I Lost a Dear Friend Yesterday
@DeborahDiane (40288)
Laguna Woods, California
December 18, 2015 9:55pm CST
This week has been unusually sad and difficult for me.
Yesterday, a friend of mine died from a MRSA infection that started in a hip joint which had been replaced several years ago. The infection went to her heart and damaged a valve. She had been sick for several weeks, but it appeared the antibiotic they were using was working ... until a few days ago, when she took a turn for the worse.
By yesterday afternoon, she was gone.
As if that were not difficult enough, before I heard that my friend had died I went walking with two other friends around Balboa Island. I will post photos from our walk later this weekend, when I feel up to it.
At the end of that walk, one of my friends tripped and fell, breaking her wrist and bruising herself severely. I took her to the hospital and a few minutes later heard that my other friend had died at a different hospital.
It has been a difficult few days for me.
I hope all is going much better this week for all of you.
31 people like this
31 responses
@FourWalls (67726)
• United States
19 Dec 15
I'm so sorry to hear this. When my aunt had her knees replaced the doctors all said the most dangerous part of the procedure wasn't the surgery or the physical therapy, but rather the threat of infection. My prayers for you and your friend's family.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Dec 15
I had not idea that infection was so dangerous in knee and hip replacements. That is so scary.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
19 Dec 15
@fourwalls @deborahdiane a family member also had a replacement. what causes the infection or where do they pick it up?
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
19 Dec 15
@hereandthere Going to the hospital is necessary, but dangerous. Lots of sick people there. Infections travel quickly.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
I hope this coming week is much more peaceful and less stressful than the last one, too. I still feel sad about the loss of my friend.
1 person likes this
@OreoBrownie (3755)
• Commerce, Georgia
19 Dec 15
How sad. I'm sorry for your loss. MRSA is a horrible bug that is so hard to get rid of. This horrible event seems like a major horror story of what can happen.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
Yes, MRSA is really terrible. To make things worse, once it gets into an artificial joint, there is no medication that will cure it. The joint would have had to be replaced, but my friend was too weak for that.
@sallypup (60959)
• Centralia, Washington
20 Dec 15
@DeborahDiane And I meant it. Loving spirits walk with me each day.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Dec 15
@sallypup - It is wonderful that you recognize that you are surrounded by loving spirits!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
You said that well. When we love someone, pain often comes later.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
20 Dec 15
@DeborahDiane this MRSA infections are so scary. I have a friend who is prone to them (not sure how that works, i think it is just in her system & so she gets them sometimes)
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
@jillybean1222 - I understand that once you have MRSA, it is hard to completely get rid of it. It really is scary.
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
Thank you for your sympathy. This has been a pretty stressful, heart-wrenching few days for me.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
19 Dec 15
I am so sorry to hear all this. Getting older is hard, not only because of what happens to our own bodies, but also because of what happens to our friends.
I know all about tripping and falling. I wish your friend a quick and easy recovery.
Take good care of yourself, my friend.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
19 Dec 15
oh, yeah, i remember your eyes. i hope they're all healed now.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
@ElizabethWallace - I am glad that you are mostly healed. I'm so sorry that you went through all this.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
19 Dec 15
@hereandthere Mostly. My forehead is still a little swollen, and my shoulder and knee still hurt, but things are moving in the right direction. Thanks. Tripping us bad at any age, but seniors take a long time to heal.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
19 Dec 15
I am so sorry for your loss, if you read my previous post I also lost a dear friend this week. It is hard.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
20 Dec 15
@DeborahDiane It is and especially when it comes as a shock without warning.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
@BelleStarr - Yes, it really was a shock. The woman was fine just two months ago, and now she is gone. It is hard to believe.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
Yes, I saw your post about losing someone, too. It is really sad to lose someone who has been a major part of our life, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@wiLLmaH (8802)
• Singapore, Singapore
21 Dec 15
Ok @DeborahDiane. Hope you will have a wonderful upcoming week. Love to you.
1 person likes this
@wiLLmaH (8802)
• Singapore, Singapore
22 Dec 15
@DeborahDiane I know, that will be awkward. But please help yourself to regain positivity.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
Thank you. I will try to take your suggestions to heart.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471294)
• Switzerland
20 Dec 15
@DeborahDiane This is terrible, I believe that it's not so common to get an infection from a hip replacement.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
@LadyDuck - Apparently, it is more common than most of us reason. According to the pharmaceutical company Merck, infections in artificial joints are more common that infections in natural joints.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
25 Dec 15
@DeborahDiane I can only imagine. Hopefully you and all of your friends can comfort each other during this time.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 15
@simone10 - Yes, I am sure that my friends and I will console each other when we get together. It will take time to get over the shock, because this happened so fast.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
Yes, this has been very difficult. All of my friends are having a hard time with it.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
19 Dec 15
Sorry to hear about your friend I had a friend client pass because of the same infection so it really can affect us.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
20 Dec 15
@DeborahDiane There should be more information on it so we can understand it better.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Dec 15
@softbabe44 - Yes, it would probably be helpful for us all to learn more about these types of infections.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
I think that most of us are completely unaware of how dangerous this infection is. I know that I was completely unaware.
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (14351)
• West Haven, Connecticut
25 Dec 15
Sorry for your loss, its important that we keep up with our health and go for checkups often
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 15
@BACONSTRIPSXXX - I agree that this is a good reminder that we all need to take care of our health, or things can go wrong quickly.
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 15
Thank you! It has been strange thinking about the fact that my friend is gone ... and so unexpectedly.
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
19 Dec 15
I am very sorry for your loss. It is so difficult to lost someone you love. I lost my childhood friend and a college friend due to the big C. May your friend rest in eternal peace
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
Cancer is another terrible disease. I lost several friends to that a few years ago. We miss the people we have lost, don't we?
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
@ridingbet - I think it would be hard to be a nurse and see your patients die, especially those you have become attached to.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
20 Dec 15
@DeborahDiane that is true. It is so disheartening even to see other people we are not related to, succumb to their illness while we watch them breath their last. My students usually have the experience of having their patient die.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160612)
• United States
20 Dec 15
I am so sorry that is quite a lot of loss in one week.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
It was such a shock. I don't think I realized how ill my friend was until she was in a coma. How terrible.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
20 Dec 15
so sorry. it really seems we are all having a hard time this year. more then usual. hope an even numbered year coming will change that.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
I hope that next year is a good one, too. I know you have also been having a difficult year. I pray that your health gets better.
@Raine38 (12250)
• United States
20 Dec 15
I am sorry to hear what you and your friends are going through right now. I cannot imagine how sad I will also be if one of my loved ones got sick or hurt. At any rate, they are lucky to have someone like you at their side. I am sure that your friendship and support helps them to face their ordeal.
At this point, I suggest that you pray for guidance and strength, and be thankful that you are a blessing to your friends. While these experiences can be really draining, we can find strength and will to carry on from those people around us who inspire us to be better and to move forward.
I hope and pray that you all get through this.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Dec 15
Yes, this has really been a draining experience. Thank you for your wise words.
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Dec 15
Thank you so much. My entire circle of friends has been shook up by this.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26661)
• Singapore
20 Dec 15
Sad to hear, Deborah. Life is always uncertain - one never knows when the call comes to return. Seemingly healthy people leave in a hurry while some linger on suffering making us wonder about how our final days will turn out in this blessed place - siva
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Dec 15
You are so right. We never know how our final days will pan out, do we?
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Dec 15
Thank you. I am trying to stay positive, but it is hard to feel like celebrating Christmas after this happened to my friend.
