What???…Let nature take it course???…

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Although a male, this baby’s warts haven’t fully developed.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Four species in one photo; bushbuck, kudu, duiker, and the fourth baby.

There are two statements at the top of my list that are frequently used that I consider cringe-worthy.  They are:

  • Sorry for your loss (when a loved one passes away)
  • Let nature take its course (when an animal is injured or ill)
The “sorry for your loss” makes me want to scream. It’s become a “canned” comment for those who don’t want to take a moment to express their empathy for the living with a more inventive phrase. How about, “I am so sorry to hear you lost dear Bill.  He was a wonderful man. We will all miss.” Or, my heartfelt sympathies over you losing Mary. This is truly a sorrowful time for you and all of her loved ones.” 
 
As for “let nature takes its course,” oh, good grief, this is a tired and overused comment when one can’t be vulnerable enough to express how a suffering animal makes us sad or feeling helpless. Isn’t it acceptable to say, “I wish we could do something to help, or…is there something we can do to help?” And then, if possible, do something.
He often sits in this goofy pose when eating pellets. This was how we knew it was him. The others kneel but don’t set their butt down while eating.
Or perhaps, when circumstances are such where we cannot help the poor animal, “I am sad to see this creature suffering” or, “It breaks my heart to see any living being suffering.”  No one in your presence will think less of you for these types of statements.
 
Almost every time we’ve been on a safari with others, we encounter one of the passengers in the vehicle saying, “Let nature take its course.” When seeing photos of injured animals on Facebook or other social media, some of which we’ve posted, invariably, a viewer writes, “Let nature take its course.”
 
Sure this statement is true. Nature will take its course in due time or, the animal will recover. Many wildlife species seem to be sturdy and can recover from serious injury. We’ve seen warthogs’ bodies and faces so severely mauled, most likely from altercations with other warthogs, that we thought the wound would become infected, and they’d eventually die.
Two weeks ago, we spotted “Fourth Baby” alone in the garden.
But, alas, a few months pass, and they’ve begun to heal using mud and often maggots as a means of treatment.  How adaptable they are! We humans, left in the wild, would hardly be resourceful enough to save ourselves if we didn’t have survival training.
 
Would we say about a human who is injured or ill, “Let nature takes its  course?” How would those around us think of us? How would we feel about our heartless selves if we freely and honestly felt this way?” Not much.

Recently, I’ve heard and read Marloth Park residents and visitors saying, regarding kudus with apparent signs of tuberculosis, “Let nature take its course.”

 That is ridiculous! TB is highly contagious, and if not dealt with using medical treatment or euthanasia, all the kudus and other species could eventually die off in Marloth Park or even in massive Kruger National Park.  

None of the others minded sharing pellets with him.

Nature taking its course has resulted in entire species becoming extinct, let alone the whole eradication of species due to human intervention and blatant disregard for saving wildlife for future generations to appreciate and revere.

 Recently, a little warthog, about six months old, was separated from its core group. We referred to them as “Mom and Babies,” especially when verbally acknowledging them from our veranda using my irritating-to-some, animal-speak voice. 

 A few weeks later, we noticed that the Mom and Babies now consisted of only three babies, not the usual four. They’d been coming here daily since the piglets were no more than a week old.  Easily, we’ve come to recognize the mom and the four little pigs. Now there were only three.

 Sadly, we speculated that the fourth piglet might have been run over by a car, fell under the prey of a dangerous cat that had entered Marloth Park, or succumbed to an injury after being chased and injured in a fight with an adult warthog, usually an aggressive adult male such a “Basket” who is known to chase piglets when there’s food around.

At six months, warthogs are weaned and fending for themselves for sustenance, although they may stay with the mom and the other piglets until she’s ready to deliver her next litter. The siblings may remain together for extended periods until they are fully mature and begin searching for a mate to have a family of their own.

We’ve often seen mom warthogs with another adult female who perhaps is yet to find a mate of her own. Usually, males hang together for extended periods, such as Mike and Joe and Siegfried and Roy, who’ve been together as pairs since we arrived over 13 months ago. They may stay together for life which can be upwards of 15 years.

We’re hoping that at some point, he’ll reunite with his family.

As for the missing fourth baby, a few weeks ago, he showed up in the garden by himself. We knew him right away. After all, we’d been observing the five of them for over six months. He knew how to ask for pellets, and oddly, he was the only one of the four piglets that always ate lying down with his front legs tucked under in the usual warthog kneeling position when eating.

Did he get lost from his little family, or did the mom send him on his way? We’ll never know for sure. However, he now stops by every day, and so does the mom and three babies but always, so far, at different times. We’re hoping to see them reunite at some point, especially if he’d been lost from the group.

So, now, this little guy fends for himself and hopefully acquired enough skill from the time he spent with his mother learning how to forage for food, dig for roots and plead with residents for a few pellets here and there.  In this case, we can say, “Let nature take its course” when we feel confident this little guy will figure it out on his own.

The question remains in the minds of many that humans are superior to animals. But, after spending the majority of the past 13 plus months observing wildlife in our garden and Kruger National Park, we’ve far surpassed this mentality.  

We all have a purpose and contribute to the world around us, and we pray that understanding and compassion for all living beings supersedes all other perceptions of where we stand in the pecking order. 

We’re all important.

Photo from one year ago today, March 24, 2018:

Waterbucks at the Crocodile River.  For more photos, please click here. 

Behind the eight ball…

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Four species in this photo from far left to right: duiker, kudu, warthog, and bushbuck, all sharing pellets harmoniously.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Although the bushbucks would like to eat pellets, they stay out of the way of this warthog, who happens to be Little, who is often quite willing to share with them.

By far, this is the least motivated I’ve felt to get things done since we began our world journey. On six heart medications plus two (non-narcotic) pain medications, many of which slow me down, I struggle to feel motivated to do the simplest of tasks.

