Being a writer is such a tremendous job, but who said that I am one? Absolutely not, I stated that before and if you look at the right corner of my blog you will find that I said it before, I am not a writer!
I haven't been blogging lately because I ran out of words, there were more than 10 subjects that I wanted to share here with you BUT they all got mixed up together the way I lost my ability and excitement of which subject should I pick first to talk about!
I am not married yet (so don't worry)…
May was such a hectic month for sure, I had such ups and downs, some problems at home which are contradicting with my wedding progress. My or lets say Our big problem at home since May 1st and still is dad's malady, dad is suffering from "sciatica" I guess that is how they call it…well it is more than Sciatica to be exact. This pain started as stitch frenzies in his back, he didn't care much about it. But the pain got more serious at his lower part of the back "lumbar region"…
Dad went to the doctor and the latter gave him some pills and shots…but the pain increased… Dad was told to get a physiotherapy sessions, he got about 11 but in vain…dad's back was aching so bad they way it affects his left leg, it caused some kind of numbness on his left leg, he can't move it unless he walks for a little…
My birthday showed up and dad was not feeling good, although he made a small party for me, he and step mom prepared every thing for that day, champagne, cake, cokes, crackers, and gifts (for sure)…
After that he began to relapse, I was totally devastated…I do not want to see my brave father relapsing rapidly in front of my eyes that is heart breaking…
Step mom took dad to get a resonance in order to decide whether he needs a surgery or not…the resonance photos showed that dad has two lumbar clauses have been slid and pushing on his spinal cord the way he feels numb on his left leg besides the pain that he has in his back. Excuse me dad but I have to elaborate something here to my readers: I might mentioned it or not that dad is a hunter and was a body builder as well. Ok lets leave the body building subject aside and talk about hunting for a little…
Since 1968ish until April 2008 dad and a group of hunters go out once a week for hunting, for those people it is a hobbey you can say but for dad it is more than a hobbey it is a professional job that he got used to it since he was a young man.
He forgets his sadness, life difficulties, and himself when he is out in the safari.
Dad hunts different types of birds and animals, lets remember that he is the older man in age amongst his clique…since he was an athlete and a body builder he kept getting pleasure from those two aspects for a while , he runs faster than his friends, full of excitement, caustic, sharp-eyed and snell. But he never thought about that the age might keep him out of doing most of these things as he used to do before… Long story short, last April 08 dad and the hunters were on their way to come home where a muddy whole captured the tires of their range rover 1970ish …and they all stuck in. They got out to check out if there is any possibility to pull the car up and drag it while the driver desperately kept pushing on the clutch and the accelerator but nothing happens.
Dad was the first heading to the backside of the vehicle and he start pulling up (Jesus Christ dad, don't you think of your health?) as he was pulling the car he felt that something was pinching at the lower side of his back, he didn't care and kept doing what he was doing, until he came home and start groaning from the pain.
After the resonance and because of dad's case I kept postponing my trip to Baghdad hoping that he will get well today, tomorrow but he is the same.
Finally my step mom and I decided to take dad to Baghdad to visit some good doctors because it is getting serious and dangerous as time goes by! Meanwhile I packed one huge bag to take to Baghdad, it includes some of my stuff which I will wear and use after marriage as I am going to live in Baghdad.
My uncle took dad to the orthopedist, as they returned dad was talking to step mom about his case, the doctor has told him to follow the instructions because he has two choices either to sleep on his back for 4 weeks without move or to be under the mercy of the doctor's knife. We all went like yay!! It is good to suffer for 4 weeks but you can never ever guarantee how successful the surgery will be! Nonetheless, dad asked the doctor about the surgery and the answer was: %97 can be successful, %2 fistula as a result of recovery after the surgery, and %1 predestination (his heart might stop during the surgery)…
When dad mentioned the last part of %1 I burst into tears none stop, my fiancé tried to calm me down, dad hugged me and said it will be alright so did the rest of the family. No God, I can't imagine that I will be left out with no parents, it is hard and it was hard when I lost mom in that way, I don't want to lose dad this way as well… I am praying so hard for dad, knowing that God has the right time to help him out according to his well, he will never going to leave us or forget us we need time and more patience to experience his miracles if and only if we have faith in him.
Oh well, dad told me to cheer up because that day was an event for me, I bought my wedding dress, tiara, and other attachments…when I put my tiara on my hair I looked like those Miss beauty pageants, LOL
There are things still pending need to be done until my wedding day comes. Ok talking about my wedding dress and the whole trip to Baghdad was amazing, I didn't expect that I am going to see people happy in Baghdad or at least seeing people down there at all.
