Mona Mehas

March 4, 2025

March 4, 2025

 

This SCENE BREAK won't be like others in the past. I must talk first about my long hospital stay. It seems I had at least two separate illnesses.

Since December, I've had an earache and pain in my throat/back of my tongue. Finally had an ultrasound in early February and discovered a mass on the right side, about almond sized. My doctor scheduled a CT scan.

Then I got pretty sick with congestion in my chest. I went to the ED and tested positive for influenza A, which became pneumonia. I spent five days in the hospital, but I wasn't in the hospital where my CT scan was scheduled. This hospital refused to run the test on my throat because that wasn't why I was there. It was influenza A and pneumonia. On the fifth day I went home knowing I wasn't well.

The next morning my face dropped. That is the only way to describe it. The soreness in my throat with the mass – it seemed to drop below my chin and form a rope-like ring. This time I had my daughter take me to the other hospital, where my test was scheduled. I was admitted to the second hospital.

There, I had a CT scan. I was told I had infection of both salivary glands with cellulitis in my throat. This was a scary, potentially deadly infection. I spent six days in that hospital.

I was on IV antibiotics and cortisone. Another x-ray showed a partially collapsed lung. I was coughing so much I believed I'd cracked a rib, but x-rays showed no new fractures. Eventually, the swelling in my jaw/throat went down tremendously but it is still present.

The official name for the infection is Ludwig's Angina. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23457-ludwigs-angina

Reading that tells me I'm glad I was in the hospital.

I came home a few days ago with oral antibiotics and prednisone. And oxygen upon movement. Between my chest issues and the breathing issue, I had a lot going on and I believe it's not over. I have to do breathing exercises and nebulizer treatments. I have several appointments to follow up with my doctor and the pulmonologist from the hospital. Now they are saying the flu and pneumonia are gone and I just have in-general crud.

It's been a bumpy ride and it's not over. Moving forward, I'll probably include a section on my health with each newsletter.

MY WRITING LIFE

While in the hospital, I kept note of every rejection that came through my email. Also, two publications, which will be in my list later in this Scene Break.

I composed seven poems while laid up. When I got home, I became obsessed with turning those poems into a chapbook called 'Hospital Poems.' Now I'm searching for a publisher. I also updated my biography to reflect what I'm really writing about:

Mona Mehas (she/her) writes poetry and prose from the perspective of a retired disabled teacher in Indiana USA. A Pushcart Prize nominee, her work has appeared in Paddler Press, IHRAM Literary, Big Windows Review and others. Her poetry, Questions I Didn't Know I'd Asked and Hand-Me-Downs (LJMcD Communications) and Self-Centered (Bottlecap Press) are available now. Mona is Editor-in-Chief of Cicada Song Press and President of the Poetry Society of Indiana. She is searching for a home for her first novel, drafting a novel in verse, and getting distracted by another chapbook.

I haven't worked on Dreams to Visions, the novel-in-verse, in what seems like forever. I know where the story is going, but I'm not totally clear of the next steps. There are some days I can write several poems for Dreams to Visions, and other days I don't even bother looking at it. However, I am still writing and submitting poetry.

My next poetry book, 'Calling to Shore' will be released by Cicada Song Press soon. I'm always keeping my eyes open for a publisher to send Under the Bubble and found two in the last couple of days.

WHAT I'M READING

I had two books with me in the hospital. I spent some time reading 'The Familiar Wild: On Dogs & Poetry,' edited by Ruth Awad & Rachel Mennies. Some of the poetry in this anthology made me cry so I had to put it down a lot. I'm still reading it slowly, as I write.

I'm also reading a short story written by my friend, Yvonne. It is well crafted and interesting, and I sometimes forget I should be critiquing the story. Yvonne is a friend in Germany who I chat with most mornings.

STAR TREK

The most important thing in my Star Trek world took place while I was in the hospital. I'm a member of a wonderful group on Facebook that holds watch parties for Star Trek movies and episodes. When I told Mark, our leader, about being sick, he held a special watch party for me. I chose two episodes from the animated series for that night. The following night we watched an episode from TNG that another member had chosen. That watch party was dedicated to her and me. If you are a Star Trek fan, want a fun group that is without squabbling, has members who are part of the Trek world (actors, writers, producers) then look no further. It's a safe place for us fans and for the big names and Mark runs it that way. If you want this, then check out the group and read the rules. https://www.facebook.com/groups/258675906260569

PUBLICATIONS SINCE LAST SCENE BREAK

A tanka here in a blue swirly background. First line is politicians. https://www.tankasocietyofamerica.org/laurels/laurels-3

page 18, 'Wind in the Pines' https://thebigwindowsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bwr-38.pdf

my success story https://www.midwestwriters.org/mww-success-stories/

a winning poem https://www.trashtotreasurelit.com/publishedpieces/coastline-of-my-mind-by-mona-mehas

WHAT I'VE LEARNED

This month my biggest lesson has been to slow down and pay attention to my health and that of my family. My daughter has been sick too, but she's worked through it. It's not like she has time to take off or anything.

TODAY'S CARDS

I used these three cards in a tarot writing group on zoom with my friend CJ. Cards are Tarot of a Moon Garden by Karen Marie Sweikhardt. I wrote a few snippets of ideas but will finish my thoughts on the cards later.

 

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Visit my website! https://www.monamehas.net/index.htm

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(No that is not my daughter's house – it's like a house I love in Michigan.)

Check out all my publications! https://linktr.ee/monaiv