Also, I can’t comfortably sit at the table on the veranda for any time since my legs are still very painful and the chairs are too low for the table, resulting in the necessity of raising my arms to reach my computer’s keyboard.

With the sternum yet to fully recover, raising my arms and holding them in place is challenging even when using a fork to eat at that table. But, each day, all of these simple types of movements become a little easier, and I’m looking forward to the future.

Two more bushbucks in the garden.

Looming in my mind right now is entering the countless receipts to be logged onto our spreadsheet, preparing tax information for our accountant in Nevada (most likely we’ll file an extension), filing the insurance claim for reimbursement for the angiogram (we’re waiting for the insurance company to pay the significant share the end of this month) and of course, our immigration status yet to be resolved.

Once we know the big hospital bill is paid by the end of the month, Tom will send the funds we “borrowed from our retirement plan” back to the financial company to ensure we don’t have to pay tax on that amount.  

Also, Tom will continue to research flights and hotels for upcoming travel over the next six months. I’ve left these tasks entirely up to him to complete.

Ms. Bushbuck and duiker were getting along well.

In the interim, we have two upcoming trips to Nelspruit, one to see the surgeon next Friday and another for an appointment with the cardiologist the following week.  

There is some wire sticking out of my midriff from one of the two drainage tubes placed in this area during surgery. This must be the stitches yet to be removed. Hopefully, the surgeon will repair this next Friday.  

I know it’s time to get these looming tasks done. I must admit that every chore or task I take on right now takes all the strength and motivation I can muster. I made a low-carb coconut cake for my evening snack a few days ago, and I thought about it all day until I was finally motivated to put the eight ingredients together and pour them into the pan. 

Female and male bushbuck were snacking together in the garden. with a duiker by the cement pond.

I suppose this is to be expected five weeks after surgery especially considering this painful infection in my legs which has set me back a few weeks in my recovery. I can honestly say if I didn’t have the infection, I’d be feeling quite good. Although, I imagine the lack of motivation is to be expected at this point.

It’s funny how I have no trouble doing the daily posts with relative ease and commitment. Taking photos is another matter, and I expect that I won’t hesitate to jump up for any photos ops once I can walk more easily. Tom does what he can, but, as we’ve noted in the past, his photo-taking skills leave something to be desired, although from time to time, he produces some gems.

Tonight, we’re going to Jabula. I’m hesitant to go, but we both need to get out, and this is the perfect place to do so. We’ll mingle with our friends who come and go throughout the evening and will enjoy another great meal, ribs, and rice for Tom and grilled chicken breasts with a big plate of cabbage and spinach for me.  

Young male bushbuck with budding horns.

I’m still not drinking wine and don’t plan to do so anytime soon. Not only have I lost my taste for it, but it makes no sense when I’m taking all these medications. I’m considering giving up on alcoholic beverages since I’m not convinced that red wine offers any benefit to heart patients. I didn’t drink alcohol for 20 years, and it will be easy for me to forgo it in the future.

Next Tuesday, I’ll be able to stop wearing the compression stockings. Without the constant pressure on the incisions from the stockings, I’m expecting my legs to heal more quickly.  

I’ve procrastinated enough this morning, and now it’s time for me to do the walking around the house. If my legs didn’t hurt, this would be easy, and I’d be up to an hour by now. But, it is what it is…and I’ll do the best I can.

Have a pleasant weekend!

Photo from one year ago today, March 23, 2018:

Read our story of this incredible chimp rescue by a remarkable woman from her book, “My Bane is Missy.” Gail and Missy are in Liberia by the pool.  Please click here.

The big dilemma…

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Mom and Three Babies…the fourth has been missing for almost two weeks, but alas, he showed up by himself a few days ago. We’d hoped he hung around long enough to reunite with his family, but they left, and he appeared about an hour later. 
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
This is Basket. He lost his right ear in a confrontation a few months ago.

As I speak to family members and friends on Skype, text, or email, the question always comes up, “I’ve read the blog, but how are you really doing?” It’s a tricky question to answer.

No doubt, I don’t want this online medium to be a whine-fest about my concerns, pain, and frustration after this dreadful but life-saving operation. However, in our posts, we always try to tell it like it is, resulting in an oxymoron; Mentally, emotionally? I’m OK. Physically? I’m not OK yet.

I am getting better in bite-sized pieces. Some patients say they have good days and bad days. It’s not like that for me. I have days I progress, and days it stands still. But, they are days. And, I’m alive.

The concerns are many. How do I eat now? Do I go on a strict diet as the American Heart Association espoused, which doesn’t reap many benefits statistically. Or, shall I continue with my low carb, high fat, starch, and sugar-free way of eating?This way of eating eliminated 30 years of excruciating pain generated by a hereditary spinal condition in three months. Had I not done this strict diet, I’d be in a wheelchair by now, unable to walk, unable to move freely, spending lots of time in bed as my dear sister Susan (four years older than me), who suffers from the same spinal condition and has been lying in bed for 12 years or more. That could have been me.

 We’d never have left the US and traveled the world as we have for almost six and a half years, with hopes and dreams of more. Only months after the pain and inflammation subsided, we decided to “step outside the box” and travel for as long as we could.  

 It’s been a glorious situation, and we long for more. Is this all I get? Am I greedy to want more? Goodness, is it wrong to want more happiness and fulfillment when we’ve worked so hard to achieve it? This lifestyle in itself hasn’t always been easy.
Kudus were hanging out with Basket, who was less aggressive than usual.

If I follow a low-fat diet, the pain will return, and within months so will the quality of life, bringing an immediate end to our travels and the lifestyle we so much love.

 If I continue to eat a low carb, high fat, moderate protein diet, will my arteries become clogged again in a few years? The two doctors, the cardiologist, and the thoracic surgeon, said diet for me has little to do with what transpires in the future.  

