Bad Blood
There are many issues that come into play around the shooting. This blog is meant to cover all of them. Right now, nothing much is happening re the judicial facet, or I’d address that. I think the first hearing is on April 3rd. So I’m going to give a little air time to my medical condition now.
I know nobody else is as interested in this topic as I am (maybe my mother), so I won’t dwell on it. This should be a non-issue shortly anyway.
I was given a blood transfusion when I was operated on following the shooting. I had lost so much blood, there really was no other choice… no other way to keep me alive. We’re all aware of the dangers of blood transfusions. They can result in hepatitis, AIDS or a number of other blood borne diseases. Chances are that the blood I received wasn’t tainted, and that I have nothing to worry about.
The ‘bad blood’ that I refer to in this post title isn’t about the transfusion, but rather my current complaint which is lack of energy, tiredness, dizziness and nausea. I’ve been told that this is a natural phase of the healing process. I have ‘hematomas’, which are like the scabs you get on a surface wound, but these are inside the body.
The bullet entered me in front, just below my belly button. It never exited, but it drilled through my ample mid-section and stopped when it hit the inside surface of the skin, in what is known in medical parlance as my left ‘love handle’. You can see where it hit because there’s a welt there.
Anyway, now that all the wounds and incisions inside me have mostly healed, those hematomas are breaking down. As they do, they release a lot of crap (another medical term) into my system. That’s what’s making me so tired. They’ll be gone soon and I should have just some physical therapy between me and a full recovery.
OK. Hopefully that’s the last of the medical updates. I will have more re the healthcare system, and I imagine those will be of wider interest.












We take so much for granted. When we have energy, can think straight, speak articulately and write thoughtful essays we rarely stop to marvel at the incredible machine that is the human body. It is only when something thwarts our intentions that we can actually notice two significant facts about our mortality:
- we are fragile, even vulnerable, creatures
- we have an amazing capacity to heal even from the deadliest injury. Bob, I thank God you’re alive! Some day when you can look back on this, you will remember the healing process (and occasional setbacks). But they will become incidental to the overall story. I know what a great storyteller and writer you are. Maybe part of your purpose in being here with us today - instead of on the other side - is to help make change occur … whether it is gun control, deliquency (and the dire need for adult mentors for today’s youth!), healthcare reform, judicial reform, self-actualization or something greater than all these. I am grateful you are still with us. Keep on keeping on and we’ll stay tuned in. Love ya! G
Gracie
25 Mar 09 at 12:37 pm
Wow. I don’t know what to say except… Thanks Gracie. I love you too.
Bob
25 Mar 09 at 2:07 pm