After two and a half weeks of waiting, Lou finally had an appointment with the doctor who did his surgery. 

The first step was to see if Lou could pass urine on his own. So a urology nurse removed Lou’s catheter, and he had to wait to see if he could go. I was sitting in the waiting room (with the yellow donut by my feet), pretending to read a magazine when a very elated Lou came out into the lobby wearing his jeans, and a huge smile on his face. 

“I can pee, Baby! I can pee!”

All of the other men seated in the waiting area seemed happy for Lou — in fact, I remember one guy giving Lou a high five. (You’ll never understand how lucky you are to be able to pee on your own until you or someone you love can’t.) Needless to say, this was great news!  

Of course, Lou’s doctor wasn’t crazy about the idea of Lou getting on a plane that afternoon, but I don’t think either of us cared at that point. Well… I did. But, I really wanted to leave that depressing dorm room and get back to Dona’s welcoming home, so I didn’t indulge the doctor’s concerns.

But before we left the urology office, I finally had my chance to ask this doctor all of my questions. I had a list of questions that I felt needed answers, but as soon as I had my chance, I was totally blank. I suddenly realized that I didn’t need to know anymore. Lou was on the road to recovery, and that was good enough for me. 

So Lou and I said thank you and goodbye to his doctor, and then cleared out of that dumpy dorm room. Lou was a free man, and we both had high hopes that this was going to be the end of a very long nightmare.