I came to California to spend the holidays with family and ended up with what will turn out to be a 4-week hospital stay. Not at all the vacation I expected.
I had some warning signs before I left. Since I have had urinary tract infections before, in hindsight I should have delayed my departure for at least a week. But as many know, I am just a little bit stubborn. What I did not expect happened when I had a severe gout attack about 3 hours into my trip.
I did not have my anti-inflammatory medicine with me. I should have turned around and went back home and gone directly to the clinic. But hard-headed Bear continued the trip, and the pain got worse.
By the time I reached Gallup, I knew I needed to stop. It was a long night. I got up at five am the next morning and realized I had zero chance of walking to my truck. The office called 911 for me and a police officer showed up to help me to my truck. Unfortunately, they sent a female officer who probably weighed 90 pounds soaking wet!
No chance she was going to support my weight. But she got my truck close enough to the door so that I could use the door as a brace to keep from falling and I managed to get into the cab. After getting as comfortable as I could, I left to finish my trip.
I made it to my sister’s house and my brother brought her wheelchair out to my truck. Basically, I spent the next five days on her couch until I just could not handle the pain anymore. My friends in Colorado had sent my Indocin to me, but it had no effect. I called 911 and they took me to Harbor UCLA and it was there I found out that not only did I have a severe gout attack, but there was an infection in my ankle.
The VA did not have any beds available, so they did the clean out there. The y sent me back to my sisters at 9:30pm on the 10th. I was able to with some help get out of the recliner I was sleeping on to wash and use the facilities.
On the 20th I went back to Harbor for the follow-up. To me it did not seem like the anti-biotic was working. The ankle was still very swollen and sore. They did not remove the stitches either.
I celebrated Christmas with family, but I told my sis that I wanted to go to the VA on Friday to see why this thing was not getting better. I arrived at the ER at the VA at 10 am Friday morning. I was seen and evaluated in about 30 minutes. They then sent me to the ER’s trauma center.
One of the best decisions I have made. The ER doc gave me a steroid injection which actually relieved some of the pain. They admitted me to the hospital, changed the anti-biotic I was taking and I started to improve little by little.
This unit I am in now is where my physical therapy will begin but not until Tuesday. I feel good enough to get on my computer now.
What does this have to do with baseball? A lot. This season has renewed my strong love of the Dodgers. I love writing for this blog. I was unable to do so for the last month and that was very frustrating. Since I am not at home and only using my laptop, research is a little bit harder. But there are a lot of topics that can be covered. Jeff does a great job. But he also appreciates whatever I can contribute.
Writing for Jeff and Chronicles keeps my mind active. Love of the game and the team keeps me sane. When I was unable to get on the computer and send Jeff an email to let him know what was happening, I called Mark. Mark and I remain in contact. He let Jeff know what was going on and Jeff sent me his phone number so I could talk to him.
We did finally talk on the phone, and it was great putting a voice to the face on the website. He told me to concentrate on getting well, which I am doing.
As long as I feel I can do the research, I will contribute posts. I also received a call from Badger, who knowing my name called the hospital. I told them to give him my cell number and he called a couple of minutes later. His first words were WTF? I loved it. Semper-Fi and thank you my friend.
As for the team itself, AF has done some things we never expected and a couple we hoped for. I for one never thought he would give a Boras client the time of day. But they signed Snell.
Conforto came out of nowhere. But I had a feeling that Kike’s days in LA were over. Kim’s signing seals that. Are they finished? Doubtful. Kersh will be back. Graterol and Sheehan will be in the 60-day IL by spring training. Sasaki is still possible. And there will be a lot of non-roster signings to come. Win again in 25!
Wow, what a New Years treat to read your post and get an update on your situation. The folks here really care about you. You mean so much to all of us here and we are very concerned about you. It’s great to have you back when you can.
Where the hell else I’m I going to get the historical information and your expertise?
I’m so grateful that you have your love of baseball and the Dodgers to keep you positive and motivated.
What an ordeal you’ve experienced. It sounds like that Trauma Center did wonders and got on top of this. I’m praying for nothing but positive outcomes now. Best of luck with the upcoming physical therapy.
God Bless you Mi Amigo and I can’t wait for more positive reports when you are up to it.
I think you need to be ready to be back in game-shape in about 6 weeks……………
She parked my truck next to my motel door and I was able to use the truck door to help me get into the truck and once that was accomplished, I proceeded to drive a long ways. Geez Bear, that’s beyond stubborn 😀
Glad you are still with us and getting better.
Gallup to LA is about 650 miles
What an ordeal, glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. Now, be good, do what they tell you to do and don’t be stupid. Take it easy and don’t rush your recovery, give yourself time to heal and don’t try to get back on the road to soon, in fact take a few more days than you think you should before taking that drive home.
Get better, I have been praying for your recovery ever since Jeff let us know about your plight.
Glad that you’re ok Bear. Welcome back
I did have a nice conversation with Bear on New Years. I too look forward to Bear coming back healthy and strong for another Championship run.
I should have mentioned that Ted contacted me too. Thanks to all.
Get well soon, Bear! Not a fun trip you went threw.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get well Bear, we have another WS championship to witness this year.
Rub some dirt on it, Army up, and get back in the game.
Wait, you’re already back in the game.
Never mind.
Turns out we don’t need Sasaki after all.
We just signed 16 year old pitcher Bryan Lara, our next star from Mexico.
He’s only 16, but he should be ready in 6 or 8 years.
https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/news/dodgers-may-have-found-their-next-star-pitcher-from-mexico-01jgpkcg231m
Another generational talent? Anyone interested in a Kenley Jansen reunion? Not as a closer but bullpen depth.
Put me in the “no” column, but Andrew rarely consults me before signing free agents.
Scott and a GG 30 HR centerfielder and we’re done.
Thanks for the update, Bear.
Quite an ordeal! Good to see you are fully on the mend.
Reading about the VA has me thinking about my father. He was a career Marine who served in the embassy guard in China in the late 1930s and later survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and the battle for Okinawa before serving in the occupation of Japan.
Late in his life, he spent a lot of time at the Long Beach VA, dealing with congestive heart failure. He loved being a Marine and being an ex-Marine and I think he actually loved the VA too. He had earned it, certainly.
One morning in the early ’90s, I visited him at the VA. He had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He took me for a walk that led to a monitor for his heart. The line was wildly erratic, which seemed to amuse my dad. He improved well enough to come home…
A few months later, he wasn’t feeling well. My brother was summoned to drive him and my mom to the VA. In the ER waiting area, he fell asleep and started to snore his world-class snore. Then he fell silent. When his name was called, my mother tried to wake him–and found him cold to the touch.
All considered, it seemed fitting that his 81-year-old life would come to an end at the VA, sitting next to his wife of some 45 years and a son that shared his name. And now he and his bride are interred at Riverside National Cemetery, just off Pearl Harbor Drive.
Now I’m the one who uses the phrase “my cardiologist.”
My father was in the Navy and aboard the USS Nevada when the Japanese attacked. He was wounded when the Arizona blew up. When he got out of the hospital, he was assigned to the USS DEWEY. A destroyer escort. He spent the entire war in the Pacific on various ships. His last one was a destroyer tender. He served until 1951 when his wound forced him to retire.
My step dad was a Master Sergeant in the Marine Corps through WWII and the Korean War. He didn’t talk much about any of it but I did find it interesting he earned 3 up and 3 down in only about 6 years. That sure didn’t happen when I was in the Corps.
Duke! Ex-Marine!? Never heard of such a thing. 😀