 They said the plaque developed over 20 or 30 years, most of it eating a very low-fat diet as espoused by the US government as healthy. Even then, knowing my heredity, I was trying to avert the inevitable, as I’d watched family members suffer and die from heart disease, diabetes, and other inflammatory diseases. 

 I “assumed” by staying slim and fit, I’d be exempt. How wrong I was! Before I began this way of eating in 2011, I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic, only a short time away from taking medication.  

 Once I began this way of eating within months, I was no longer pre-diabetic…there was no indication of any potential for type-two diabetes which ran rampant in my family.

Harmony in the garden on a sunny day.

My heart disease is not gone. It’s a hereditary and ongoing illness. The pipes have been replaced, but they can and most likely clog again in five, eight, ten years. Would I have to go through this again when I’m in my late 70’s or 80’s? Could I go through this again? It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.

 Science is unclear. Studies are conflicting, and many are skewed. There’s no clear answer. Pain or heart attack, which do I choose? Therein lies the oxymoron, the conflict, the frustration coupled with the uncertainty of the future.

 But then, we’re all uncertain of what the future holds, aren’t we? And I’ve recently spent the happiest six-plus years of my life. Not everyone can single out a segment of time where they’ve been fulfilled, content, and in awe of the world around them.

As darkness fell, Mike and Joe stopped by with a few zebras and helmeted guineafowls.

The doctors here both told me my heart was very strong and healthy. They even went as far as to state it is the heart of a 35-year-old and that my lifetime of exercising is why I am alive today when I had three of four arteries 100% blocked. I was functioning at 25%. My strong heart kept me going. Thank you, my heart. Thank you for saving me.

 For all the criticism I received from family and friends that I exercised too often, too much, claiming I was obsessed, now proved to serve me well. Why I didn’t collapse from a heart attack during those years with blocked arteries baffles me today.

So now? Am I “telling it like it is?” Overall, the answer is yes, although I must admit I’ve kept some of it to myself. Seeing it in print sheds a whole new light on the reality of this dilemma, the answers to which I’ll continue to research until I’m satisfied the path is clear.

 Heredity is a lot bigger part of our future than I’d ever imagined. In time and with advances in science, solutions may become more evident. For now, in part, it’s speculation and a guessing game.  

 May we all come out as winners.

Photo from one year ago today, March 22, 2018:

This morning, in the rain, nine zebras stopped by for a visit and some snacks. It was delightful to see them a second time in our yard, although it wasn’t the same “dazzle” of zebras as the last time. For more photos, please click here.

Power outages leaving us frustrated…Why don’t we leave?…Holiday time in SA…More tourists in the park…

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Mr. Duiker resting in the garden

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

This mongoose must have been injured when he was dragging his back legs using his front legs.  So sad to see.

Many of our readers have written to us asking why we don’t leave and go somewhere else while we await our flight to Ireland on May 11th. The heat, humidity, and power outages are outrageous.

There are several reasons we haven’t left, and here they are:

    • We prepaid the rent for the Orange house until May 11th and didn’t feel it would be fair to ask Louise for a refund when it’s already been paid to the owners.
    • We can’t leave the country while awaiting our visa extension, which may or may not be processed in time for our departure. The power outages are country-wide not only Marloth Park. Eskom, the provider, has run out of money and resource.
    • If we left, we’d have to find another place to live and pay for the new place and all of its expenses. After all the money we lost canceling venues when I had to have the triple coronary bypass surgery on February 12, spending more doesn’t make sense.
    • We may not have a daily housekeeping service which has been a tremendous help during this period.
    • We have many friends here who’ve been helpful and supportive. Although our social life is limited until I recover more fully, our friends have been vital in my recovery.
    • Seeing the wildlife each day has had a positive effect on my recovery.
    • Unable to travel for 90 days due to surgery and complications.
Bushbucks were munching on pellets.

And then, of course, there’s my old theory of “Love the One You’re With,” like the song found here. This house, the bush, the wildlife, and our friends have been our home for the past 13 months. When one is ill or recovering, being in familiar surroundings is a vital part of their recovery. Everyone wants to be “home” during such times.

It isn’t like the US here in Africa when houses have “central air conditioning.” The high cost of running central air here would be outrageous. But, that doesn’t make us feel more tolerant of the scorching heat and the almost eight hours of power outages each day.

Zebras have stopped by almost every day.
Luckily, when we have power, we can escape to the bedroom with its wall aircon, which is very good at cooling the room. No, we don’t like spending time in the bedroom during the day, but it is a means of relief for an hour or two.
Aside from this, we have established a good routine that is working well for us as I continue to heal. I have yet to follow our old routine of sitting outdoors at the big table all day since I have to keep my feet up due to the infections, which are now beginning to heal, a little more each day.
Instead, I sit up with pillows propping me to a sitting position with my legs on a pillow on the sofa.  There’s a large table fan running aimed directly at me. This helps a lot.
Such an adorable face.

Are we upset and unhappy now? Not at all.  We both feel hopeful for the future, enjoy each other’s companionship, and are otherwise comfortable. Tom downloads his favorite podcasts so we can listen during the power outages.

We’re incredibly conscious of ensuring our phones and laptops are fully charged. When the power goes out so does the WiFi. Luckily, we can play games on our phones when the power is out. Neither of us cares to sit quietly and do nothing for the better part of the day.

 Soon, Tom will leave to go grocery shopping and to the pharmacy for more bandages and antibiotic cream.  We don’t need much food right now since we’re well-stocked.  

Plus, we’d prefer not to keep any perishables in the fridge or freezer with the power outages. We’d made my pie in an attempt to keep me from losing more weight if I ate one piece each night after dinner. But due to the power outages, we had to throw away the second half when it had mold. I guess I won’t be making any more of these.
That’s right. You did! Pose for the camera and see if you get pellets.

I want to go to the market with Tom but can’t walk well enough to trek around the market. I tried this last week and it was a fiasco. I wouldn’t want to wait in the car in the heat while he shops.

