Susan is in the hospital (m)

Susan has been my very close friend since kindergarten.  She is in every picture ever taken of every birthday party I have ever had.  She was just as excited as I was when I got my Zing-a-Pop game.  It was the first time I got exactly what I wanted.

Susan was vacationing on the Cape when I was there for Harrison's competition a couple of weeks ago.  We talked about getting together but the logistics didn't work.  She was in Provincetown and I was further west.

We talked last Friday.  She was planning to come home on Saturday. 

Last night, I got a call from her husband, B, who said she was in the hospital.  She had been feeling ill...headache, ringing in the ears...nauseated.  They went to a local hospital where they ran tests all night...spinal tap, MRI, blood tests etc.

Diagnosis?  Meningitis and shingles.  The infection has gone to her brain.  She's very sick.

Today I went to visit Susan in the hospital.  The door to her room says STOP! and instructs you to wear gloves and put on a covering before entering the room because she may be contagious.  My first thought was "oh, sh-t I won't be able to visit because the gown won't fit", but it did.  I still haven't caught up with my weight loss thus far.

Susan lay on the bed, frail and groggy.  I sat across from her and couldn't even give her a hug. The neurologist came in and examined her.  They've ruled out some nasty things, but the shingles and meningitis are concerning enough.

Susan will be okay.  It may take several weeks for her to feel normal.  Hopefully, it will be much sooner than that.

We made a pact (as I did with all my close girlfriends) to be there for each other if something happened.   Sitting across from her, I couldn't help but think how things happen in a blink.  We take so much for granted.  Of all my friends, Susan is the healthiest.  She's never had a problem in her life other than a bad cold.

I know she'll fight her way through this.   Susan knows that I'm leaving my Hermes Birkin bag to her when I check out.