Letter from the Field: Save the Unit!

Dearest Fred,

I’ve wanted to write and listen more, but I haven’t lately. Everything we have done so far has touched me deeply over the last few weeks or Unit Wendi would not be so clear. The unit was on the phone with doctors every day, and for some reason, they often didn’t give a shit. I guess they didn’t know there is no me, ha ha. Anyway, it’s been a full-time job getting what I think I need to save the unit. Unit cried and I had nothing on it. I just thought, so what, let the unit do what the unit does, that is the human experience. I was having a lot of pain, and while I could get out of bed, I’d get right back in after everything, feeling so unwell. My overriding thought was that my expiration date was soon, and when I got sad about that, I didn’t care, so the sad turned into love, although I was still very put off by some of the stupid units out there, like when I was pregnant.

When the nurse said I have hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the system; dangerous, but completely treatable), oh my gosh, I cried when she explained I had every symptom (with the exception of depression and anxiety – thanks, Fred!). My body shut down, but I had to urinate every five minutes. I couldn’t remember words, I had nausea, constipation, bone ache, no energy. I simply wanted to stay in bed. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I am seeing something. I have a long way to go, but I am beginning to see.

xo, off to the doc.

Wendi