How Am I Doing?

A lot of my friends have been asking how my foot/ankle is doing. Oh, how I am tired of telling the sad tale. I mean, it will be two years that I've been hobbling along. It's been two years that I've been asked, "So, how's the ankle doing?" I will be so glad when nobody notices I've stopped limping.

The newest doctor (son of the second surgeon) who, not knowing my background (aren't they supposed to read my file before they see me?) said, "Your ankle is really weak," as he had me push into his hand.

I said, "I haven't walked right for almost two years. This was my second surgery. Didn't you read what your father wrote?" Okay, I was a little testy with him.

I was on the verge of tears, actually. I had been in a lot of pain and made this appointment two weeks in advance of my next scheduled appointment. I got a blessing from my youngest son which told me I would heal and be able to walk like a normal person; I have to do what the doctor tells me to do and I'll be okay.

While I sniffled and looked forlorn, he took a minute to skim the file. He closed the file and said, "It's only been six weeks from surgery. I think you are exactly where you're supposed to be right now."

"But your father said after 12 weeks I wouldn't remember which foot hurt." Sniffing began again.

He did some quick math in his head. "Yeah, that's three months. You should be fine by then."

I said, "Pardon me, but that's what the first doctor kept saying. 'Give it three months.' Then it was 'Give it six months,' then 'Give it a year' . . . "

He handed me a tissue. "I think you'll be fine. Your ankle is weak. You might need physical therapy to build up the strength, but even now you have good flexibility for six weeks out."

The doctor told me to use the recumbent bike at the gym at work for 10 minutes at a time, going slowly, not racing or aerobic, and build up to 30 minutes by the end of the month. He also said to do circles in the air. Write my name and the alphabet in the air. Get it moving. Get up and walk after sitting for an hour. I do that at work anyway. There's always some errand to run.

"You are still recuperating," he said. "You're not really rehabilitating yet. Go slow. Don't get discouraged. You're doing fine."

When I left, I remembered the blessing. "Do what the doctor tells you to do."

I am doing all these things. I have to have faith that my Heavenly Father is watching out for me. I have to be more positive.

Being Optimistic

By Susan Knight

Was feeling a little down because my ankle doesn't seem to be healing as fast as I thought it would.

Got a wonderful blessing yesterday from my son and son-in-law. I was told to be optimistic, to do what the doctor tells me and that I will walk again.

That's what I wanted to hear. I've been praying so hard along those lines. I'm glad for priesthood blessings that let my Heavenly Father speak to me in no uncertain terms.

Going to see a new doctor tomorrow. The doctor who performed my surgery is leaving for a three-year mission (Mission Prez) tomorrow, so I'm seeing his son. A new guy. I'm told by those who have seen him, he is very good, too.

I'm still praying fervently, though.

Here's to an End of the Drama

I'm coming down the home stretch. After surgery on May 17, I will finally, I HOPE, get my cast off on Friday.
I pray that this second surgery will do the trick and I will be able to walk again and be pain free.
The doctor gave me a 95% chance. I'll take it. I'll be optimistic.
If anyone out there is reading this, please pray for me.

My purple cast with the blue wall that caused this drama in the background

2011--Oh, What a Year!

So, 2010 was a horrendous year for me--finding out about husband's shenanigans; deciding to leave him (good riddance!).  I consider it the longest year of my life.  I didn't realize how much I would miss my friends and family in Pennsylvania.  I figured, there's only one way to go--UP-- right?  2011 can only be better.
And it was...until September 3rd.
So, let's see what has happened this year...

January, 2011--still living with Meyersons (bless them abundantly, Lord) * found a house * thankful for my job

February, 2011--bought my house February 10th * moved in February 19th * was greeted by the many good people of the Midvale East 2nd Ward

March, 2011--Zannah's wedding on March 11th, my birthday * got my divorce notice (YAY!)

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas C. Trujillo
Sealed in the Salt Lake Temple March 11, 2011

April, 2011--Alex moved in with me to live in my basement apartment

This is a terrible picture of Alex, but the only one I have at the moment

May, 2011--started planning and planting my garden--total bliss! * called as Sunbeam teacher at church * joined the Old Glory Vintage Dance group (it's so much fun!)

