When Your Spouse Gets Sick: Fulltime Rving

My dear husband, John, myself and special guest, Daisy!

His feet were a bit swollen and the headaches came in waves, something that was new and yet perplexing. But he also felt fine, like he was ready to conqueror the world. What was the cause and why? Befuddled, with thoughts rushing through my head, how could we know what was going to happen?

Sitting next to my precious husband today as I write this, with a heart of gratitude, I think back to that awful time of emergency, pain and fear. Looking at him, I am painfully aware of what happened so recently that it seemed like yesterday, yesterday that could have altered our traveling adventure forever, heaven forbid I could have been a single women again…

Typical Montana weather, cloudy with almost a 100% chance of rain!!

Once upon a time, last spring (well, not so long ago), I was so excited to go to Montana, big sky country, or so the nickname goes. Not sure why it is called “big sky country,” but Montana is a large state, sparsely populated with people, and such amazing scenery. We started a new work camping job, which can be scary as starting a new job has new qualifications, new demands, and anything new something, as all new jobs have.

After a time, there was something, something we did not understand with my husband, something that was not welcome.

But something was not right, not quite right. There were subtle signs, like swelling of feet, a little breathless, headaches that would come and go. Eventually we did find out…

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

Hmmmm…My husband is so, so patient, does not get upset easily and is rather gentle, even with his tall stature. Well, despite what a clinic said, he decided to wait till we got back home to Arizona.

This was the first NO.

Summers in Montana can be quite beautiful!

Even though we were in a small town, we should have went to a heart doctor or even the hospital. I think for us, we really DID NOT know what to do. I mean, what do you do when a loved one has a problem and you do not really know what to do??? But this was a first for us, a future medical crisis, and maybe we were a little into denial. He is not old enough to have health problems, is he?

But these signs would come and go, mostly go, so we just waited, waited on Father Time till we got home to Arizona. But for one night, shortly after arriving in Arizona.

Oh my goodness, thinking about that puts a dagger in my heart as fear seeps in, wondering what if. What if we did not act right away? What if we ignored the problem and thought it would go away??

All of a sudden, John bent over in pain as we walked to our camper. He can withstand a bunch of pain, but this time, he could not. His upper arms, back and chest were enflamed with pain. I asked him several times if he wanted to go to the hospital as it was night and he was definitely affirming my question.

Downtown Helena, Montana, bracing for another storm!

It almost seems like a blur or a nightmare that we drove quickly to the hospital. It took so long for the staff to do tests, ask questions, more tests, and the ticking of the clock was so SLOW. My husband was stable, awake and alert. This small emergency room could not find any problems with him so they took him to a larger hospital.

Why is this happening, I asked myself over and over. I had my own share of health problems and my sweet husband was helpful during those difficult times, full of good health and strength. But John? I so depend on his love, strength, encouragement and I could add more, but why now God? I cried so much thinking I could have lost him, and could have been a young widow. Well, somewhat young.

Spending time with John at the hospital come to find out an artery (the widow maker’s artery) was 70% blocked and that is where the pain was coming from. A stint was put in a couple days later. He was anxious to get back home and get back to work. That is my husband for you. A hard worker. He felt this was more of an incident, an inconvenience that he did not have time for. Wait, what?

So our lives have changed forever with new medication, cardio rehab and yes, John is back at work. Since it was not major surgery, he was released to go back to work. That is his happy place, well, besides me (grin, grin).

Greycliffe, Montana: amazing place for a sandwich, wrap or something to drink!

Here are some tips to help you if you or your spouse gets sick (and it will happen!):

• If something is not right, get it checked out. The sooner the better you can feel better!

• Do not delay!

• Make sure you have good insurance that you can use in any state. John is on Medicare plus a supplemental that he could have used in Montana.

• Just cause you are traveling does not mean you will not get sick, as you will!

• Traveling can be a peaceful journey, full of amazing destinations to see, exploring cute towns you have never heard of and spending time with your loved one(s), but sickness can still come.

Even if you are the most chilled, relaxed person ever to walk this earth, enjoying time with loved ones, playing on trips, taking many naps, eating healthy and exercising, yes, you can still get sick. It is unfortunate that as humans we can suffer greatly, lose greatly, but also gain greatly.

God gave me a second chance with my husband and I am so, so, so, GRATEFUL! I do believe each of us has a time to meet with God, no matter your age, but for today I am still a married woman, eternally grateful that God spared my awesome husband.

My dear husband is always fixing something!