Sometimes I get to do ‘non-tax’ essays. This is one of them…..
We came to Bangkok for many reasons - one of them was medical – my annual,
very comprehensive physical exam at Bumrungrad Hospital is one of them – this is
the 16th year that I’ve been doing this.. As usual, an
ultrasound was part of the exam but this year was different from other years:
there were 3 'things' in my upper bladder that could only be removed in a way
no man wants to hear.....
There were no options other than surgery. Surgery, 8 days after the ultrasound, completely removed 4
'low grade' cancer growths (yeah they found one more - one either smaller than
or newer than that which the ultrasound picked up). There is 30%
likelihood of recurrence
and as a result, I have to be 'scoped' everyquarter, for the next 5
years........
That modern medical science has conceived of a way to handle this
situation is a fucking miracle! Alas, human psychology will
never
overcome the difficulty of discussing this type of 'procedure' with
another man - with any other man, anywhere! The sympathy
pains; the
whole-body 'cringing' at the thought of what must be done is
universal to the species. I'm trying to find humor in this - I haven't,
yet.....but I am 'encouraged'.....
I cannot speak highly enough about the three physicians and two of
the
registered nurses who worked with me during the 4 day visit to
Bumrungrad Hospital. The RN who withdrew the catheter had my life in
her
hands!!!
The inpatient facilities there are superb – and the ability to bring
in 'real food' instead of hospital food made it far more enjoyable (although
using the word 'enjoyable' is not really what I could ever possibly mean!)
With 4 tubes in and three exiting me, I have new-found sympathy for my
forever entwined computer cables under my desk, at home. Recuperation is
going to be slow - I am not quite willing to 'accept' but guess I have
to........
I'm going 'easy' through the end of the month here in Bangkok.
My
brother just left back for L.A.. Katherine flies back to
Guangzhou on the 20th. Joanna, our daughter, will be here on a daddy-daughter
week with me through the 26th, when she departs. I fly home to Guangzhou
on the 28th. If something like this had to happen, at least the timing is
right! Although finishing a book with a deadline based upon the time I
was to be admitted to the hospital is not something I wish to experience, ever
again.....
I start the first of those 90 day check ups in May in Bangkok.......
I'll be back again, briefly, in August for another scope.....and
later
on this year, Katherine and I will expand our three month stay
to four
months, from mid-November, 2015 through mid-March, 2016 I’ll
get two scopes in one trip - think of the travel savings!! I can easily
handle Hong Kong business from here - especially with far better internet than
the great firewall of China permits back home. Frequency of flights between BKK and HK make commutes, as
necessary, no obstacle, whatsoever, to spending more time here. Besides,
Bangkok is fun!!!
Recuperation time, though, is also a marvelous, unplanned
opportunity
for me to spend a daddy-daughter week with my 21 year-old.
We'll be together after Katherine leaves on 20 February through her
departure on 26 February.
I’m really looking forward to being ‘one-on-one’ with her!!!
'Shit happens' - especially when one doesn't plan for
it.........what
else can I say??
Anyhow, I expect to be fully functional, once I get back home
to
Guangzhou (except for internet limitations imposed by the
great firewall of China) and I'm going to be in Hong Kong from 8-22 March
when 'tax season' for the 49th time in my life, officially
begins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy year of the
goat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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