My back garden in May

June, 2011--helped with the Tour de Cure bike ride sponsored by SelectHealth * fell in love with Brigham City * went to the Utah Arts Festival in SLC with Zannah and Nick (so fun!). There was a whole display of a Knit-a-thon (crochet, too) where everything was covered in knitted or crocheted yarn--trees, parking meters, bicycles--even a whole car!  We also saw a performance by Ballet West, which is why Zannah wanted to go.  We rode Trax and had a great time.

Tour de Cure riders getting ready to ride. Beautiful backdrop.

I didn't realize I got the temple in the background. It was several blocks down the road.
The Wild Bird Refuge was closed due to flooding.  Maybe next year!

The new Brigham City temple, under construction

They knitted everything--even a car!  That's me standing next to the car.

UTAH ARTS FESTIVAL

Zannah and Nick waiting for the ballet performance.  It was wonderful.



They knitted and crocheted trees...



...and even bicycles--poles--parking meters--everything! 
It was so fun to discover all the places and things
that had been knitted and crocheted

July, 2011--visited Jewely and James in Rexburg * visited the Campbells in Idaho Falls * stopped in at Brigham City again (why am I drawn to that place?) and saw the angel Moroni on top of the almost completed temple * went to a couple of rodeos with Bonnie (who knew I would love rodeos?)

July 4th rodeo in West Jordan. 
There were fireworks after.  That made my day complete.

Brigham City temple with Angel Moroni

August, 2011--had a Divorce Party--I mean, a "First Anniversary of My Flight to Freedom" party with my PA Pals * had visits from Theresa Sneed and Betsy Love from Arizona;  hosted a book signing for them at my house! What fun! I also went to a book signing/reception for them and rubbed shoulders with authors and editors and publishers (bliss!) * Carla and Ellen Campbell visited from Idaho (so great!); we went to This is the Place Park and to Joe's Crab Shack (YUM!); we attended Music and the Spoken Word on Sunday before they left to go home * Jewely visited for a day or two and we went to Hogle Zoo * (I can't believe I didn't take any pictures. I have to be better with bringing my camera)

September--da.da.daaahhh * while painting a tiny cut-out wall over my fireplace, the ladder I was standing on collapsed and I ended up in the ER. No break was seen on the X-rays, so it was assumed to be a bad sprain.

This was the little wall I was painting when the ladder collapsed.

This looks like a very bad sprain, doesn't it?

This is me, the day before surgery, standing and kneeling on my knee walker
in front of the little wall that Sandy painted in 15 minutes.

 October--finally got an MRI October 11th which disclosed a displaced fracture in the talus bone; surgery needed immediately; surgery on October 17th disclosed dislocated tendons and ligaments; out of work for 3 weeks * my mom flew in from Florida for a week (nice!)

November--follow-up doctor appointment November 1st; stitches out * back to work on November 7th * one-year anniversary at SelectHealth November 22nd (so grateful for my job and understanding boss)
December--started Physical Therapy December 7th; was told I am in the very beginning stages of recovery.  I may not walk without a boot until May.  I may not fully recover for 12 months.

So, I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with three out of four of my kids (and their spouses).  I can't wait to talk to my missionary on Christmas Day, so we will all technically be together that day, via technology.

The year 2011 was mostly wonderful, until Labor Day weekend.  I worked on gaining my freedom and learning who I am, forging a new identity in a new state, new city, new job.   I hope to be able to finish my book, take some creative writing classes and maybe some art classes.  I'm also thinking about taking voice lessons from my friend, Jane Kessler, if she'll teach me. 

So, I'll say again, there's only one way to go--UP--right?  Yes, I choose to believe that.

Merry Christmas 2011

The Saga Continues ... and continues ... and continuess

Last night, for the first time since September 2nd, I slept with my foot unencumbered by boot or brace or even Ace...

The doctor said I didn't have to sleep with a brace if I didn't want to--so I thought I'd try it.
I actually slept on my side.  Both sides.  It was so wonderful.

After months now of sleeping only on my back with my foot held high by pillows and enclosed by a night brace or, at the very least, an Ace bandage, I slept on my side, with my right leg and foot under the covers with my other leg and foot.  It felt so good!!!  Such joy for such a small thing.

I think I'll try it again tonight, too.  This might be habit forming.

And this morning, upon awakening, I actually sat on my back chair and typed on my PC--with a keyboard!  So much better than doing it with thumbs.  Another joy.

So Sandy took me to the doctor on Tuesday for my first post-op appointment.  I prayed so hard the night before and the morning of, "Please, please, let me walk again?"