First day as we arrived in Baghdad we went to Al-Karrada (famous area in Baghdad), my fiancé bought me a golden set it includes necklace, bracelet, and earrings besides that he bough me two attached rings they call them "twin", which I will wear during my wedding… Oh man I reminisced all these great olden days when we used to visit Al-Karrada back in Saddam's time. It is the same as before except for the jerssy barriers and some T-walls are set there…
It was crowded with shoppers, sellers, classy girls, boys and children and of course their families…some of were eating ice cream trying to decrease the scorching heat that was pinching their bodies, others were hanging out with friends. I tell you, it was amazing, police was every where…Oh thank you lord.
The next day was the trip for Palestine street; another famous area in Baghdad. The market was crowded as well, I felt safe for the first time watching people were shopping, living up to that moment, leaving aside what could happen in the next hour! I miss seeing Baghdad safe like that, what a wonderful shining hope. I roamed the shops and stores one after another until I found what I was looking for, the dress matched me and I am satisfied with it, it is studded with pearls (faked one of course) because the necklace and the earrings which I am going to wear in the church are made of pearls and rhinestones.
My fiancé tried desperately to peek into my dress but I asked him to promise me not to do so, because as they say it is a bad omen, even though I don't believe in it but oh well, gotta watch it baby cuz am not ready to get bad luck afterward ;) As the trip ended, we returned home and then traveled the next day to our city, since that day and my dad is lying on his back, my step mom is helping him out she takes extra care of him, she even brings the soap and the water in a bowel to wash his hands and mouth after eating, we are trying to do our best to keep him in bed with no move only if necessary as you know like using the bathroom or so…
I want dad to recover as soon as possible, I want him to walk me down to the aisle on my wedding day, dad is a gentleman and I will be so proud to show him off to people, Please dad be strong and get well soon, don't worry my prayers are with you, you just do that for me please, I need you and need to see you healthy again but remember no more hunting without my permission ;p
18 comments:
Oh Marsho, I have inconsistent feeling now, I'm sorry for what happened to your father, I hope he will get better soon. I have to tell you that my uncle suffered from the same thing, he was unable to walk, and he is still young, all that because he was carrying the heavy generator at his work. He had a surgery, it was hard one and he needed a year to be ok, and thanx God he is good now.
I think your father needs to rest his back, so take care of him, I'm sure when he will see you happy with your fiance and your new life, he will be ok.
Our lovely Baghdad is back to life, I'm feeling it, the last week I went with my Fiance also to al-Karrad, that was amazing Marsho, I never thought that all people are out at 9 pm !.
Let's hope the situation will be better and as they that all Iraqis want it to be.
At the same time I'm so happy for you Marsho, It is really enjoyable when you go do shopping especially for the wedding, and life after wedding, I'm doing the same thing, but step by step, cause I have a long time untill my marriage.
I wish you all the best Marsho, hoping that we will meet someday in Baghdad.
Hugs
Micho
Hello Dear Micho,
Thanks for your comment...
Yes about your uncle, because he is a young man he was able to bare the operation, but dad is 63 years old and that what scares the hell outta me every time I think of him having the surgery...dad suffers from his heart because he has irregular pulses, imagine that if he wants to pull a tooth or something that requires to be anesthetized he asks his doctorfor a permission whether it is ok or not and do some analysis before, some how come he will be having this huge surgery?? I wish that he gets better by following the traditional therapy instruction, ufff...
Wow we were almost close then to see each other :)
Micho, I loved Karrada so much after the war, yeah seeing people happy and staying up to 9 pm or 8:30 gave me more hope, inshallah all cities get a better situation soon.
Yes we will defenately set up for an apointement in Baghdad and meet :D
Take care sister
Hi Mars,
Such an excellent post for a non-writer :)
It's soo nice to see you happy and having a good time in Baghdad.
10 years ago I had the same as your father in the L-4 L-5 area and it is more pain than you can imagine. The doctors told me the same as your father except for me it was 50-50 the surgery would help, so I chose the lay flat on my back in bed...it took me 8 weeks to recover to the point of being able to get up and walk and resume my ALMOST normal life. The back is not the same as say a broken bone that heals and then everything is the same as before. He will get better but will probably not be pushing stuck trucks anymore :) and will have to think twice before bending over and picking up things...MUST use the leg mussels for even a piece of lint hehe...OH and he will have to learn how to pay some young person to dig even a small hole in the garden OMG that's the hardest for me.
you meant to say peak AT your dress, not INTO your dress, right?
MM, and my prayers too are with your dad, inshallah igoom bil salama and see photos of him walking you down the aisle!!!
Good Morning Bill,
Have you had that too? Oh man! dad has the pain in L4 and L5 as well...Jesus!!!! That must be a sensitive area of the back..
Yes, he needs to learn not to bend over to pick fallen leaves or hurled stones from the front gate of our house..but don't you think that 8 weeks is a long period of time?? dad is impatient and he barely would stay laid for two weeks...
