I initially thought was that this would be a short update. But there has been so much going on it may take some time. Plus, I can’t remember what I told to who since becoming so popular.
This was my view from Monday evening until late Tuesday night.
Then they moved me out of the trauma ward to a room and this became my view.
Ah, something different to look at. I can’t decide between a cockroach or a cricket. Let’s hope for the cricket. I was scheduled to have surgery sometime between 1-4 on Wednesday unless a life or limb threatening case arrived. I prayed for everyone in the area to stay safe. It worked! But they came in at 11:00 am instead and rushed me to the OR. I said it was the most excitement I had had since being here. The nurses were talking to each and said “he is already mad”, I said I hoped it wasn’t the surgeon. Apparently it was because they said uh oh and stopped talking. But we were already there in record time.
They said surgery went great. But he was only able to get two of the screws in on the right side instead of 4 so he is supplementing the stability with a back brace. This was my view post op. I was actually able to have the bed raised up and look around normally. Surgery was about 3 hours and I was back in my room around 4. I will just say it was a rough night.
The nest morning I broke my 32 hour fast with some chicken broth. At 10 occupational and physical therapy teamed up to get me out of bed.
This is the pain chart in my room. See those involuntary tears on #10. That is what I rated the pain on getting to a sitting position on the edge of the bed. They said that would be the worst and it was. Things eased up some and I was able to stand with help and use a walker to go brush my teeth. Then they let me walk a short way down the hall and back. I sat up for the recommended 2 hours then in back to bed. They wanted me up to do that 3 times but I only managed two.
Part of the rough night after surgery was that so hot from the leg circulation devices and the plastic tarp they had me on to help roll me from side to side. They said I could have a fan. I said I did not need one since they took off the leg things and got me off the plastic. A box arrived today and the nurse opened it and said “your fan is here.” I said I didn’t need it but she said it was now mine and I could take it home. (Wonder how much that will cost) This nurse also suggested that I could take it to my next horse show to cool off the stall.
Can you tell she is a horse person? Most everyone would say “so you fell off a horse?” I would strongly correct them and say “NO, I did not fall, I was thrown off.” Anyone that rides will tell you that. This nurse was there when I said that to someone and she took off talking about all of her horse experiences. She has broken 43 colts, re homed off the track race horses by retaining them to be hunter/jumpers. Trained an Icelandic pony the list goes on and on. Apparently, at 9 years old when she wanted a horse, her parents got he an untouched 10 year old horse and said deal with it if you want a horse hoping she would quit. She didn’t and she sounds tough as nails. She even started pulling up pictures of some of the successful race horses she has worked with. Horse people love to talk about their own horses.
One big surprise was when I got to the OR, a good horse friend of mine that had done an endurance ride with us years ago was the nurse checking me in. You can check out that exciting ride
HERE. She greeted me with “Kay! Which horse threw you!?” Horse people know.
