Re: Another small step fwd to reclaiming my life!
It has been awhile since I last posted. I had a big adventure the last 10 days.
Tuesday night the 15th I got a call I knew would be coming but was still not prepared. A good friend (Dave) in southern CA had been given about a week or 2 to live and had entered Hospice a few days prior. He was loosing his battle with Melanoma. I looked at plane tickets and they were out of sight. I made a quick decision to fast pack the mini van and drive with my 4 dogs the 1000 miles to crash a friends (Holly) house and go visit our friend.
So Wed morning loaded up and started the drive, I got off the road after 11 1/2 hours. I used my TED hose and tried to get out and walk more than I normally would.
I got a call wed night from my friend Holly that I needed to get there..... fast... we needed to go see Dave on Thursday. I got up early for the last 6 hours of driving and we regrouped and were back on the road by 2pm. A chat with Dave's wife as we started the last 2 hours of our drive said that he seemed to have slipped into a coma, and we should be prepared.
It was harder than I thought to sit with Dave, hold his hand telling him I loved him and would miss him, I wished he could see how good I was doing w/ my new knee and that I hoped he could see the new "mini" me (had lost 50# since I last saw him - and have 50 more to go). Lots of hugs, lots of tears and after about 2 hours of visiting at 7pm we were on our way back to Holly's house.
We got the call friday morning that Dave passed away about 3 hours after we left. His service would be the 22nd so I decided to stay in Southern CA. Friday-Monday. We had a lot of adventures visiting friends (in horrible weather) including my Great Aunt who is 94 - had not seen her in about 30yrs.
My friend lives up in the High desert and we walked every day with our dogs out in the desert. Holly has a neat Garmin sports watch and I did a 3.4 mile walk one day. Our 4 walks covered over 12 miles in the desert! It Felt good to be "normal" I had Holly help stretch my leg after our walks. I did "fall" one day but didn't get hurt.
Dave's service on the 22nd was beautiful. Went back to their house. Holly and I took their dog for a 2 hour walk to help her get a good outlet, I figure it was at least 4 miles if not more. Then Wed morning our last walk in the desert and I started the drive back home. figured it would be "smart" for a change to split my drive in 1/2 (not long day short day).
Stopped at Williams CA, slept in until 7 am,,,, I turned on the news to see we were getting hit with a bad storm. Hit the road......... soon saw signs about re chains (I had them), that there was a mandatory chain screening area about 10 miles north or Reding and to expect delays - all the time I'm wondering "if" I could put my chains on! if I could do it? (never had before!)
Then it started the snow..... then the sign that said stop and chain up (this is I-5 not a back road!) I pulled over looked at the directions, felt over whelmed
but sitting there was not going to fix my situation. So I got out of the car in the driving wind and wet snow. I then realized the guy parked in front of me had same chains I walked up and asked if I could watch him chain up and if he had any tips.
Well I did it! got the chains on my car, in the driving snow, and horrible wind, soaked past my skin, my undies were even soaked! 1 hour and 25 miles later it was time to take them off. That is when I really had trouble! One of the sets caught on some part of the inside of my wheel where it attached to my car! Almost in tears I finely put the hood up in my car (STILL driving wet snow) and hoped someone would notice I needed HELP. It only took maybe 3 minutes and a guy pulled over and asked if I needed help. A few good jerks on the chains and it came LOOSE! I noticed he was wearing a U of Oregon shirt! I said WOW! I knew it would be a Oregonian to help me. I thanked him and offered and gave him a hug and then continued on.
Trip on Thursday took 11 1/2 hours - (should have been 8). I did strain some muscles in the lateral part of my knee dealing with the chains but they will heal.
So today I went into PT - 11 days since my last appt. I still need to gain some strength but my leg was -1 (it is now "past" 0) and my flex! was an amazing 129! and had I pushed it I could have made it to 130.
My PT asked if I had any issues concerns at this point of my rehab. I said really there was nothing I could not do at this point - still a bit weak when my knee is really flexed but this is territory my leg has not bent to in years. It will come. He gave me a revised work out for home and I will see him 1x a week for 2 more weeks and then I think we will wrap up.
I return to work on Monday
United States