Hello someone you know,
Well I don't create words and phrases unless I read them in some where else, I've seen that phrase of " peek into it" in more than a place from American writers, thought it would be right...any how, thanks for your correction :)
Hi NIW,
Shukran habeebti for your prayers, God willing he will be good.
Hi Mars,
Well..for me I had a herniated disk and it simply took that long to reach a level of pain that I could tolerate, it all depends on the nature of the injury. The compression of the disks is something that is ongoing, they don't reverse themselves and become young again. Hopefully your fathers injury is something like a bulging disk that when the stress is relieved for a time will recede.
I would say if your Dad can get up in two weeks and move without pain then you should all do the Chobi dance :)
It is pain that will dictate when he gets up and moves again. It is best to remain flat on the back, if the bed is soft then put a piece of plywood under the mattress. One thing that is hard to believe, but true, is the absolute most relaxed position for the back is the fetal position..if his pain is rising he can try this for short periods.
One last thing be VERY careful with pain killers avoid them if you can, they only give you a false indicator as to how things are going...you feel no pain so you get up and make things worse when the drug wares off. The level of pain is your measure of wellness.
P.S. Mars, please tell your Dad we pray he will Get Well Soon.
Hello Bill,
Thank you for the info, I will tell dad that you all are praying for him and thank you very much!
Marsh I hope your dad gets better soon. I have the same thing and it's hard to live with the daily pain. I had a couple of cracked ribs and bruises on the same side recently so I was a real mess there for awhile. The mind doesn't age like the body does though. Your dad and I think we're still 20, and as tough and strong as we used to be ; ) I think he and I would get along very well. I doubt anything could keep him from walking you down the isle for your wedding. Solo
Marsh,
Glad to see you posted, but sorry to hear about your dad. Your descriptions of Baghdad are wonderful and make it seem like somewhere to visit. In fact, the one time I did drive through there, I was impressed, but due to the situation I could never go and wander in a market :( I look forward to the day when I can though.
I was plagued with back problems as well while I was in Iraq! I think mostly it was because of all the heavy gear we had to wear. Lying flat on your back does wonders though, I usually felt much improved in a few days, but I wasn't hurting nearly as much as your dad seems to be hurting, so do your best to keep him in bed :) Good luck and have fun preparing for your wedding.
I'm sorry for the sad thnigs, but i will be praying for you always.
Good for you to prepare for your wedding party :)
I wish you all the happy best.
take care my dear, and i look forward to knowing good news.
Stay safe
Hi Solo, how are you?
Well, hmm if you have the same hard headed like dad then you both can get along very well hahah...
It seems that most of my readers suffered from back pain, interesting :P
Hi Liz,
Long time no see, how are you girl?
Did you really drive in Baghdad? waw!! I promise you next time in two years from now you can come for a visit, I am sure it will be alot safer than now :)
Hello Sandy,
How are you cute girl? Are you studying for your last higschool-ish year?? I forget to ask you about your test regarding the Sixth grade you said you scored 1 hundared and some, out of what?
was it OK to pass??
Forgieve me I forgt to track on your scores I was so busy, would you inform me again please? That would be very nice of you!
Take care you too
LOL, what you call hardheaded, your dad and I call wisdom ; ) Solo
Do you think so Solo?
Wisdom is knowing that...only the young get old. :)
Marshmallow,
I sure hope your Dad recovers quickly. Back pains can be brutal. I am guessing that he has a very hard time getting into and out of bed. If that is true, he might want to try sleeping, curled up in a semi-comfortable position in a reclining chair. This might seem weird, but only recline it half way down. It might work for him as well as it did for me. I spent 5 months in one a few years ago. Today, I'm almost 100% OK.
Someone else mentioned not using any more pain killer than absolutely necessary. That was very good advice. Please tell your Dad about it. If he keeps the pain well masked up from drugs, he will over do it and make his back worse.
I loved hearing how well Baghdad is these days. Maybe the worst really is behind us. I sure hope so. Good luck with your wedding plans. I hope you are taking my advice from last month and enjoying eating. Just watch the stress level and your weight will be fine. Funny how the groom can't see the wedding gown until the wedding over there either. Must be a world-wide thing. God be with you and your loved ones.
Joe
You are right Bill, I admit its true!
Hello Joe,
Nice to see you around and thank you very much for your advice, they are precious and am gonna tell dad about that and about all the support I recieved from the commenters here in my blog...
I will try to enjoy every moment of my wedding as much as I can. Wish I can invite you all to the wedding :)
Take care
Average american's right, a rcliner seems to help. It keeps you from twisting around during sleep. Another thing I've had good luck with is sitting up in a hot bath and keeping the leg on whichever side the pain is on as flat as possible while *slowly* leaning forward to stretch it. It hurts a bit but after awhile the heat and stretching helps. It's only temporary but at least the pain goes away for awhile. There are some heat generating muscle rub products that help a bit too. Solo
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