With most of our friends gone right now to their other homes, I made a reservation for the two of us for Jabula on Saturday night. I feel a need to get out of the house and mingle with other local friends who are often mulling around the bar at Happy Hour. 

National holiday times are often referred to as “school holidays” here in South Africa. This school holiday began on March 18th and continues through April 1st leaving only 10 days until it ends. We have seen less wildlife in the garden but not as few as during other holiday periods.

That’s it for today, folks. Again, thank you for the many online cards, email letters, and comments as we work through this somewhat challenging period.

May your day be free of challenges and bring you peace of mind and comfort.
                

                                                 Photo from one year ago today, March 21, 2018:

I was indoors preparing dinner while Tom noticed this mongoose digging a hole in the yard. Please click here for more.

I lost a friend…The harsh realities of aging and health…

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 My friend of 38 years, Colleen, had lived in St. Thomas for 25 years and moved to Florida when her health began to fail. Here she is holding onto her round-the-clock oxygen supply.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

The helmeted guineafowls have been gone a few months. They returned with many chicks in tow yesterday, teaching them how to “steal” pellets from warthogs.  As annoying as they can be, it was delightful to see their offspring.

We’ve lost several friends since we began traveling the world in 2012. Shortly before starting our journey, we lost our dear friend Chip in Minnesota. He happened to be a neighbor, four doors from us, but I cannot say he was simply a “neighbor.”

 Both mine and Tom’s relationship with this fine, funny, brilliant, retired orthopedic surgeon and his lovely wife Sue far surpassed the equivalency as often applied to a “neighbor,” a friend made by convenience and friendliness.

Instead, over 26 years, Chip became one of the most important people in our lives; a social companion; an intellectual stimulator; a hearty conversationalist, rife with myriad fascinating opinions; and a shoulder to lean on during tough times.  

Here’s the link to our story about Chip posted on June 2012, four months before we left Minnesota.

Oh, that he would be near us now during this challenging recovery period offering his unsolicited medical advice, emotional support, and always, a good belly laugh thrown in for good measure. He and his wife, Sue, with whom we’ve stayed in close touch, remain in our hearts every day.

I was honored to be asked by the family to speak at his memorial service a month before we left Minnesota, and to this day, I wonder how I managed to get through it with the lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

And, as these travel years have continued, we’ve continued to lose more friends. I suppose as this generation of ours continues to develop serious age-related illnesses, we’ll experience more and more of these losses.

A few years later, we lost our dear friend Lane who walked into a room to make everyone’s heart sing with pure pleasure and adoration.  How fortunate we were to have this remarkable man counted amongst our friends over the years.  We stay in touch with his wife, Peggy, through Facebook, enjoying many delightful comments back and forth.

Here’s the link to our story about Lane posted in May 2013, seven months after we left Minnesota.

Then, we lost dear sister-in-law Lee, married to Tom’s blind 90 years old brother Jerome. Lee was his eyes, love, and support for 61 years. We always loved her for her kindness, warmth, and devoted attention to Jerome.

Here is the link to our post about Lee from December 2013.

And then, there was our friend Richard whom we met in Kauai, Hawaii, and quickly became a friend to both of us. Richard and his wife Elaine quickly welcomed us into their busy social life. Richard was considered to be quite the social director. Undoubtedly, in the short period we knew him, he became very important to us both.

Here’s the link to our post about Richard from February 2016.

The list could go on and on of railroad friends, their spouses, and family members that have passed away over the past six and a half years since we left Minnesota.  

And then, yesterday, I received an email informing me that my dear friend Colleen, whom I cherished 38 years of friendship, passed away in February in Florida.  

A kindly friend of Colleen’s notified me after she’d recalled how often Colleen mentioned me and how she’d been such an avid reader of our site, constantly sending me email messages as to how much she was enjoying our posts as her health was failing.

Her messages always meant so much to me. As an avid traveler, Colleen lived vicariously relived her travel days through daily posts. Until her illness, COPD required more medical care for many years. She resided in St. Thomas, the US Virgin Islands.  

While we were sailing on a Caribbean cruise in April 2013, one of the ports of call was St. Thomas. Of course, I was excited to see her, and we selected a strip mall near to pier to meet. We hugged as if we’d never hugged before and proceeded to have a fantastic day together.

Tom had walked me to the shop where we met, and he returned for a quiet day aboard the ship while I stayed with Colleen. She was able to drive at that time and drove me around the beautiful island showing me her favorite spots. 

We ended at her home of 25 years overlooking the sea, sipped on tea, and shared memories of our years and our time apart. That was the last time I saw her. But, since that time, we have stayed in close touch via email. She never failed to write “thank you’s” to me for brightening her days as she began to fall. A few months ago, she sent me an email message, warm, loving, and heartfelt.

Then, the flurry of my condition distracted me from writing, although I knew as I recovered I’d get in touch with her. I didn’t want to whine to her about how I felt when she was striving for her next breath.

And now, she’s gone, and already, less than a day after being notified of her passing, I miss her, regretting I never called her upon returning from the hospital weeks ago. How fortunate I was to be her friend for 38 years.

Here is the link from the last time I saw Colleen in April 2013. May she rest in peace, and may memories of her always remain fresh in my mind.

Death, the veritable mystery, awaits us all in due time. Lately, it has been on my mind, more than ever, as I faced the rigors of this dangerous and challenging surgery and recovery. And, now, as I mend, I cherish each day and all the days I am gifted to experience in times to come. 

Embrace every moment…

Photo from one year ago today, March 20, 2018:

We visited Gail and Mark on Sunday to discuss a story we’ll be posting later this Friday about the stunning and heartwarming book Gail wrote, “Her Name is Missy,” of their time in Liberia during the worst of the Ebola epidemic and her heroic rescue of a chimpanzee named Missy. Please check back on Friday for the story. We loved seeing the birds they feed at their home and holiday lodglodgesoss a small river road. The visit prompted us to purchase a bird feeder and seeds. For more photos, please click here.

