The life of a grape farmer, where torn trousers, sopping-wet work shirts, and "too much on the mind" are part of making good wine! Who has time for health? Read on….
le rein (rehn)
: kidney
néphrologue (m/f) = kidney specialist
les reins = the small of the back
avoir mal aux reins = to have a backache (in lower back)
Audio File & Example sentence by Chief Grape himself :
Download MP3 or Wave file
Au Centre Hospitalier d'Avignon on m'a fait une biopsy du rein.
At Avignon Hospital Center, they biopsied my kidney.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
"How to Write a Blog Story"
1. Begin with a drama: "Jean-Marc returned home Friday morning in an ambulance…."
2. Change things up (don't keep talking about your new favorite pasttime (organic composting), try kidneys for a change): Jean-Marc returned home Friday in an ambulance. After having his kidney biopsy, he was required to stay the night at the hospital in Avignon.
3. Add a little humor to keep things light: Jean-Marc returned home Friday in an ambulance. After having his kidney biopsy, he was required to stay the night at the hospital in Avignon. Three lunatics greeted him, after the family fold fell apart in his absence.
4. Forget not French folklore: Jean-Marc returned home Friday in an ambulance. After his kidney biopsy, he was required to stay the night at the hospital in Avignon.Three lunatics greeted him, after the family fold fell apart in his absence. "C'est la faute à la pleine lune," Jean-Marc explained, of our batty behavior.
5. Include one line in French: Jean-Marc returned home Friday in an ambulance. After his kidney biopsy, he was required to stay the night at the hospital in Avignon.Three lunatics greeted him, after the family fold fell apart in his absence. "C'est la faute à la pleine lune," Jean-Marc explained, of our batty behaviour. "Ouf, je croyais que c'était moi! Phew, I thought it was me!"
6. No use adding a bunch of extraneous details (see below), no matter how important they seemed to you at the time:
Jean-Marc returned home Friday in an ambulance. After his kidney biopsy, he was required to stay the night at the hospital in Avignon.Three lunatics greeted him, after the family fold fell apart in his absence.
"C'est la faute à la pleine lune," It is the full moon, Jean-Marc explained, of our batty behaviour.
"Ouf, je croyais que c'était moi! Phew! I thought it was me!"
It so happened to be the day that the dogs ran off, our son had a tumultuous teenage moment, and the farm turned into Grand Central Terminal with the non-stop comings-and-goings.
7. Sum things up and remember: it's never about you, it's about that up-n-down thing called Life, in which every one of us can relate to what is most important: love and health:
Jean-Marc returned home Friday in an ambulance. After his kidney biopsy, he was required to stay the night at the hospital in Avignon.Three lunatics greeted him, when the family fold fell apart in his absence.
"C'est la faute à la pleine lune. It is the full moon," Jean-Marc explained, of our batty behavior.
"Ouf, je croyais que c'était moi! Phew! I thought it was me!" So happy you are home, mon amour. We missed you and we love you.
***
P.S.: I asked The Big Man Above to help me write today's post… and I had to shake my head in appreciation when He came up with this breezy "How To" style in which to relate a delicate subject (Jean-Marc's blood test gone awry).
Update: Chief Grape feels fine. He did not have any symptoms that led up to the testing; only, during a routine check-up, some of the results came back "hors norme" or "out of normal range". Les resultats will be ready in one week.
Regarding the ambulance ride home: it was covered by our mutuelle (French insurance plan); as Jean-Marc points out: we pay a lot for it, but there are some interesting and unusual benefits!
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Le Coin Commentaires
To leave a comment, click here. Do you have a kidney story to share? Any healthly tips? Thank you in advance!
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Archive photo (from the Frimousse or "Sweet Little Face" bilingual edition. Read it here!)
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Meantime in the Garden…
Sunflower seedlings! I wonder whether sunflower seeds are good for kidney health?…
This 3-day-old seedling is modeling a sunflower "hat" made of biodegradable materials for that futuristique fashion statement.
A venerable sunflower who lived here two years ago… She says to the stylish seedling, "Let your hair down, little one, as I have. Notice the golden curlicue on my forehead? Witness how a sunflower "of a certain age" has grace." What's new in your garden? Share a few of your garden "characters" with us in the comments box, here.
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Thank you Kristin, pour la leçon “comment écrire un blog”. I love the touch of humor you added to a situation like this. However, that must have been indeed quite effrayant de voir Jean-Marc transporté à la maison, dans une ambulance. J’espère que ce n’était qu’une fausse alarme et que votre inquiètude va bientôt se dissiper à la nouvelle des bons résultats.
