The other day, Heather took Ethan to get a flu shot. I've tried to make all of his doctor appointments especially those when a shot is given. I will never forget the look of shock and betrayal on his face (right before the screams erupted) during the awful series of immunizations early in his life. One of those visits was complicated when the "nurse" cut his toe with the needle resulting in two bandages and a continuing distrust of that woman. I wasn't able to go the other day, however, and Heather reports Ethan was brave. Whenever he falls or somehow hurts himself, he instantly tells me "I'm OK Daddy." He did the same when I got home that night though he told me his leg hurt a bit as he showed me his Scooby Doo bandage. Heather reports that he ran around for a couple hours that afternoon but sometimes limped -- mainly when she asked how his leg was. Feeling bad about missing out on being there to support him as he got this shot, I told Ethan I would be getting a flu shot myself soon. I asked him if he would go with me and hold my hand to make me feel better. He looked at me with wide green eyes, and said, "You're a big boy Daddy! You shouldn't cry."
When I had my two strokes more than 13 years ago, I was 50 years old. In the ensuing years I’ve had some health issues related to my strokes and other assorted “age related” things. In May of 2023, I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. As a result I have endured two years of pain and the resulting lack of exercise. That summer I tried to walk regularly but my heel pain was too extreme. I tried to do exercises to relieve the pain but nothing helped. In September of 2023 I asked my doctor to give me a shot of Cortizone. We were headed to Boston for meetings and then headed to Maine. I just wanted to enjoy the trip without pain. It helped a lot. Six months later I had the same pain. I went to an orthopedic doctor who prescribed minor physical therapy. It worked for a bit and then the pain got worse. In September of 2024, my regular doctor gave me another round of Cortizone shots so I could travel to Phoenix. It really helped. For a while. In February of 2025, the pain got worse. I went ...
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