Smiling While Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place

I apologize for the delay in updating this blog. I have no trouble relaying everything as it is when I am in Little Rock but getting the information together by telephone to accurately and effectively describe it as I prefer to do is much more challenging. I have not found the words until today.

My mother, having come through so much and still enduring, has a remarkable attitude and optimism that, I can honestly say, transcends any medications she may be taking to facilitate such a state of mind. She has remained humorous, hopeful, determined, and most of all grateful to all. Call her any time, even if she is in pain, and she will smile and tell you all about the good things that are happening. We can all learn from her this day.

To give a rundown on her physical condition and the progress of each, I will begin at her head and move down.

The hole in the back of her head (caused by the rubbing of her neck brace and lying in bed) has healed nicely but her hairdo needs a little, make that a lot, of work. From the front she looks fine with it combed but turn her around and it appears that one of her grandchildren got their gum stuck in it and cut it out all by themselves. It is growing out, however, and I think when it gets a little more length she may have a nice bob with more length in the front, which is in style now anyway.

She saw her neurosurgeon about her neck on Tuesday and the report was all good. She has healed up nicely and her movements are still stiff and painful as expected. She is no longer required to wear her neck brace most of the time, only when travelling or being active. She has a long scar on the back on her neck but it will seldom be seen under her hair. She will most likely move her head a little more stiffly from now on and with less stretch to each side but WOW! She is still here!

Mom has some stiffness and aching at times in her neck and shoulders due to the head still adjusting to her surgery and the issues of her left arm and holding it up. This is all continuing to improve.

Her left arm is still broken, rotated at the elbow and wrist but cannot be reset until the skin graft wound on her elbow is healed. It is taking longer than expected. Dr. Yueng is trying out a pig skin patch at this time and said if it doesn’t take they will have to perform another surgery to encourage healing. Unfortunately, this failure to heal continues to delay her orthopedic surgery that will free her from the pain, and taking the meds. That left hand is still swollen and stiff and remains her major source of pain now. I think she wants to yell at it sometimes to DO SOMETHING, Get Better! This is really a test of patience.

The right wrist and hand is getting it’s regular exercise and doing it's best at taking care of business but tires very easily. It still can't pick up anything heavier than a coffee mug and hurts to use it more than that. It can poke out a few letters on emails and use the mouse some but tries not to do too much because it causes her pain. It is still the loving, touchy-feely hand of Linda that it was with only a few kinks to work out and strength to build.

Mom still has a tickle on her side where the right chest tube into her lung, the one she had the longest, was removed. It left quite a scar. Her heart and liver all check out healthy and strong. She had blood work done on Monday that required them to increased her Coumadin. She still has blood clots in her left leg, in both the thigh and calf. She has another two weeks before she sees her vascular specialists again. These blood clots (known as deep vein thrombosis) have been a scary and worrisome issue for her. She has asked lots of questions and been reassured that the filter in her vein can and will catch them but was told that they can also get clogged up and, if so, need to be replaced. She asked about signs to look for and will not hesitate to be seen if she feels anything isn’t as it should be.

She is getting around as much as she can and enjoying a little more independence although she still needs supervision as she takes the stairs. John is still taking good care of things and getting to take breaks and do other things, especially when Dean comes by, which is almost daily. As busy as he is, and with his own shoulder pain issues, Dean has been very helpful. He took Mom to her PT this morning and was delighted that he had seen the same therapists for his arm following his surgery.

The family has heartfelt gratitude to all the friends, especially those of Linda and John's Sunday school class, who have brought fresh, lovingly prepared meals to the house regularly. These have truly been a Godsend to them.

Special thanks go to Diane Mackey for the yummy gumbo dinner with fresh baked bread and brownies last night.

Mom has been enjoying the blog and grateful to me for keeping it up. She helps edit my details after reading the new posts. This blogging has been enjoyable to me because I needed to work on my writing skills and it has motivated me to write, and read, more to become a better writer. I've enjoyed the connections I've made with my mother's friends and appreciate the many complimentary comments regarding the blog.