Joyce's KP Adventure mikepasini.com headlines
Another Lunch at Home
23 July 2025
We had to skip our Wednesday lunch at home last week because Joyce had a debridement instead. I didn't want to wear her out.
And we almost had to postpone this week's Wednesday lunch at home because Julian, who is the transport guy who gets me the pass for Joyce to leave, was nowhere to be seen all week.
Until today. But today he was wearing a cast on his left arm. He'd had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his wrist that had been bothering him for years. And he couldn't drive. Not good for a transport guy.
After commiserating with him, I asked about a pass. The nice nurse at the desk who has been sneaking me high protein Boosts, volunteered to call Dr. Dimaano to get permission for Joyce to go out for lunch.
I might have asked her all along, it turns out. But none of this is very clear. It wasn't clear at Golden Pavilion and it isn't clear at Golden Heights.
You absolutely never see the doctor so you rely on the people who have actual access. Somehow. And Julian seems to know where all the switches and levers are. So I'm always asking him how to get things to happen.
Anyway, the nice nurse (whose name badge I have never been able to read) came to Joyce's room as she was dressing to tell me she could go home for lunch. No document, nothing to sign, just a verbal.
So we did. She walked to the car, got in, we drove home, she got out, climbed the stairs, vaulted over the threshold and walked over to the dining room where she sat in her chair.
She had a Greek yogurt followed by a bowl of minestrone. We ended the meal with an espresso. She ate everything.
It was the first day the sun broke through all week, too. So she had a nice view of the ocean. And there were some dramatic clouds in the sky, too.
After lunch we discussed a few things we have to do (like pick a wedding present) before she got up, walked to the door, vaulted the threshold again, made it down the stairs and over to the car, got in and we drove back.
Back in her room she had her prune juice and ice cream before a high protein Boost to round out the midday meal. Then she brushed her teeth and off I went.
She hasn't been getting the scheduled toileting, she says. That and eating are two of the gateways to getting home. I keep assuming I'll be in better shape by then.
But the funny thing is that while we were at the house, Kaiser called. For me. Trying to make an appointment for my annual wellness visit. Which, of course, involves blood tests. But I don't have a day free at the moment, I explained.
I did ask the caller to let my doctor know that I still have double vision and CTscan due in September. I haven't been able to message her because the system keeps asking me to go paperless and if I don't agree, it just asks again.
But I'm hoping neither Joyce nor I will remain in this endless loop much longer.