9 March 2020

Tucson, AZ

Please remember that I will be using (as should you), my new blog format and new address:   www.cruisingwithlfl.blogspot.com

You may, of course, continue to access the years 2009-2019 through the older blog (www.LFLatSea.blogspot.com).  But all new posts will appear on this new blog page.

And so, continuing on from my last blog from Dubai, I was just ready to announce, with great excitement, my next cruise adventure:

***

2 April-1 May:  30-Day Cruise

Holland America ms Noordam

Sydney, Australia (NSW) - Milford Sound, New Zealand (South Island)-

Port Chalmers/Dunedin-Akaroa/Christchurch 

Wellington, NZ (North Island)-Napier-Rotorua 

Auckland-Bay of Sails 

Eden (NSW)-Sydney

New Caledonia-Fiji

Pago Pago, American Samoa

Honolulu

***

Honolulu-LAX-Tucson

And then along comes Corona flu virus and this past Thursday I decide to cancel.  No problem with that, but on the very next day I fall on the hard tile floor in our house and shatter the long femur bone from my left hip to my left knee.

So no more cruising — perhaps for ever—since my falls are the result of complex central sleep apnea, which causes me to fall asleep at any time from sheer sleep deprivation.  I can fall asleep at any time, whether standing on my feet, sitting in a chair, from the bed, or from the table with a hot cup of coffee in my hand. 

On Friday morning i fell as we were leaving the house.  The rescue squad transported me to Tucson Northwest Medical Center, where I had 3.5 hours of surgery on Friday evening.  The femur was completely reconstructed with much metal—screws, bands, plates, and cables to hold things together.  Fortunately, my titanium hip replacement was not affected.

On Sunday afternoon I was transferred to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Center (1921 W Hospital Drive, Tucson, AZ,  85704), where I am learning how to function without putting any weight on my left leg for the next six to eight weeks.  In two weeks I see the surgeon again and may be able to go home after that.

Most importantly Will is with me all the time through this ordeal.

The best way to reach me is electronically, by email (llaban@vcu.edu) or text message at 520-307-0658.

You may also contact Will by email (willfeathers@comcast.net).

I am resting comfortably, with little physical pain.  But I don’t expect the recuperation will be much fun and will involve some serious changes in lifestyle.