‘Honour your body!’ It’s a gift! I had kidney problems, took a couple of months of bed and restricted diet to fix, but I am back to normal….LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! We take it for granted when all goes well!
I wish you all GOOD health and some ‘down time’ to work through this till it’s over.
Best wishes from Cape Town!
Dear Kristen,
My heart goes out to you. Hope no permanent damage was done by the tonadoes that ran through your house. You all are in my prayers.
I love reading your blog, from rainy Seattle,Wa. Hope one day to drive that way–best to you, your family and all health issues.
I hope all goes well and you get good news.
Thanks for sharing – my anxiety was whirling there with you for a moment! May health prevail for your dear one. Taoist simple exercises create vitality described in Mantak Chia’s books. When suffering with lazy organs – I turned to this man’s teachings, and Ben Kim’s website for healthy recipes.
http://drbenkim.com/
SO glad he’s okay for the most part!! Love the story-style!
I love that stage of sunflowers, when the seed hat is still on but nearly bursting off, and I had the pleasure once of standing right in front of a new sunflower seedling at precisely that moment when the seed shell popped right off at me as the little plant gave a stretch!
What a day, Kristi, when it rains it pours…. Keep your sights on the flowers the rains will surely help grow. Love, prayers and blessings to you and your beautiful family! xoxo
You, Jean Marc, and your family are in my prayers. I am sending you so many hopes and wishes for a good outcome with this. I read your blog each week and you are like a part of our life now.
3 yrs. ago I was having repeated bladder infections & a myraid of other unrelated symptoms that the doctors could not figure out. I had many tests, all were inclusive so the urologist ordered a scan of my kidneys. Fortunately all four (!!) of my kidneys looked normal. (Now my adult, childless, daughters tell me I have “grand-kidneys” and stop nagging them…) Long story short all my abnormal test results & symptoms stemmed from an infected tooth that, of course, gave me not one symptom.
Donne beaucoup de bisous a Jean-Marc pour moi! J’espere que les resultats de les tests vont bien! Je croise mes doigts!
bon courage, Joanne
Hello Kristin,
I will keep Jean-Marc and your family in my prayers. Hopefully it is nothing and the tests will come back A.O.K.
Thinking of you,
Eileen
Fresh carrot juice will do wonders for ailing kidneys.
You could probably juice some celery and parsley at the same time and add to the carrot juice.
A gear type juicer is best.
Centrifugal types oxidize the juice too quickly, but are better than no juicer at all.
My husband often worked late at the office, but he was pretty good
about phoning. I’ll never forget the time he finally called, and actually said “I’m calling from the hospital, BUT DON’T WORRY.” He had passed a kidney stone with terrible pain, but all was well ….
Esperons que J M sera chanceux aussi!
Dorothy
Hi Kristin,
All of you will be in my prayers this week as I know you’re anxiously awaiting those test results. I’m sending out lots of positive energy to you and I pray you have a blessed Paques!
All my best,
Carolyn
Hi again,
Just realized I forgot to ask about Smokey and Braise. I hope they’re okay after their disappearing act!
Hope that the road ahead is less bumpy—and that full recovery brings a toast to good health. portez-vous bien—alicia
Kristin,
Meilleurs voeux et mes prieres pour de bonnes nouvelles!
Jean-Marc and Kristin – thinking of you and waiting to hear that all is well!! Love, Linda and Nancy
Mes Cher Amis! You are all in our prayers (Jean Marc, Kristy, dogs, children, grapevines etc.etc). Here’s to good health and blessings for all!
xoNancy L.
Quite simply, you and your family are in my prayers …
Kristin — Thinking of you and hope you get a good report. George had a kidney removed last summer, and, for the record, has never felt better.
Take care.
Ophelia
Thank you for your wonderful journal! It always makes me pause and smile inside, no matter how busy or hectic my schedule is. Am keeping my fingers crossed for the Chief Grape, please keep us posted.
It’s amazing how He always helps us find the voice. God bless, all will be well.
Kristin & Jean-Marc
Know two who had stinky biopsies … both are well and have lived for many years to tell the tale.
One can live well and perfectly normally with only one third of one kidney.
We pray for good results. Postive thoughts coming across the pond at lightening speed.
Prayers and good thoughts
Ronni (formerly Lester) Ebbers
Just want to say that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. You are an inspiration to many people. Amities, Nancy
Orange juice also helps.