So, the thing we were trying to avoid above everything else happened.  During a routine check up with Greg's surgical podiatrist, we discovered that he had an infection on the side of his foot.  The infection had been cultured and it was MRSA.  Greg had been having trouble with the oral antibiotics so it was decided that he would go into the hospital for what was supposed to be 3 days of IV Antibiotics.  

From there things only got worse.  We had an hospitalist and an infectious disease doctor telling us that the best course of action was amputation of his right leg.  Well half his leg to be exact.  His Vascular Surgeon and his Surgical Podiatrist disagreed.  We had to make a decision on whom we trusted more and since we knew the Vascular Surgeon and the Surgical Podiatrist who had been taking of him a few years, we opted with their opinion.  We know fondly refer to this episode in our Medical Odyssey as dueling doctors. 

Greg was admitted on June 29th and discharged on July 5th.  Greg spent another holiday in a hospital. This has become habit and we are actually pretty used to it by now (the holiday hospital stays.)  He was on the 5th floor as usual, however, he was in the West Wing as the East Wing was housing Covid-19 patients.  They had the doors to that wing on lock down and I could see the doctors and other medical staff walking around fully garbed in PPE (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT) It was surreal.  As many of you know, we have spent a lot of time in hospitals but never saw anything like this before. It felt like we had arrived on a different planet.  You had to be screen before you could get into the hospital.  Normally visiting hours are very liberal. You could come and go as you please when you pleased.  They never seemed to put a limit on visitors and you could stay over on the convenient couch type bed they have in the alcove of each room.  

This time I was told that over night stays were discouraged unless we lived more than 2 hours away.  Also, none Covid Patients were only allowed 2 visitors a day and only 1 visitor at a time.  

That stay at St. Thomas Hospital Resort totaled $46,627.55 and other than an X-ray of his foot, a CT of his leg, a sonogram of his leg and an MRI of his leg, the only other treatment he received was IV antibiotics.  

I am embedding the bill here as it is really quite astounding what medical care costs these days. 
​

Anyhow, Greg was released to come home with both legs and feet on July 5th, 2020. On July 30th, we had a follow-up appointment with his surgical podiatrist and he was very impressed with his foot.  His doctor is going on vacation for the next 2 weeks and has made Greg promised not to hurt his feet while he is gone. If only it were that simple, he would never have a foot ulcer.  We will do our best.  

We have been working on a new song called 'FIREFLY".  We are hoping to get it demo' d soon so we can share it. It is a love song and I think it is quite pretty but then again, I am absolutely bias. 

Talk again soon my dear friends and thanks for reading.  I used to work with this great guy named Gig. He passed away a few years ago after spending like 10 days on a respirator.  After I started working with him doing PR, he asked where I lived.  I told him I live in McMinnville, TN.  He was blown away as he had stayed in a cabin in the mountains in McMinnvilile and wrote a song.  He said he absolutely fell in love with the place. He thought our working together was Serendipitous.  He remains missed by many.  I would like to share his song "Changes" right here.  Listen and you will hear him mention 'McMinnville, TN"  If you haven't subscribed to my YouTube Channel, please do. Since I am not working because of Covid, I will be adding lots of great music to the channel. Some HIT MUSIC - ROCK & ROLL - CLASSIC ROCK - 90'S COUNTRY AND MORE!  As always, please click on the ADS on this website because it helps me earn money and boy would that be helpful.