Oh, oh, I was called for jury duty in Nevada, USA…Medical update…Load shedding continues..

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Busy morning in our garden!

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Bushbucks, kudu, and warthogs.

A few days ago, I received a notice from Clark County Court in Nevada, our state of residency, informing me I had been selected for jury duty and must appear on April 15th. I’m not going to be making an appearance on that date or any other date soon.

Their relatively easy-to-use website allowed me to enter the reasons why I can’t appear:  “emergency coronary bypass surgery while in South Africa.” I wrote a letter and attached it to the online form h, hoping this will be sufficient to be excused. I have no doubt it will be accepted.

In the past few posts, I hadn’t mentioned much in regard to my ongoing recovery. The infections in both of my legs have been quite a scare. On numerous occasions, I’d read those infections after this surgery brings an enormous amount of risk.

This morning Basket stopped by for breakfast.

The doctors both agree, local Dr. Theo and surgeon Dr. Haude in Nelspruit mutually agreed the infections could be treated as an outpatient after all and I could avoid going back into the hospital for IV antibiotics. 

When I hawasoved to the regular hospital after eight days in the ICU, I  insisted on being released to return to Marloth Park within 36 hours. The level of care was substantially inferior to that of the ICU. It wasn’t easy to get a nurse to come to my room for any reason. I knew Tom would take better care of me back “home.” And he did, far beyond my expectations.

Mom and Three Babies.  The fourth baby never reappeared.

Once back in Marloth I realized why the surgeon suggested I stay in the hospital for a few more days.  I was in terrible shape. But, as the days continued I gradually improved with a few setbacks including:

  • A massive swollen, bleeding and painful incision in my right thigh that only now has begun to heal.
  • A tear in a chest wall muscle from moving wrong the first night we were back.
  • Infections in both of my lower legs from ankle to knee that is now being treated with powerful antibiotics (and strong probiotics to aid in maintaining a level of intestinal flora)
  • Discomfort from the two incisions left from the chest drainage tubes removed on the sixth-day post-surgery proved to be the most painful of all.
Bushbucks are cautious around warthogs.

All of these setbacks have since resolved considerably except for the infections in my legs. This morning when removing the overnight bandages, cleaning the wounds with a prescribed antibacterial wash, slathering on antibiotic cream, applying new sterile bandages with Tom putting the compression stocking back on, I noticed some improvement.

Yesterday morning, with little improvement I asked the doctor to prescribe more of the antibiotics. The five-day course wasn’t enough. After taking two more tablets, 12 hours apart, finally, I see and feel some improvement. We are very optimistic at this point.  
 
Provided the improvement continues through tomorrow, I may be able to return to the walking program, taking up where I left off at two 20-minute sessions per day. We’ll see how it goes.

Mentally and emotionally, I’m in good shape. The typical depression and anxiety frequently observed after this big surgery has apparently bypassed me (no pun intended). I am well on my way to “overly bubbly” status in days or a few weeks to come.
This morning’s visit by kudus.
My powerful sense of gratitude is a constant reminder to keep me motivated and in a positive state of mind. How dare I complain when I’m so grateful to be alive?

The holiday season has begun in South Africa and more and more tourists are coming to stay in the park. We can observe this by the number of cars passing along our road. Much to our surprise and delight, the wildlife is still abundant in our garden bringing both of us much joy.

On the lesser side, load shedding is annoying as it can be. Right now, there are three 2.5-hour outages each and every day. This results in no power for an average of about 30% of our day and evening. 

As mentioned in earlier posts,  load shedding is when the country’s only main electricity supplier, Eskom shuts off power in designated areas of the country in its entirety to conserve power resources.  I won’t get into the politics on this outrageous situation which results from years of poor management.

There we about a dozen kudus wandering in and out of this scene.
We manage our day into a routine around the need for electricity. In the mornings it begins a 7:00 am, lasting until 9:30 am. InIttarts at 1500 hours (3:00 pm),  in the afternoon, lasting until 1730 hours (5:30 pm), and then again in the evenings at 2300 hours, ending at 1:30 am.  
During the late shutoff we’re often awake and with the high daytime temperatures right now at around 38C, 100.4F, it gets awfully hot in the bedroom where we’re unable to open windows, use a fan or aircon.  

Those are a long two and a half hours during which neither of us is able to sleep. Once the power returns, we turn the aircon back on since it doesn’t restart on its own. We lay there with the remote between us on the bed anxious to start it up again.

 
So, there it is folks, the good and the not so good of our days and nights right now.  Do we ask, “safari luck” where are you? No, we’ve been gifted with the greatest safari luck on the planet…life itself.
 
Take good care of yourselves, dear reader!

Photo from one year ago today, March 19, 2018:

Francolins often visit us. They are shy, run very fast, fly very little and make lots of noise during the day and early evening. We named this pair, Frank and the Mrs. who’ve yet to produce their first chick in over a year. For more, please click here.

 

Post from seven years ago…Less fearful than years ago…Willie…what a guy!…

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Willie often makes eye contact, usually only one eye, as indicated in this photo. Wildebeest’s eyes are far apart on either side of his head. He loves for me to talk to him. How do I know this? He won’t begin eating a single pellet until I’m done talking. 

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Little’s vacuum-like mouth scours the ground for a stray pellet he may have missed.

While searching for a photo Louise had taken of a warthog in the kitchen of one of her holiday homes, I stumbled across the post from March 16, 2012, from over seven years ago.

It was this photo plus one of this same pig lying in front of the fireplace, sleeping, and snoring that inspired us to come to Marloth Park while researching possible locations. A pig in the kitchen? I’m all in! Tom, not so much.
 
