Here’s what happened. No pity party, just the facts.
I’m crazy anemic. On top of that, I’m leaking blood somewhere, and this wimpy system got hit with a virus that was less like “the flu,” more like “the Invasion of Normandy.” The triple-threat was disastrous.
I sort of knew I was kind of anemic; I remember a doctor saying something about this years ago. But I didn’t know it was a big deal and I figured it was related to surgeries. Mild anemia is not a big deal, but severe anemia is and it’s not just related to surgeries. Anemia, by the way, is “a condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.” I’ve always been pasty and pale; now I know there’s a reason I look like a character cut from Twilight. When taping the TV show last year, I caught myself on the monitor standing next to a tanned, Texas-dwelling Liz Porter and scared the badoobies out of myself; I was practically translucent by comparison.
The headache came on Thursday night, an H.R. Geiger creature trying and failing to claw its way out of my head (the failing part made it try harder, see.) I do remember things — spinal taps don’t fade from memory quickly — but it’s all in patches, including a visit from my Chicago GI doctor one of the days I was at Northwestern. Dr. Yun asked me, “Mary, what the heck is going on with you??” I remember croaking out, “I have to get on a plane to D.C. tomorrow morning” and she basically laughed me out of the building. My mother came in from Iowa; if you said you’d give me five million dollars to tell you when she arrived, I would not be able to take that money home. My sister and her fiance visited; I remember stories they told me of their visit to India, but when did they come? How long did they stay? I remember texting three people, one time each, but I can’t remember one of the people I texted and I have no idea what I said. A friend came to visit and all I remember is him opening his mail. I blogged twice and I am so afraid to read those entries for fear they were absolutely unintelligible.
They did an upper GI. They did another pouchoscopy. They did a CT of my brain. No bleeding so far. They tried an MRI but I pressed the panic button; the congestion in my chest was so bad, I couldn’t breathe outside of a head-locking, skull-screw, mask device; inside one, I was a basket case. I’ll reschedule that and the pelvic ultrasound.
So there you have it. Tomorrow, lighter fare. Now I must rest. I am in D.C. again, horizontal, unable to move anything but my fingers. They’re fine! I feel like I got punched in the ribs and someone has been beating my organs with a fish.
View From The Ant. | Mary Fons
[…] yesterday evening, I did have to sit down on it for a minute. I’m feeling quite poorly. I think it’s iron. I saw the dog ear pile and thought it would make a good picture from a level perspective. […]
Karla Seymour
I don’t watch the show hardly ever. It is not the same. the hosts are a poor substitute in my opinion. I miss you and your daughter…. I Pray for a miracle for you and for your whole family to receive peace t his ‘Christmas season.
Nancy Vaughn
I have missed you on the program and wondered what was occurring. What a frightening experience. Glad to know you are being well cared for.
Betty
I am also missing you on the show. No Fons! Are you still having issues that will not allow you to be on the show? Just concerned so for you and hope you are okay.
Anna Wallace
Marry I hope you are getting better. I enjoyed your Enthusiasm . in helping us learn new and old tricks . I hope your able to come back if only to say hi. You and your mother have made Saturday’s something to look forward to.
Inez Keatts
So sorry you are not on show any more and sorry for what you have been through. Hope you are recuperating and will be better soon.
Gail
Mary the show is not the same without you. Hope you are soon back. One of the few things in life that I look forward to!
Linda H Frederick
I have wondered where you were. Bless your heart.
I really miss your quirkiness. I will remember you in my prayers.
Ray Burke
WOW. I am totally ignorant. I have missed you on the show and assumed something was wrong. Sad to hear it and am praying for you..
Margaret
OH NO! ! Take heart. I hope you recover quickly, stay healthy forever, and return to the show with your usual pizzaz. I’ll be waiting to see you on my PBS station. I’m old, so don’t make me wait too long; I’ll forget what I’m waiting for.
Rebecca Frasier
Love your comment… I actually laughed out loud because this is exactly how I feel about Mary and her mom! Love them!
Pam Vick
Hi Mary,
Hope you are feeling better. Really miss seeing you on the show and wish you a speedy recovery.
Marcia
Everyone filling in is very nice but not you! Miss seeing you on the show. More important, get better and be happy!!!!
Laurie d'Ault
I have missed you so much, Mary. I had hoped you were busy having a baby or something. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery and pray for your family to be able to cope with all of this
Wanda Raphael
It is my sincerest hope that you are making excellent progress in your recovery. Have no idea what your spiritual position is, but because you have still have your purpose to complete, my prayer is that “…with long life will He satisfy you and show you His salvation.” Ps 91. I like all the messages posted, I miss your wonderful personality, encouragement and instruction. We’re waiting for you at the victory line!
Mary Schneider
I too miss seeing you on the Quilting show. I am so sorry to hear of your illness, and I will pray for your speedy recovery. In fact, I will ask my Church prayer group (160+ people) to pray for your recovery and a resolution of all symptoms.
Susan Jardine
Sorry to hear about all that. I am praying for your recovery and renewal of strength. Miss you on the show.
Stacy Withrow
Hi Mary,
Canada is just now showing the 2900 series on PBS and I am missing your “presence” on the show. Just wanted to let you know how much I have learned and enjoyed the episodes over the years.
We would love to see you up in Calgary if your adventures lead this way. The Canadian Rockies are therapeutic!
I just watched your last quilty video and it was great. Love the “love” behind quilts. They are the songs of fabric.
