I
had Whipple surgery in June 2020 and a 3 hour incisional hernia repair earlier this month. Recovery's pandemic influenced and yesterday was the first time since June my wife and I went on a date.
It was nothing big, Pedicures, because I can't bend over to clip my toe nails and Sarah's sick of doing it! So we make a date.
It's so great to be out!
Especially with the love of my life.
Everything's fine until my feet slip into the hot water, an old acquaintance greets me, my hand slides into my wife's, and, I start to cry.
At 7 months since Whipple, my emotions are unfiltered, mostly sentimentality, the unending slide show of life review that my brain seemingly has no control over and taking inventory in case this is the last time I'll be doing something.
Caregivers know and understand things we don't and Sarah calms me down and we resume enjoying being out.
I finish first and relax as Sarah has her nails painted.
I'm freezing as always, it's hard regulating body temperature since anymore, and I can't wait to stick my feet under the hot white lights used to quickly dry the polish.
Quickly standing, Sarah and the salon staff watch me, wondering what I'm doing since the drying station is a casualty of COVID.
Sarah rushes to finish and follow me outside. Quickly paying, we climb into the car, Sarah smudges her big toe and I drive home as fast as possible for some reason.
Our first date in almost a year last 32 minutes!
Home, we're frustrated at how things turn out and it takes me a 3 hour nap and Sarah diving into another world wind of household needs, to get over the frustration.
Later we talk alone about what went wrong.
Things always seem to go wrong with Whipple that require a great deal of focus and concentration to learn from so as not to repeat the experiences.
Circumstances are such that we may have another opportunity to day.
Whipple dating is just the latest in obstacles to overcome as my wife and I continue our dance to find footing in this new crazy world we occupy.
Anyone else have a Whipple Date experience to share?