It took a lot of convincing to get Tom to feel comfortable with the concept of wild animals walking around the grounds of our vacation/holiday home. I explained the Big Five (rhino, lion, cape buffalo, leopard, and elephant would be a short distance down the road at the Crocodile River, separated by a fence between Marloth Park and Kruger National Park.
Wildebeest Willie stopped by with two bushbucks joining him to see what was on the menu.
This put his mind at ease a little but not entirely. But even then, seven years ago, I had some hesitancy of the prospect of 227 kg to 318 kg (500 to 700-pound) animals hanging out in our yard (referred to as a “garden” in South Africa) along with the cringe-worthy prospect of vicious baboons, venomous snakes and a wide array of venomous insects, flies, and mosquitos.  
 
In that post from March 16, 2012, I wrote in part:
 
“We ask ourselves so many questions, not so much to put a damper on our adventure but to maintain a sense of the reality of what is yet to come. “They say” that worry is a useless emotion. If worrying prompts or motivates one to take self-preserving steps, then worry has some unmitigated value.  


Overcoming fear is next in line. Fear in itself is a powerful motivator. The healthy self-love and appreciation we experience after overcoming fear are the greatest rewards life has to offer us in our continuing search for personal growth and self-discovery.”

Willie doesn’t care for carrots, celery tops, or apples. He likes pellets. He doesn’t usually “look,” begging for pellets as many animals do.
We both had lived our lives with a certain degree of risk, a sense of adventure, and occasional fear. Were we going to push ourselves to our limits by coming to South Africa for this ultimate adventure?  
 
It’s funny, now as we look back after spending almost two years in Africa, how our fears have lessened regarding the danger of animals and increased regarding danger from human beings. Ironic.
 
We’ve never felt afraid in Marloth Park, even when lions have crossed the barrier of the fence at the river and wandered the roads. Curfews were established during these periods, and everyone in the park kept a watchful eye, reporting any sightings.  
 
One wouldn’t necessarily go for a walk or ride a bike when lions have been sighted, and yet a foolhardy few don’t hesitate to embark on such activities during these periods.
When he wipes out the pellets on the ground, he often lies down near the clothesline, politely waiting should more pellets come his way.  It’s hard to resist giving him more.
It was only a few days ago when we posted the story of Jonas in the “year ago photo” who was attacked by a lion while riding his bike at night, on March 11, 1999, some 20 years ago. At that time, there was no fence between Marloth Park and Kruger National Park. It was frightening for the few residents who lived in the park at that time.
 
What do we fear now? Certainly not as much as we had in March 2012, the first month we began posting. We can narrow it down to only a few areas of concern; ill health (especially as of late), risks on travel days, and the possibility of crime-related incidences impacting our lives.  
 
It was only a few days ago, on March 13th we posted information on crimes that occurred in Marloth Park, as described in this post. As we’ve mentioned in many posts over the years, there is nowhere on this entire planet that is entirely safe.  
 
And yet, we make every attempt to surround ourselves with a positive state of mind while maintaining a degree of mindfulness and awareness of everything around us.
 
The most frightening experience thus far in the past years of travel? This. I continue to recover.
 
Be well. It means everything.
 
Photo from one year ago today, March 18, 2018:
This warthog appears to have been rolling in mud as she hangs out with male impala. For more photos, please click here.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate…Soon we’ll be in Ireland!…

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Mom and Baby bushbuck searching for pellets Tom tossed in the garden.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A “forkl” of kudu stopped by for some treats.  We had lettuce, celery tops and stems, and of course, plenty of pellets.

Finally, the antibiotics have begun to work on my infected legs.  I’m cautiously optimistic.  I’m able to walk a little more but certainly not back to the 40 minutes a day I’d been able to do before the infection sets in. I imagine in a few days. I’ll be able to return to the daily walking regiment and pick up where I left off, working toward 60 minutes daily.

It’s been 33 days since the surgery, with three weeks of healing in Marloth Park. In the past 24 hours, I’ve also noticed a dramatic improvement in how I feel overall. As I’m seated on the sofa in the lounge room with the fan blowing on me (hot day today), legs up on a pillow, I am almost feeling like my old self.

 No doubt, I still have a long way to go to a full recovery, but I now have a sense of an end to this process. I’ll incorporate the 60 minutes of walking each day going forward, continue eating a healthy diet, and strive to keep stress to a minimum.

Mom and Baby were joined by a male bushbuck near the cement pond.  Could this be Dad?

During the past 24 hours, both of us have been researching the next leg of our journey, Connemara, Ireland, a perfect location on the sea with plenty of opportunities for long walks and taking photos of the stunning surroundings.

Yesterday, Tom stumbled upon the following from this link:

“Dubbed a place of “savage beauty” by Oscar Wilde, the striking region of Connemara has been a landmark destination for anyone looking to experience authentic Ireland.”

“Located in the rugged west of Ireland, you could think of Connemara as a vault, where Ireland’s traditions are stored safely against the march of time. Passing through the desolate yet beautiful Doo Lough and Delphi Valleys, the landscape tumbles down to the dark waters of Killary Harbour, a stunning fjord framed by olive-colored mountains. It’s a sign that you’re somewhere extraordinary Truth be told, this romantic region, with its old stone walls, ponies, and wild landscape, is the very essence of Ireland: “Irish language, song, dance, and literature are all to be found in abundance here,” says Paula Lydon from the Connemara Heritage and History Centre. And she’s not wrong.

What makes Connemara different? That’s easy. Traditions are everywhere. Everything from the food on your plate to the music beating out of pubs is infused with a unique cultural heritage. These traditions are also reflected in the language – Connemara is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) region. You can have a go yourself by practicing a few words “cupla focal”), or even doing a course, but if you don’t fancy it, don’t panic. Everyone speaks English, too.Connemara’s National Park summarises all that makes this region so unique, and a great starting point for exploration has to be the Diamond Hill Loop Walk. Described as “a savage beauty” by wordsmith Oscar Wilde, Connemara can make your heart sing and the rest of the world melt away. It’s rural Ireland at its most dramatic, so absorb it all with a walk into nature. With the Atlantic on one side and the famous peaks of the Twelve Ben Mountains on the other, be prepared to stand in awe. But that’s what Connemara – and Ireland – is all about: letting go of the mundane and filling your heart with something quite remarkable.”

