Chapter 2 Home Swee Home

Joy expresses concerns about re-entering society and returning home to her life as a mother and business owner...

　

The next two weeks of physical therapy and counseling went by in a blur. Joy recovered from most of her injuries with flying colors. Her sight was the most disabling issue from the accident. Joy blew a frustrated hand gesture towards the nurse asking her to perform a few more leg lifts.

“I know you mean well but I’m exhausted. I just want to walk without a cane, maybe run a few laps around my living room and kitchen. I need to keep up with my two little rug rats. I am in no way interested in running a marathon, Nurse Betty.

“You could have fooled me,” Nurse Betty chuckled. “You have been G.I. Jane to most of the nurses in this wing. I am motivated to get on a treadmill myself for a spell.”

Joy laughed hard. As she wiped the sweat from her arms and neck. Opening her drawers to retrieve her belongings she froze as if lost in time, and smiled for just a moment. She loved the sound and the way it felt to have some normality and happiness in her life. She was so excited about her recovery. The nursing staff for the most part were incorrigible, except for Nurse Betty.

Nurse Betty always pushed her to fight just a little harder. Joy grew quiet as her mind drifted. Leaving the hospital after such a long stay was frightful. She was filled with mixed emotion. She found herself becoming quite teary eyed as she continued to pack the remainder of her things.

“Joy, are you ok? You will be fine.” Nurse Betty coached, as she too felt the lump settling in her throat. “I am going to leave you to get the rest of your things in order. Justin already phoned. He and the kids are on their way to pick you up.”

Joy managed to smile through her confused state. “OK Thanks, I will be ready shortly.”

Joy squeezed her eyes tight before she made an attempt to open them. Her deep brown eyes lightened to a soft hazel after the accident. They resembled a light flouresent blue in the sun. Justin teased her about her eyes. He called her “Storm,” from “X-men,” one of her favorite characters from her addiction to Marvel comics. They blended perfectly with her cappuccino colored skin and natural spiral mane that danced just below the nap of her neck.

Joy opened her eyes, she was greeted by a blinding white light. Literally, shocked by the painful blow, she shuddered at the thought of a second attempt to open her eyes. Taking in a deep breath she opened her eyes for the second time slowly. Her vision was blurred. She could make out shadows at best. Everything was in black and white. She was now, a character in a 1950’s drama. All she needed was a stick of ruby red lipstick and finger waves. Joy closed her eyes and continued to pack her things. She had become quite used to the dark. She could feel when others were near and her sense of smell heightened. Joy would still become frustrated and saddened when she thought about reuniting with her family. Her biggest hope in recovery was to regain her sight.

“Mrs. Anderson? Are you all set to go home today?” The discharge nurse on duty came by with her clipboard to run through her list, standard protocol for patients being discharged.

Joy laughed to herself at how serious the nurse sounded. She was quite interested in what she thought she could steal from the hospital. Some towels, a gown, maybe some slipper socks. She sure as hell didn’t want the watered down lotion and shampoo, samples of Dove and Caress, is cause for worry.

Joy looked up from gathering all of her belongings from her side table drawers. “Yes I am quite excited. A bit worried, but I am very excited to see my family.” Joy looked down when she realized that she wasn’t going to be able to see anyone. She had in fact been dreading going home. She was going to be faced with yet another challenge. She was both excited and fearful of going back to her life as a mother, let alone her business.

The voice command program she had set-up on her laptop was a intelligent invention. However it had quite a few quirks to work out. Most of her dictation was poorly imputed. The playback was both hilarious and illiterate. She would be sure to loose her license if she published works relying on the good sense of her computer alone.

“Don’t worry about it Joy. Your family is ready and waiting for you to come home. The kids are very excited. Justin was telling the staff how much they were doing to help you get settled in. The kids are making you a welcome home dinner and cleaning the entire house for you. What a treat? I wish my kids would volunteer to do the laundry, take out the trash, maybe wash a dish or two.”

“Oh girl don’t worry.” Joy chuckled as she stood slowly to put her things in her bag. “This is all just temporary. They will be back to their normal destructive selves the moment they get wind I can scramble an egg. I will be sure to milk this for what its worth. I’ll have an update for you by the time my next check up rolls around.” Joy starred into the open air blowing in slightly through her 5^th floor window. “The air feels good.” Joy smiled at the thought of the wind blowing into her hair.

“Good Luck to you.” The discharge nurse scratched on her board and left with a satisfactory spin.

“Yea Thanks.” Joy reached down to check her bed for garments she may have missed. “Hey Nurse Betty is that you?”

　

“Yep, just me. I just wanted to make sure I said good bye before I left for the day. You know I’m happy you are better, but sure sad to see you go. I am going to miss our late night chats. It made my nights go by fast. Oh and the laughs. Thanks for listening to my ranting about the other nurses. This wing has some rather funny characters. I often wonder where they got their credentials.”

“You will be surprised.” Joy laughed. “I will miss you too.”

“I know you are worried about regaining your eye sight. There are plenty of success stories that you can derive some motivation from. You may only be able to make out shadows for now, but who knows in a years time. If you continue your rehabilitation you may make a full recovery. Don’t always listen to what these doctors say. You and I both know that there is a higher power working in our favor.”

“Yes. I know Betty thanks. Sometimes I have to be reminded about God and his grace and mercy. Even though he is always showing us his goodness, we forget about the blessings he has bestowed upon us. I will take this one day at a time.” Joy zipped her bag and sat on the edge of the bed. Her lunch had arrived. She could smell the chicken and potatoes.

“Well eat your lunch. Justin and the kids should be here any minute. I wouldn’t want him to tear the place down if he found out we didn’t feed you.”

Joy smiled, “Who Justin?” Joy commented sarcastically as if she didn’t know her husband could cause a stir.

“Yea Him.” Nurse Betty sashayed from the room leaving Joy to enjoy the comforts of peace and solidarity for one last time. She was soon to be greeted by a tribe of overly excited children and a husband that would drive her crazy with questions and pampering. Not that she minded it much.

Author's Note

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