I fell down

 I fell down.  

I was in a meeting of the College of Arts and Sciences on Friday.  I decided to attend the General Chemistry I class afterwards and I was going straight from the ZEB 150 to CP 145.  I seldom go to ZEB 150.  We are only using that room since our regular room is currently not availabe, I believe, because of some malfunction in the room.  As I was walking back I was kind of in a hurry since I could then relax and see what I was going to say or not say in the General Chemistry I class, I tripped in a strange way and fell down.  What was a little more scary is that I was not able to get up. I attempted to do so once, and I was not able to.  I quickly lost my balance, I know not why and fell down again.  Now I was worried.  

I waited until people caught up to me and someone came up to me and asked if he should call someone.  Public Safety was called and they arrived.  My blood pressure was a little high, but that is understandable. An ekg was carried out and there were no anomalies.  That was good. An ambulance came to pick me up and I was asked whether I preferred to be taken in.  I said yes since I wanted to find out what was wrong.  

Dr. Mebel came by and so did Dean Van Hamme.  I gave Dr. Mebel my notebook which I carry and do not usually use, and asked him to place it in my office.  He took the notebook.  I just felt better that I did not have to carry anything with me. I was taken to the old American Hospital which is now known as HCA Kendall Hospital.  I remembered when I was younger and it was my third or fourth year at FIU and Dr. Lopez (not I, but someone I appreciated very much) apparently went down while teaching.  I remember three of the ladies who were his students came over to see me and said, Dr. Lopez, Dr. Lopez fell down in class. It sounded like they were saying my name twice and I did not know why. I remember I went to the room he was teaching in and found him lying down in the room.  He was out of it.  The students were all confused and so was I.  I remember it was late in the day.  We called the ambulance and they took him to American Hospital.  I was with him as he was checked in and only l left when i saw he was going to be seen.  His wife was arriving with Zaida.  I spoke to him later and only the next morning the results from a test came back and Jesus had a brain tumor.  It was not a glioblastoma multiforme (the worst) but an astrocytoma, grade 4 (almost as bad).   Both of these had a pretty bad prognosis.   Jesus underwent surgery and he was able to teach one more semester, maybe two.  I do not remember.  I would go to see  him often.  In time he was once again placed in the hospital.  He lost consciousness and passed away. I now feel badly that I did not see him more often.  These were very sad times at FIU.  I was not even thinking about this when I was seen by the physician, and only think of this now. 

On the way to the hospital in the ambulance, I called Lourdes.  For some reason I was not scared.  I was happy she would be on my side.  As I got there we spent some time in the emergency room.  There was no room available so they put me in the hall right next to a room which was occupied.  I remember speaking to Cristina by phone late in the evening.  She was trying to hide how afraid she was.  She sounded beautiful. She always does.  I looked up that call on my phone but I could not find it.  I may have been using Paula's, or someone else's phone.  I believe the other kids were told by each other or via some type of email group chat.  Or I possibly told them.  I am not sure.  I stayed in that non room for a while.  I was taken to do various tests, resulting in very little sequela.  I have always liked that word, sequela.  In time I was given a room, I do not remember the number and stayed there.  I thought I would be leaving the next day but that did not prove to be the case. 

For some reason, I was afraid to eat.  Not really sure why.  That is something I do a lot. When I am not well, I kind of refuse to feel hungry.  This has happenned to me repeatedly.  It may be that time when I was with Carlos.  He was hungry.  Someone brought him a sandwich. He ate it.  When the physician found out about it, he postponed the surgery.  I was upset about that, Carlos was upset about it too.  

A lot of testing happenned during that time.  All tests were relatively negative.  I did have a small old lacunar stroke.  I do not know how old it was.  I did remember a time when I began forgetting things, possibly one or two years before but I do not remember exactly when it was.  I thought I got over that, but who knows.  Mybe that is why I do not remember. I do not know how significant that is. It measured 0.7cm in greatest dimension. 

The kids were great. I am grateful for all of them.  All of  them contributed to my recovery.  Each did it in their own way.  

I came into the hospital on a Friday.  I remember this only because that is the day of the meeting. I left on Tuesday, around the afternoon.  I was kind of down at the time, but how can you not be with all that was going on. 

FIU was very kind.  If nothing else, I detected worry on their part. 

I will continue this entry at a later date.