Back in the ER for possible UTI.
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Back in the emergency room today with Ed, and it’s never easy to see him in this place again. At 93 years old, every trip here feels heavier, filled with worry and an aching tenderness for the man who has always been my pillar. This time, the doctors suspect a possible urinary tract infection, something that might seem small in younger people, but in someone his age, it can quickly become serious. The waiting, the tests, the monitoring—it all feels like a long road we’ve walked too many times before. Yet, even as fatigue weighs on us, there’s an unshakable determination to fight for his comfort, his health, and his dignity.
Ed sits quietly, sometimes restless, sometimes calm, his eyes wandering as if caught between this world and the memories of another time. I can see that he feels fragile, but there’s still that spark, that undeniable presence that reminds me of who he has always been. The staff move gently around him, adjusting IVs, taking vitals, whispering reassurances. For me, though, each beep of the machines feels like a reminder of both his vulnerability and his resilience.
A UTI can bring confusion, fever, and weakness, and I notice the toll it’s already taking on him. He seems more tired, his energy lower, his words fewer—but I also catch moments of recognition in his gaze, a squeeze of his hand that tells me he’s still here, still fighting, still reaching out through the fog. Those small gestures are everything; they’re reminders that love continues to bridge the spaces where illness tries to intrude.
We’ve been through hospital visits before, and though I wish we weren’t here again, I know these moments are part of the journey of caring for someone in their later years. Each time, I’m reminded to treasure his presence, to honor the life he’s lived, and to stay strong for him when he cannot be strong for himself. Tonight, as we wait for results and the plan ahead, my heart is heavy but also hopeful. Whatever tomorrow brings, Ed is not alone—he has love beside him, and that makes all the difference.
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