“Nurse Elsa! It’s a nice day, let’s enjoy the porch.”
“It’s good to see you, Fredrick. Healthy still?”
“Yes, my surgery was a huge success. How are you? Your cane suggests…”
“I have the same condition.”
“Bone spurs in your L4 and L5? I’m so sorry to hear this.”
“The pain is crippling, but the surgery….”
“Ah, it scares you. It was your encouragement that got me through it.”
“So you said. My Henry passed, eight months ago, leaving me – alone. I thought of you.”
“Take my hand Elsa. It would be my honor to get you through this.”
Inspired by Charli Mill’s Carrot Ranch, #99WordStory Challenge
and her prompt of October 24, 2022: “Bone’
Gary A Wilson Stories 
In the words of Sir Mick, “We all need someone we can lean on”. Lovely story, Gary. I know I can relate.
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Ah- were you the hand-holder or holdee? 😃 😊
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I’ve had a lot of people come into my life and a lot leave. I have leant a hand as many times as I’ve borrowed one. If we’re lucky, it’s all reciprocal in our lives, isn’t’ it? 🤝
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As have I. Before my memory completely failed, I decided to capture most of the professional path God sent me down. I thought you might enjoy it as it was something of a whirlwind of a life.
https://garyawilsonstories.wordpress.com/my-big-accomplishment/
Thanks for engaging my story
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Many thanks
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My face made one of those happy-sad pouts at the end. Nice response to the prompt, Gary.
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This 99-word limit is almost always a mix of literature and shoehorning. Each effort is just that – an effort, fun, but work.
My response was easy, because I was that guy facing his first major surgery. I was in pain as they put me to sleep but woke up with it fully gone. I hope you never have a similar experience.
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Yes, I assumed you were the inspiration for this piece. I recall we spoke of it at some point . . .
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Nice beginning for a love story – complete with bone spurs. 🙂 Sorry you had to undergo something like that. It sounds super painful.
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Twas no fun – I promise you. But my story is so mild compared to what many others endure, so I’m more thankful than anything else.
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Love this one!!
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Hi Kirstin,
I recall my own battle with these buggers almost every morning when I put my shoes on without excruciating pain. My back was a mess and the surgery was unbelievably successful.
Thanks for giving it a read.
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Having browsed the comments, Gary, I’m pleased to see your surgery was successful. A friend just had a similar experience – dreadful pain until the surgery, pain-free after. He couldn’t believe the difference.
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Indeed. It sounds like a very similar version of what I went through. I was trying to get my brain around how I wasn’t going to make my family miserable taking care of me because I almost could not move, or get comfortable without crippling pain. I woke up from the anesthesia as they wheeled me away from the surgical room and through the fog of coming around could feel the area they worked on and the meatball of pain was gone. It was miraculous – I was walking pain free within 90 minutes. and I recovered from the actual surgery so quickly. Bravo for your friend. I get what he went through and am thrilled to know of another person delivered from that nightmare.
Thanks for giving my story a read and for engaging the thoughts behind it.
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It’s great to hear good news about surgeries, Gary. I’m so pleased to hear yours was successful. I hope it gives you no more bother.
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