What a day…

This day was… I don't know how to describe this day. My plan, when I went to bed last night, was to lounge in bed, do some chores, do my groceries, and go out tonight with M. The day started out ok, as I was drifting in and out of sleep this morning, when my cell phone rings. I see on my caller ID that it's M, so I figure that he's asking if I want to go have breakfast, as we often do on the weekend.

That's when the day really went off track. First shock, he tells me Sven is in the hospital. Second shock, he had a brain oedema (swelling due to excess fluid). Now this can mean he has a brain tumour, a brain hemorrhage, or a viral infection. Third shock, he's lost motor control on the right side of his body. By that point, I'm completely awake and have fallen out of bed. Quite literally. Cue to telephone tag to inform all our friends, with promises of keeping them informed as more information trickles in.

I went to see him at the hospital in the early afternoon. He was looking quite well, given the circumstances. According to his wife, he was actually a lot better. From what I saw, he was lucid, was cracking jokes, and he told us he was regaining control and sensation on his right side. He still had a bit of the Jean Chretien smile, but that was the only significant outward sign something was amiss. He told us that the CAT scans he's had so far have ruled out the two nastiest options, so it's most probably a viral infection. The doctors say that he's responding really, really well to the anti-inflammatories and he might even be discharged tonight so he can go sleep at home. He needs to come back to the hospital for the next 2 days for more IV anti-inflammatories, but he's well enough to go home, so that's a very good sign. He has a MRI scan scheduled for Monday, to rule out the possibilities of micro-lesions on the brain, and if that's all clear, I'd imagine he's going to go on a course of antivirals. We don't know if there will be lasting effects, but the doctors seem optimistic.

So, all in all, it's good news. It made me realize something. I've known that guy for 12 years. Our relation right now is not the greatest it's been – there's some strain, mostly due to stupid things done and said in the past year or so – but that's going to change. I've lived and done too much with the guy, and this incident brought all of that to life.

I've been trying to relax all day, and have been mostly successful. Basically, I kept busy. Did my groceries, and a huge pile of dishes. Bought stuff for the superbowl party tomorrow. I cooked a batch of my world-famous pasta sauce, then cooked roast beast with all the trimmings for dinner with my roommate. Watched a bit of TV, and now I'm writing this and going to bed.

I'm a bit blue right now… for the usual reasons I've grown to know and hate.

Whatever, it'll pass.