This couldn’t sound more enticing while we’re spending some of our time researching Tom’s ancestral history. What a magical-sounding place to live for almost three months as we conduct the research!

The little family of three politely shared the pellets.  Buckbucks are generally gentle and easy-going.

Here is the link to the house we’ve booked from May 12th to August 9th. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have this exciting opportunity ahead of us. Also, knowing this awaits us makes my recovery all the more motivating and uplifting.


Today, we’ll enjoy a quiet day, listening to Tom’s favorite podcast, “Garage Logic,” broadcast from Minnesota while I perform little tasks around the house as I can do more and more each day.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate and happy birthday to son Richard in Las Vegas, Nevada.

May your day be rich in laughter and merriment!

Photo from one year ago today, March 17, 2018:

Upon closer inspection, it was apparent. The boat trailer couldn’t fit across the Crocodile Bridge, our means of exit after a day in the park. We had taken an alternate route which took several extra hours. For more photos, please click here.

Is Plan B working?…Kissing and hugging…

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He appears well-nourished and healthy.  He doesn’t devour the pellets as quickly as the others.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Little came up on the veranda looking for me, already positioned on his knees for some treats.

How did I get so lucky to have these great doctors here in South Africa? Who would have thunk?

Yesterday when we went to see Dr. Theo check on the infected incisions in both of my legs, he greeted me with a kiss and a hug. He knows how grateful I am that he saved my life.  

I don’t recall a doctor kissing and hugging me in my old life except for an uncle who was a doctor. In the US, this could be construed as sexual harassment and considered totally inappropriate.  

It is common for men and women to greet those they like, love, or admire with the warmest of hugs and kisses. I love this! But, not here in South Africa.

Three female bushbucks are sharing pellets.

There was a time many years ago in Minnesota when my family doctor, Dr. Parsons, hugged me goodbye at my last appointment when he was retiring the next day. I was so touched by the hug that I hadn’t forgotten it two decades later.

I imagine some people prefer not to greet others with such physical warmth and affection.  Those people are easily spotted by their body language or simply tossing out a hand for a handshake. That’s OK too. That degree of affection may not be suitable for everyone.

For me, this warm greeting put me at ease. Of course, I’m concerned about the infections. Who wouldn’t be, especially after this big operation when so much can go wrong for many weeks or months following the surgery.

Dr. Theo Stronkhurst is quite a special human being and physician. He gave me his personal email and phone number, suggesting I call him with any concerns.  He gave me tremendous peace of mind, especially when he’s the man that saved my life.

After examining my legs, he felt I didn’t need to go into the hospital, but to ensure my safety, he took photos of my legs and sent them to the surgeon in Nelspruit.  

A fourth bushbuck enters the garden.  She is the one we call “Friend” since she never has a baby or a mate but hangs around with moms and babies. For all, we know she could be the grandma since her coat is littler and she looks older.

They both agreed I could be treated from here without a hospital stay but must follow all the guidelines we already had in place; the strongest antibiotics suitable for this type of infection to be taken every 12 hours, followed by a dose of prescription probiotics an hour later; a twice-daily antibacterial wash and antibiotic cream followed by the application of sterile bandages until the wounds close. Of course, this includes wearing the compression stockings until bedtime for at least the next two weeks.

As for the walking program, I can begin again as soon as the pain is lessened enough to do so.  In the interim, I must sit with my legs up atop a few pillows and get up frequently for short walks around the house.  

Another thing was to stop fighting taking the non-narcotic pain pills and get on a more regular schedule to “stay ahead” of the pain. Stress and discomfort impede the healing process. The pills make me sleepy and dumb me; I tried to tough it out, which is not recommended after this massive operation. I am totally dedicated to this routine.

This morning when Louise sent a message that there would be a power outage today beginning at 9:00 am, I got up knowing I needed to take off the bandages and send the photos promptly at 10 am. Fortunately, I had enough data left on the SIM card in my phone to send the photos.

Little entered the scene, anxious for more pellets;

I waited patiently for a response after the two doctors reviewed them together. No more than 15 minutes later, Theo sent an email stating I’m good for today, and they were both optimistic I would heal without further intervention. Tomorrow at 10 am, I’ll send more photos of the progression overnight and again wait to hear if I am good to continue as is.  

Knowing these two doctors are taking time out of their own weekends, both Saturday and Sunday, means the world to me. I feel I am in good hands.

After the appointment ended at 1730 hours (5:30 pm), we drove to Jabula to meet Kathy and Don and Linda and Ken for dinner. It was my first time out to dinner since the surgery, and no words can describe how warmly we were greeted with hugs and kisses by owners Dawn and Leon, their excellent staff, Lyn and Melissa, and more, and many patrons who’d dropped in for dinner and drinks. 

Wildebeest Wille gets along with everyone as long as they don’t confront him.

After a fantastic dinner and conversation as always, we headed home to get my feet up, eat my last piece of low-carb cheese pie and watch a few shows on my laptop to definitely be repeated tonight when Tom helps me bake a new pie today. Eating a slice of this pie is helping me maintain my weight which is essential after this surgery.

Tonight Tom is making taco salads on this hot and humid day. That sounds perfect to me!

And thanks to all of our worldwide readers for bearing with me and all of these health-related posts. In time, we’ll be back on the move again, in 56 days, to be exact.

Have a great weekend, and above all, be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 16, 2018:

This newspaper article appeared in yesterday’s local paper after we attended snake school. Tom did the snake-handling while I took notes and photos. For more details, please click here.