I got my stitches out--and it hurt like @#$%!  I thought she was making a new cut!  There was blood even!  I am such a baby and have a barely perceptible threshold of pain.  It is so low.

So I was fitted with a new boot, too.  It's smaller and more compact.  The one I had from the ER was too large because nothing smaller would fit my swelling ankle.

It turns out, I still have 98% of my talus bone.  Only small bone fragments were removed.  The real problem was that my tendons and ligaments were mangled.  The P.A. said they were dislocated and had to be formed around my bones and joints in the right places again.  That's why my ankle was so swollen on the right side.  Apparently they were all there and not where they were supposed to be.  He said it could only be corrected by surgery.

I am so thankful for modern medicine.  100 years ago, I would have been left for lame and used a cane or crutches for the rest of my life.  I am thankful for MRIs and Xrays and ortho surgeons who went to med school to learn how to fix me.

So, the prognosis is: 3 months on crutches and in boot, gradually putting weight on my foot until I can walk in the boot alone.  Then, ditch the crutches and stay in the boot for another 3 months.

That's 6 months!!!  By the time this is all over I will have given almost 3/4 of a year of my life to an 'unfortunate accident.'   More like a freak accident--dumb ladder collapsing...

I have another appointment at the end of the month and we'll talk about PT.  I can do some mild exercises until then, like flexing my foot and wiggling my toes.  Honestly, I'm afraid to do anything--anything, I tell ya'!!!

I also realize I never gave enough credit to my good friend, Patty.  She broke her leg right after her divorce.  Her recovery was two years.  And she had two young kids.  Who am I to whine?  (but I will anyway...)  I hope I can learn life lessons like she did.  I feel very selfish compared to her.  I just pray every day that this will be over fast.  I don't want to wish my life away, I just want to wish this pain and anguish and inconvenience away.  I want my life back.

However, this IS my life right now.  I have to live in the present, so I have to strive to do the best I can with what I have.  I am so thankful that my son lives with me.  He has been so helpful and solicitous.  He's taken many days off to accommodate my appointments and surgery and when he gets home from work (at 9:00 p.m.) the first thing he says to me is, "Can I get you anything?" Most of the time I have a list.  He has never complained.

Thank you, Father, for giving me good guardian angels so that I didn't break my arm--or my neck, for that matter.  I'm grateful that my mother made the trip from Florida to be with me the second week.  I really didn't know if I would need her here, but I did.  I'm grateful for everyone who prayed for me.  My mom said her Bible Study was all praying for me. 

Prayer works.

I am on the mend.

Six Weeks Later...the saga continues

This is as far as I got on Sept. 3rd

So, on September 3, 2011, Labor Day weekend, I decided to paint the little wall over my mantle.

"No problem!" I said to myself.

 I had bought the paint and this A-frame ladder months ago.
How did I know the thing would collapse on me? --literally!

So at the end of September Sandy painted the wall for me.

It took him all of 15 minutes.

But still my ankle/foot did not get better.

9-12-11

9-25-11

9-25-11  Who knew I had a bruse on the bottom of my foot?

....as well as all over my foot and ankle still by the end of the month?

By 10-1-11 it still didn't look much better
and the doctor discovered my toes were going out of alignment
so they had to be taped.
I know...ugly, right?

It is still bruised after a month and a half.

So, on Tuesday, October 13, 2011, I FINALLY had an MRI.  It showed a displaced fracture of the talus bone in my foot.  It was not caught on the X-ray. Apparently, these breaks are rarely seen on X-ray.

After the MRI, my doctor, the podiatrist, called me right away and told me she would make an appointment for me with an orthopaedic surgeon who specialized in this kind of surgery.

"Surgery?!"

So I saw him on Friday and I'm having surgery tomorrow.  That was quick!  The surgeon said, "I wish I would have seen you a week after this happened."

"Yeah...me, too."

(I feel like I've wasted 6 weeks of my life) except I've done a LOT of crocheting.

Yeah, crochet, scooter, recliner, TV...that's pretty much my life right now.

But the preemies at Intermountain Healthcare got a lot of cute hats and cocoons this last month and a
half.


        I even designed a new pea pod cocoon.  I hope they like it.

10-18-11

Day Before Surgery

Just me and my Knee Walker in front of the adorable wall that started this whole mess.

But doesn't it look great?