doesn’t want company–so unlike her.
Now, I’m sure she’d welcome me because in a day or two we all know she’s gonna have bed head and I’m about the only one we know who can do something with that. I just bettcha I get a special invitation to visit before other friends. We ladies know image is important, even in the hospital.
One of Greg’s clients gave her a prayer shawl. People from his church knitted it, prayed over it, then sent it to her. The one they sent her is multi-hues of green, I’m told, and goes great with her red hair and light coloring. They said they wouldn’t let her wear it in surgery but she wore it right up to it and Kay and Susie had it back on her as soon as she got back to the room.
Kay and Greg checked on Pa Herb on their way home from the hospital. His daughter, with the help of Hospice, is caring for him during Ma Sue’s hospitalization. He wanted to know all about “his girl.” When they finished talking to him, he said he could then go to bed. So sweet.
Well, I guess I’ve spent my post blogging about Ma Sue, but I don’t mind. She’s a sweetheart and makes the best fried apple pies you’ve ever tasted. I’m happy to use my post to let you know she’s doing good even though all I was asked to do was give a brief progress report. This is one thing I don’t mind going above and beyond for.
I hope you all have a good weekend. I’ll be hanging out waiting for them to call me to come get rid of Ma Sue’s bed head.
~Nan
