Mel's Resolve

I was truly amazed when Mel sent me a text today saying she had lost more weight.  Goodness me, it's Christmas week!  I had expected the kilos to be piling on and the excuses flying.  Not my Mel.  She is stubborn, creative and refuses to be defeated. 
I thought about this but only for a minute.  Why wouldn't Mel have a concrete resolve?  Her history tells the story.
At the tiny age of 19 months she  went from healthy baby to having chronic asthmatic.  She fought tooth and nail to breath.  At only 2 years she struggled when a male nurse laid her on his lap and held an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth.  She struggled not only for breath but to escape her captive.  Within the following ten years she had been admitted to hospital over forty times and twice in ICU.
She struggled for every breath in ICU, she fought and never gave up.  At home she used a portable nebuliser and a range of puffers and medications.  Winter was always worse as a cold would start her wheezing and coughing.  In spring it was pollen but it was also wool, dust mite and peanuts which exacerbated her lungs to induce wheezing.
The asthma diminished at the age of twelve but at fifteen she became ill with pneumonia and stress and psychosis raised its ugly head.  Mel's 16th birthday was celebrated as the trauma began and she spent six weeks in a mental health ward thereafter. 
There were many horrendous mental health episodes which we all dealt with until she was 22 when her medication was successfully changed.  We all had to deal with it but it happened to Mel.  It was her resolve to deal with all of this trauma and do it successfully, which has given her the edge in life.
Twenty years later she has battled with her weight as her medication stimulates her appetite and she didn't have the strategies to combat it.  Now we have an exclusive good eating and exercise plan and Mel has lost over 12 kilos in sixteen weeks. 
Yes, Mel is a fighter, an achiever against adversity.  I am very proud of our Mel.

My Missing Car

I walked out of the shopping centre and turned left.  I looked for my car and stopped.  Where was it?  I'm sure I parked it right there but instead an older but pretty sleek looking machine took up the space!  It wasn't mine.  I wondered if the champagne I had drunk earlier had impaired my senses!
Only this morning I had attended a, 'Celebration of Life' for a man with Huntington's Disease (HD).  He had died of a major stroke.  He attended the weekly day centre which Merv attends and his lovely wife attends the carer support group which I attend.  We are connected.  The celebration was just what is said.  His brother, best friend and children spoke as well as Liz from our Huntington's Association.  I hardly knew him but I soon found out what an amazing man he was.  I wish I had taken the time to know him personally.  He was also a man who enjoyed his morning tea just like Merv.  After the celebration which was held in a function centre overlooking the Swan River we were treated to sandwiches, mini quiches, scones with jam and cream and tiny cakes.  We washed everything down with either; a cuppa, beer, wine or champagne.  I drank both coffee and champagne and ate most of what was offered.  The celebration was both joyful and comforting.  We talked, we hugged and those who knew him told tales of fun and hilarity.
Back to my predicament. I reviewed my parking;  yes I had parked next to Myer and knew which entrance I had entered, there are three different entrances!  I didn't panic, I searched high and low.  I walked to the extremes of the car park and I couldn't find my precious Ellie (car). 
I had twenty minutes to get home so the support worker could leave.  So what did I do?  I panicked! I rang son, Dustin as he works close by.  He was of course at work and I pleaded my case with his message bank.  Then I rang home and asked the support worker to sit Merv in front of the TV and press the button on the wooden door as she exited if I was late.
Then I hollered in delight.  I had found my little Ellie.  She was sitting patiently just waiting for me in exactly the parking space I had left her!  I had made the mistake of turning left instead of right as I exited Myer.  I was so relieved and really didn't care what other shoppers thought of me with the umpteen shopping bags wandering aimlessly around the gigantic car park!
Dustin rang just at the moment I slid into the driver's seat and I giggled like a girl telling him his Mum was just a little disorientated with the Christmas rush.  I'm sure he was relieved he didn't have to rescue me.
Fortunately I arrived home in time for the support worker to leave.  Phew, another day survived without too much drama!

Our Loss

She never rings to ask me how I am but she did last week.  I lied and said I was fine.  I couldn't tell her over the phone the news I had heard only an hour beforehand. 
I had cried while standing at the sink.  I didn't want Merv to see me but what could I do, it was most unexpected.
I had rang to make an appointment with my GP.  It was Saturday morning and I was thinking of a quiet time mid-week to catch up with her news and share mine.  My GP and me go back a long time. Maybe fifteen years or more.  She also sees Mel and we chat about all sorts of things, many not medical related! 
When I last took Mel to have her prescriptions updated a few months ago she at once asked me how my fundraising walk across England had gone.  She was impressed and I had hoped to catch up with a bit more news but it was never going to happen.
The girl on the end of the phone told me Dr Rimmer had died.  I took a moment thinking she had her wired crossed and explained I wanted to make an appointment to see my GP.  "I'm sorry, she has passed away" she replied.  I asked what had happened but she said she couldn't give me any details.
I made an appointment to see another GP at the centre who I had seen before.  The tears swelled in my eyes as I finished the call and escaped to the kitchen to grieve silently.
It wasn't long before Mel rang and I feigned happiness but later told her she must have picked up my grief in the spirit.  I couldn't tell Mel over the phone. I needed to tell her face to face.  I needed to feel her emotions and hug her as she cried. 
I arrived at the medical centre as planned and I requested my prescription update as I had planned.  She was orderly and I didn't mention the demise of my GP but I didn't wait long before she became to talk about Dr Rimmer's sudden and expected death.  I asked if my doctor had a heart attack (my hairdresser said she had) but she merely said they didn't know. 
Her husband had passed away and she lived a long way out and missed him.  I thought about what she said in the following days and wondered if she had just had enough and chose to join him?  She was only 64, a woman with many years ahead in today's world. 
I will never know, even in today's world it is not something which is openly discussed especially when the person is much loved and respected professional. People often think we're ok, when we're not.  Was it like that for her?
I had not known my GP had worked tirelessly with domestic violence victims on the days she was not working at my local centre.  She had also worked in mental health which was the reason Mel didn't find another GP when she left home. They shared a special bond.
We will miss her.  Her family will miss her.  She will be greatly missed by many.