Elenacarlena has been in a world of hurt.  After a sudden hospitalization and surgery in December, she has been on the long road to recovery ever since. 

She’s had repeated procedures under anesthesia to dilate her esophagus (I can only imagine the pain) and is looking forward to more surgery later to repair a hiatal hernia.  Elenacarlena has well and truly been in a medical vortex of sorts, a very lonely place to be — and she remains a ways off from regaining her health.  It was a complicated situation, there were layers of things that were wrong.  Here is what she wrote to me about what happened:

I was found unconscious by my parents back in early December of 2017. They called an ambulance and I went to the nearest ER, where I was found to have multiple medical problems (Note to fellow Kossacks: Do not avoid doctors' visits! You can have multiple problems with no symptoms!). I was in the hospital for 3 weeks, where everything that could be treated, was treated. Except I couldn't swallow and apparently they didn't feed me (I was only semi-conscious the first 2 weeks, so remember almost nothing of that time), so I lost 70 pounds in December (20 pounds more since). I was left extremely weak, and with the esophageal stricture and hiatal hernia ongoing (the hospital actually thought I had globus hystericus - couldn't swallow because, you know, hysterical stressed-out woman - rather than esophageal stricture - it was later found on outpatient barium swallow; grrr). I also lost almost all my hair! I am currently receiving physical therapy to build my strength back up, which is coming along. If the esophageal dilation holds, I may be able to avoid another operation for hiatal hernia repair. Thanks to suggestions from the Peeps, my hair is growing back, slowly but surely. Doctors are following up other problems, but I'm hoping better health habits will resolve everything.

 

None of this is any fun at all for elenacarlena.  We would like to help her recover with a community quilt, something soft, comfy, colorful, and full of loving and uplifting words from you.  She can take it with her to appointments and rest with it at home. The power of a community’s love to heal cannot be underestimated — this will help her.

Leave a message of love and support for elenacarlena in the comments below and I will transcribe it in archival ink on muslin.  My sister and I will incorporate it into something very special, just for her.