It’s been six months since I entered the hospital and got transferred from one rehabilitation center to another, but I think I may have finally licked the worst of my ailments and am ready to join my old household. I still have trouble walking from one room to another, and I need assistance from someone walking behind me while climbing up the stairs.
I can’t drive, but I have my son Nicholas, who lives with me, to travel to the stores and pick up what I need. And one of the grandkids scoops out the cat litter box, and another carries trash out from the kitchen and trash cans from our two bathrooms.
You don’t know how much someone like me misses his favorite television programs, and I praise the angels for delivering me back to my bedroom, where my trusty Panasonic television lets me see the shows. Among them are “The Lincoln Lawyer,” “Manifest,” and the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC.
What caused all of this? I got another bout of pneumonia, which physicians had trouble curing. After one or two months, they discovered there were “smudges” or some sort of marks on both of my lungs. I was discharged from a rehabilitation center back to the hospital for more treatments.
Leg Injured while in a Hospital Bed
The worst part was what happened to my right leg while I was in the hospital bed, and the attendants failed to move my body from leaning so heavily on the leg. I couldn’t walk without excruciating pain in the top of the leg. Rehabilitation workers secured a walker and a wheelchair for me to use to go from my bedroom to the gym for physical and occupational therapy.
I got pretty good with the walker, but insisted they train me with a cane. (No way in h*ll was I going to use a walker in my Conshohocken home.) I stopped using the cane about a week ago when it improved.
Medical insurance, or lack thereof, is killing me. I got hit with a $10,000 bill from the last rehab center, and the amount increased to $14,000 a week later. I told the social worker at the center that they should bill the Veterans Association of Philadelphia, which has handled all of my treatments for more than 10 years, after they determined that I was 100 percent disabled. Apparently, no one followed up on it.
Gotta Fight the Enormous Medical Bill
I am now seeking a lawyer to fight the medical bill. I just don’t want to bankrupt the little retirement funds that I have built up at age 76.
Wish me luck on this “No Kings Day,” and my opposition to medical fees about to skyrocket.
Contoveros 
Michael, I am so glad to know you are home and healing. I am so very sorry this has happened. I am sending you lots of care and prayers on your healing journey and in the legal process.
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Thank you so very much. It’s so good to know there will be forces outside of us helping to heal all of us!
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❤️❤️This is very true. I love your beautiful approach to life. ❤️❤️
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Very sorry to hear you’re going through this, brother. Glad to hear you’ve escaped the cane but man – sometimes it doesn’t rain, it pours.
My heartfelt wish is that you and your lawyer get past this recent ridiculousness about the health bills, in due haste. Faster you can put this behind you completely, the better.
And feel better, Michael.
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You got that right about the storm that had just hit me. I hope a good lawyer can help me so that I can really put this all behind me.
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Oh Michael, sending you so much love and prayers. I don’t know what to say. I am devastated to hear that you are going through so much. The blessing of having your son and grandchildren around… thank goodness! The money thing is hard… but don’t let it near your spirit. Stay beautiful. ❤️🤗
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“Thank Goodness is right!” You never know how comforting a family can be until you really need them to help you heal and appreciate their good works.
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The following comments were shared on my Facebook page recently:
Mingo Stroeber
Oh my. So sorry that you have had this challenging health issue Mike. Very happy to learn that you are home and improving. Continued good health to you.
Michael J Contos
Thank you. Home is indeed where the heart is and how it can help speed up my recovery.
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Patricia Muronoff Kalafut
I’m so happy you’re improving. I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through. Love you dear friend and look forward to the day we can all get together again. It sounds like you have a wonderful son and family. Enjoy those grandkids and let them spoil you.
Michael J Contos
Enjoying the family helps with the cure every day!
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Luba Schmid
So glad to hear you’re on the mend after such an ordeal. I hope the hospital bills issue gets resolved for you quickly. You have good people around you to help and support you. That’s a blessing. Praying for your continued recovery. Nothing like coming home!
Michael J Contos
I am taking steps toward my recovery every day. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
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Jacquelyn Smith Glad you are feeling better. Get Well Soon!
Michael J Contos
One step at a time helps me feel better each time!
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Kathleen McPeake Gilliano
So happy to hear this!
Michael J Contos
“Walk like a man, fast as you can.” That’s the song by the Four Seasons that echoes inside.
Good to hear from you and tell you that I follow your comments here all the time.
Give my best to everyone and tell them I miss everyone from the old neighborhood.
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Bruce Saul
I did not know you were having some health issues. Glad to hear you are finally on the mend.
Michael J Contos
It’s taken a while but I grew up near the Philadelphia Zoo and learned to overcome visits there by just walking a little just like we did near Girard Avenue.
Good to hear from you, my friend, and look forward to the days when I can walk a little faster perhaps to the Philadelphia Art Museum!
Bruce Saul
Michael J Contos
If you are ever in the Warminster area, please let me know. I would love to see you after all these years.
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Jim Drum
Get well soon.
Michael J Contos
That’s exactly what I am working at – getting well as soon as possible.
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Terri Kiral
So glad to hear you are home. What a long trek it’s been for you. Sending tons of healing vibes that your health will continue to improve and that the financial situation will be resolved. Hugs to you, Michael. 
Michael J Contos
I hear one of the Beach Boys’ songs as I read your comment. That’s because you are sending me “Good, Good, Good Vibrations.”
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Bill Reinecke
Oh lord. Best to you Michael.
Michael J Contos
Thank you, my journalism friend. You know I had to eventually write about it as if I was still at the old Pottstown Mercury Newspaper.
Bill Reinecke
Michael J Contos
Of course!
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Kathleen McPeake Gilliano
Mike what happen that you got so sick???
Michael J Contos
I had a second bout of pneumonia some three months after the first one and it was all downhill from there. I am just hoping I distanced myself away from it this time.
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Christina Bradley
So sorry Mike but you are richly Blessed with FAMILY
Michael J Contos Sometimes all you can hope for is just that: a Blessed Family!
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Wishing you a quick recovery, Michael.
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Thank you so much. sometimes we forget the real treasure that WordPress offers us to just share our thoughts and concerns and reap all the responses that always make you feel so good.
Keep up the good work my friend!
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what a travail. Thank you for sharing this Michael. Best to you in this Odyssey.
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Quite an odyssey indeed. I feel I just landed in Ithaca and can free Penelope from worrying about my health.
Thank you my journalism friend!
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so sorry to hear about your troubles. I hope it’s clear sailing from now on.
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Me too – clear sailing opens me to a lot of healing. Thanks for your shipmate guidance.
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Sorry to hear of the medical problems Uncle Mike. Glad you have Nicolas and your grandkids to help with everything. I know you can be with the protesters at the No Kings rallies in spirit!
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So good to hear from you Rocky. My heart and my spirit has been lifted by the No Kings protest and I believe it has rubbed off on my physical abilities to get through these medical problems. Give my best to the family in California!
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Wrapping you in all my love and prayers for all your needs to be met! LOOOOOVE that you are off the walker AND the cane!!! What an amazing accomplishment!!! Glad you are back home too that’s where the real healing begins 🤗🤗🤗
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There’s no place like home to heal and enjoy your family, particularly after you’ve been away from the domain for such a period of time. No walker and no cane needed for true rehabilitation. Thanks!
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I am saddened to learn all this Michael. I hope you resource your faith and Buddhist training to help you endure all this hardship. What else do we have?
Sending a prayer 🙏 for your recovery. ❤️🩹 R
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Meditation and deep breathing while counting from one through 20 has helped me so far. I hope to continue that routine to not only deal with this hardship, but with the joy my family has provided me.
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