Wish you well in health and future creative projects.
TIme for me to stop typing and start stitching.
Stacy
Claudia Donolli
Dear Mary keep strong. Use your sense of humor. Try Milk of magnesia, (over the counter) my husband’s wife had a stomach and the skin was raw. The nurse treated it with milk of magnesia and next day honey. Her hubby, my hubby now uses it on rashes. Clears them up fast! Best wishes. Love you and your attitude. PS I am the lady that said grow your hair many years ago. Lol
You looked so pretty with longer hair! Love and best wishes Claudia
Sue Alexander
Just thinking of you today and wishing you good health.
Prayers are offered, too! Let your body continue to heal and hope to see you back on the show one day!
Gloria W Lema
Dear Mary, My wish is that you are regaining your strength and feeling a lot better when this message gets to you. I was searching on you tube for how to cut fabrics and your “my quilt” video popped up so I took a look and loved that “Washington” pattern. To make a long story short, I quickly tried to find the pattern for it and had so much difficulty until I came upon your blog. and found out that you were having health issues. I am so sorry to hear that. Actually, I too have been losing blood and do not know where from. It is a quandary. I too have done many tests, have had the panic attack in the MRI machine, but the technician calmed me down and I went ahead with the test. I don’t know what else to do either. My hemoglobin fluctuates from 7.3 to 11 and I am not your age I am 71. Quite a few years ago I went on your Caribbean cruise with my redheaded friend Marie. You and your Mom were there and we had so much fun. We truly enjoyed the sewing and still have the quilts we made and the plastic bags with the red binding you gave us. Marie and I approached your table and took photos with you and your mom and a few other ladies. Mary, I wish you the very best and hope and pray that you’re up and around soon. You and your mom and others are an inspiration to many of us who really love to quilt. Take care of yourself sweetie and God Bless you and your lovely family.
Donna
Mary, I am sorry to hear you are not doing well. I have missed you on the show and was wondering what happened. , I do not watch the show much anymore because they don’t have your Enthusiasm. I do enjoy seeing your mother on the show but it’s not the same when you are not there too! I will keep you in my prayers.
Patti Cantrell
HI Mary – hope you are resting well and feeling better! I, like Donna, do not watch much of the show any more except for the Tips. It just doesn’t seem much like “Love of Quilting” any more without the “Fons and Porter”… I have recently retired and getting back into quilting full force. Hang in there and get better! Looking forward to seeing you back up and about, and on the show soon!!
Leslie shattles
I am so sorry, hope by now you are doing some better….I too am like the rest, it is not the same without you and you Mother and an once and a while visit from Liz. It took awhile to get use to you on the show, I can’t lie, but you grew on me…..hope to see the show back to “Normal” soon….
Mary
I’m so sorry to hear of your poor health and like all the rest miss you on the show. It really isn’t the same. I hope a treatment to help you is on the near horizon. Try to remain strong.
Elizabeth Boettcher
Oh dear that is not very good Mary. I myself am fighting something with my health but no one has put a finger on it as yet so I do understand the helpless feeling we feel when we are unable to preform out daily tasks. I am so sorry to hear of your condition and do hope and pray that you will soon be feeling all better and on your feet for Christmas. You and your mom have become like family to us and my husband always says around 2-2:30 on an afternoon, go and turn on Fons and Porter you need to rest ): You two always brighten up my day and are greatly missed but thank you that the show still goes on but its not like when you are there, so relaxed and with a good sense of humour. We all love you and you will surely be on my prayer list. Take Care, relax is the best medicine and eat lots of spinach and kelp, Not too much kelp for that can cause thyroid issues. beet and those exotic extras ): All in moderation. When you are in the hospital you will have to ask for them here in Canada but in the US it may be different.
Jodi Dykes
So sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. I don’t get to watch the show often but had noticed that you hadn’t been on the few times I was able to. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Leslye McCulloch
Mary, I a. I like many have lost interest in the show without you are m so sorry that you or your mother. The subs are okay, but just not the same. I watch the show just for the Tips, but it’s not the same. Good well soon and let’s get you back on the show. I love your bubbly personality.
Linda Bothwell
Mary – I’m very saddened about your health. I “very much” miss seeing you & your enthusiasm on the show. I’m sure that those
Love of Quilting “stand-ins” support you whole-heartedly – – it’s not quite the same though. I still support the show but miss you very much. There’s power in prayer so pray continually & trust our wonderful Lord and Savior. You’ll be in my prayers too.
JoAnn V-Ray
OMG, it’s you and your Mom today (1/29/18)!!! I record the show and then “watch” it at night so I can’t call my sister until tomorrow…I am so excited and happy to see you BOTH. Like for many others the show is not the same w/o you. I am so sorry but you cannot be replaced…it’s SO BORING without you. We’ve been praying for you Mary and praying for your return. It’s been GREAT to see your Mommy occasionally. Love ya Girl!
Angie Graeber
This show has suffered tremendously since Quilting Company took control. I’m seeing the same thing over and over and nothing new. And we all know there’s always something new in the quilting world! I can’t even watch old episodes of the show without paying. Whaaaat?
frances avilas
miss you on the show. get well soon!!
wanda russell
Mary so sorry about your illnesd. I have really missed you on the show, but your health and well-being is more important. I very seldom watch anymore, since you are not on there. Frankly I donot like the host on there now. I hope you are making a full recovery. And wish you the best in life. Will be praying for God to heal you. Miss your beautiful smile. God Bless!