Today’s Plan B…Hospital or no hospital…How did this happen?…

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This morning when we opened the big wood doors, we had a dazzle of zebras waiting for breakfast.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

We were thrilled to see the return of a mating pair of hornbills.

It’s never quite good enough for me to blindly accept a scenario that causes ill health and other problems in our day-to-day lives. I’ve always strived to discover the “why” in a determined attempt to avoid a similar scenario in the future.

As far as the necessity of my having to have coronary bypass surgery, I’ve been on a mission, reading (from reliable sources, not the general public) as much as I can find, listening to medical podcasts, and watching medical videos in what may be a futile attempt to answer the question, “Why me?”

In the realm of things, anyone can wonder why they experienced any problematic situation only to come up empty-handed, leaving the answer to “chance.” But over the years, I’ve learned a hard lesson, as many of us have…when it comes to unpleasant interactions among people..we have the power to avoid emotionally painful situations. We can only control how we feel, not how someone else should feel or behave.

However, when it comes to health, the “why” becomes more complex. Injuries, illness, and medical crises of most types may have been lessened or obliterated by one’s carefulness and diligence.  
Note the two youngsters with little interest in the pellets.

Get sick on a cruise? “Did I fail to wash my hands frequently enough or did I shake hands or hug someone who was carrying germs?”

 Break a leg while skiing? “Was I showing off or taking risks beyond my expertise?”

 Had a heart attack? “What lifestyle changes could I have made for a different outcome?”

 Of course, there are all those dreadful diseases one can acquire where it appears, the patient played no role in developing. Was it heredity, bad luck, or random cases of the universe playing tricks on us? No doubt, we can’t control it all.

But as I look back over the years I have to take full responsibility for my three blocked arteries and the consequences of the necessity of this enormous surgery. I knew about the hereditary factor on my mother’s side of the family, succumbing to hearts attacks, strokes, diabetes, and a myriad of other inflammatory diseases. Why didn’t I do something about that?

 I thought I was on a path to longevity when from a young age I exercised, maintained a healthy diet and weight, didn’t abuse drugs or alcohol, and quit smoking (only occasionally with a glass of wine or a cocktail) decades ago.

 But, stress which plays a role in building plaque in the arteries, typical for Type A personalities like me, was a huge contributor and I made little effort to avert it in my hectic lifestyle before we embarked on this journey.

 In the ’90s our medical plan offered a discount on a full-body arterial scan and foolishly I refused to do it thinking I couldn’t possibly have blocked arteries. Tom went ahead to discover he had zero plaque in his arteries and gained a lot of peace of mind. Did I avoid the test for fear of what may be found? 

 I thought I was exempt from heart disease based on my lifestyle. How wrong I was! Had I known this 20 years ago, would I have been able to change the progression of atherosclerosis? Possibly, to avoid what I’ve been experiencing of late.

So, the infection in both of my legs? Could I have avoided this? I showered when I was told I could. I applied sterile bandages when the wounds were weeping. I walked as directed, took all the medication as directed, and made every effort to rest and sleep.

And then, there were 12.

In the past 24 hours, it dawned on me why I most likely got the infection in my legs. The following notice was posted on Facebook on March 5 notifying local residents that the water supply, although not drinkable by our standards (we only drink purified bottled water), was finally in a safe state, fit for human use.
Here’s the post from that date from a local official:

March 5 at 12:44 PM

WATER TEST RESULTS: As you can see below the water test results of Dec 2018 showed that our water was not fit for human consumption as the coliform markers were too high, which meant fecal contamination. This marker/contamination could have made senior citizens, children, and people with low immune systems sick as per the lab scientists. BUT I had it retested now in Feb 2019 and now it is compliant and fit for human consumption. I also asked them to do ph, chlorine, etc. tests as well to see if our water could be the source of the rash and itching experienced by many owners/visitors. As can be seen, nothing in the water results points to a possible cause for rash/itch. I will, however, take samples personally at different points and have them tested personally to make double sure when I come down next week to Marloth. I will report back to all as to the results. Would I personally drink the water? No. Too much sewerage and waste are being deposited into our rivers in this day and age. But ultimately it is each owner/visitor’s prerogative if they want to drink the water or not. A Health Department representative will meet with me on Monday 11th March at the municipal boardroom in Marloth Park at 10 am to research the rash/itch situation. I will post about this shortly. I will be receiving and posting a monthly water test result for all to peruse.”

Could it be that when returning from the hospital 20 days ago and taking my first shower since February 12th, the day of the surgery (when I was instructed to shower from head to toe three times with a strong anti-bacterial soap) that this dirty water here in Marloth Park entered the still open incisions to cause the infection?

It was only about three days later that I began to feel more pain in my legs. We’d even gone as far as heading to our local doctor two weeks ago when the pain had escalated in my legs since returning to Marloth Park. There was no evidence of infection at that appointment, although the wounds looked bad and felt worse.

I knew about the bad water. I should never have taken the first shower. I should have been using bottled water until the wounds closed. I knew better. Why didn’t I listen to my instincts?

They stayed in the garden for over an hour while Tom continued to toss pellets their way.

Lesson learned?  Yes, those instincts of ours tend to be in our hearts and minds for a reason.  I’ve promised myself to pay more attention, be more mindful, and stop trying to avoid facing uncomfortable facts.

That’s the problem with us “overly bubbly” types. We can easily be accused of putting our heads in the sand. By the way, ostriches do not put their heads in the sand.  Going forward, nor will I.

Plan B for today…at 1645 hours (4:45 pm) today I have an appointment with Dr. Theo (for a second opinion) to see if he thinks I need to go into the hospital. If he says I do, then I will. If not, I’ll continue with the current regimen of antibiotics, probiotics, and twice daily application of an antibiotic wash and cream as directed.  

Now that I know the “why” I can exact the “what” to put all of this behind me in due time.
               

Photo from one year ago today, March 15, 2018:
Four waterbucks were sunning on sandbars on the Crocodile River. For more river photos, please click here.