Curtis in Hospital

So, yesterday I was just working away at work when I get the following text from Curtis

"Hi. Fyi. Long story but I have a colapsed lung. going in for surgery tonite and will be in the hospital for the week. Royal alex. So you know"

followed by my response

"What?!?! Just tried to call you. No answer. Can u call me?"

followed by his response

"can't talk in the emerg room. Waiting on a room. Surgery tonite. No issues"

No issues, are you kidding?!?!? As you might well expect I thought there were major issues. What happened was Curtis had a cyst on his lung. The Dr. told him that he has most likely had it from birth. It ruptured during the wee hours of the morning on April 18. He spent the night in pain and short of breath until he headed to emerg in Devon around 5:30 am. They proceeded to rush him to the Royal Alex Hospital in Edmonton where all of this was diagnosed. The little bugger of a cyst had put a tiny hole in his lung when it ruptured and this little hole was leaking air/fluid and all sorts of other bad shit into his chest cavity, which in turn, collapsed his lung and caused the shortness of breath and pain. Apparently this is a fairly common problem for tall skinny men that smoke, not withstanding the cyst.

He had surgery last night and the kids and I were there shortly after he woke up, along with his girlfriend Shawna, who was with him most of the day. He was in considerable pain and we didn't stay long, but just wanted him to know that we were there for him and so that the kids could see that he was OK. I have called and checked on him this morning and the unit station said that he slept well and was looking good this morning.

So, I don't know how much experience you all have with this situation, but let me tell you, it is a little weird going to visit your ex in the hospital with your kids while his girlfriend, that you have only met once, is there as well. I didn't really know what to do. I didn't want to offend anyone, but once I was there, instincts just sort of took over and my hoodie came off and I was right in the mix making sure that he had everything he needed, was he in pain? How bad was the pain? Was someone bringing something for it? Had he had morphine before? How was the surgery? Did he remember anything? The weirdest part was I would talk to Shawna about him like her wasn't there and I talked to Curtis about Shawna like she wasn't there. It wasn't something anyone did on purpose, it just sort of happened.

Now, with all that being said I don't want to give anyone the impression that I have any feelings towards Curtis at all except friendship and more often complete frustration. Seriously, I quite frequently want to kick him. It was just weird. We spent the first 18 years of our adulthood together as a couple. Even though he would tell you I don't know him, I know him pretty well and he and Shawna have only been together for about six months. I didn't know what to do and finally just did what I thought was right and be damned with all the rest. I called his Mom so that she knew I knew and checked in with her to make sure she was OK because I knew she would be freaking out. I knew that Shawna had already spoken to her, but I needed to check in too.

Claire and I are going to go back tonight after we drop Daniel off at karate. I assume Shawna will be there when we arrive or shortly after and I am just going to pretend that Curtis and I have no history other than friendship and try to get to know her better, as a person. You know, where she grew up, how many siblings she has, how are her kids, etc. This is my plan. I hope that I can stick to it, but you know me, shoot first and analyze the situation and ask questions later.

Shawna and I have to get along for the sake of Claire and Daniel and I think for our own sanities as well. Curtis is moving in with her and her kids starting June 1, but I will save that blog discussion for another day. Let's just say it is a good thing that I am still " a fully medicated, functioning adult".