Ginger is finally out of the hospital after eleven days of post-operative care. Now, she is improving in strength at the Belaire Guest Facility which is physically connected to the Hospital for Special Surgeries. When I arrived here this weekend and saw her for the first time, I (Duane) was so happy to see how well she's doing now. Check out some of the video from this week (1 minute):
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday and Friday May 29th and 30th
Hello,
There has been alot going on here, so I will some up some of the most important info. Yesterday (thursday) we had been told that Mom would be leaving the hospital. As it turned out, her meds were still not moderating the pain enough, so mom is still in the Hospital at this point. After a good talk with her close friend and brother, my Uncle Scott, mom felt very comforted even though she had bouts of pain throughout the evening. Through a detailed discussion with Moms wonderful Doctor, Sue Dyle (thank you so much Sue) it was confirmed that Mom is on an appropriate amount and type of medication for the pain, even though it is still overwhelming.
More soon,
Kelty
There has been alot going on here, so I will some up some of the most important info. Yesterday (thursday) we had been told that Mom would be leaving the hospital. As it turned out, her meds were still not moderating the pain enough, so mom is still in the Hospital at this point. After a good talk with her close friend and brother, my Uncle Scott, mom felt very comforted even though she had bouts of pain throughout the evening. Through a detailed discussion with Moms wonderful Doctor, Sue Dyle (thank you so much Sue) it was confirmed that Mom is on an appropriate amount and type of medication for the pain, even though it is still overwhelming.
More soon,
Kelty
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Mom is awake! She was able to sleep for almost 4 hours last night. Maxine, our favorite Nurse from the private nursing services, was very helpful for mom all throughout the night, and they listened to music together. Mom has invited Maxine to come visit her in Utah, and Maxine seems excited about the idea.
This morning, Dr. Boachi (Mom's surgeon) and Dr. Wyneberg (Mom's pain specialist) came by again this morning. Mom is going to be released from the hospital thursday, and we are going to be staying at a two bedroom apartment at the "Bel-Air" (please excuse the non-french spelling). The Bel-Air is connected to the hospital, and it will be great for Aunt Tricia, Mom and I to all be in the suite, which will have two different rooms. This hotel also has the added benifit of being so close to the hospital that doctors can walk right over to the room if needed. It looks like a nice place to stay, and we are excited to move there tomarrow.
When awake, mom is very aware of things going on around her and is excited to get things done! She has "restless legs", but was told by Dr. Boachi to limit the jaunts around the hospital to about 3 a day. She is also scheduling "Franco" to come and do her hair, so hopefully she will then allow us to do more blog video's.
As far as pain management, Mom is off the drip of Morphine, and is still on Ultrum and Dyelauded. Though she does still mention that the pain is overwhelming, she seems to be able to manage it alot better. The nurses are on a very structured shedule where they are checking with mom every hour or so to ask about pain, and that has helped alot.
here are some things that Mom wanted me to mention, I will scribe it in her voice:
I have made a lifetime friend with Maxine, and she is excited to come out to Utah with her husband. She has been my evening nurse for the last three nights, and will be here again tonight. We like to play around and talk about stuff, and we have had a great time.
I feel like I have met so many great people.
I have 7 very large windows in my room which I love.
That is it from mom, she fell asleep :)
Last note: It looks like we will be returning home June 6th, not June 4th as we had origionally planned. We will post the time of arrival as soon as we know.
take care,
Kelty
This morning, Dr. Boachi (Mom's surgeon) and Dr. Wyneberg (Mom's pain specialist) came by again this morning. Mom is going to be released from the hospital thursday, and we are going to be staying at a two bedroom apartment at the "Bel-Air" (please excuse the non-french spelling). The Bel-Air is connected to the hospital, and it will be great for Aunt Tricia, Mom and I to all be in the suite, which will have two different rooms. This hotel also has the added benifit of being so close to the hospital that doctors can walk right over to the room if needed. It looks like a nice place to stay, and we are excited to move there tomarrow.
When awake, mom is very aware of things going on around her and is excited to get things done! She has "restless legs", but was told by Dr. Boachi to limit the jaunts around the hospital to about 3 a day. She is also scheduling "Franco" to come and do her hair, so hopefully she will then allow us to do more blog video's.
As far as pain management, Mom is off the drip of Morphine, and is still on Ultrum and Dyelauded. Though she does still mention that the pain is overwhelming, she seems to be able to manage it alot better. The nurses are on a very structured shedule where they are checking with mom every hour or so to ask about pain, and that has helped alot.
here are some things that Mom wanted me to mention, I will scribe it in her voice:
I have made a lifetime friend with Maxine, and she is excited to come out to Utah with her husband. She has been my evening nurse for the last three nights, and will be here again tonight. We like to play around and talk about stuff, and we have had a great time.
I feel like I have met so many great people.
I have 7 very large windows in my room which I love.
That is it from mom, she fell asleep :)
Last note: It looks like we will be returning home June 6th, not June 4th as we had origionally planned. We will post the time of arrival as soon as we know.
take care,
Kelty
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Meeting with Dr. Boachi
It's 11am Tuesday morning and we just met with Dr. Boachi. He reaffirmed that Mom needs to moderate her pain before leaving the hospital, and said that the likely discharge date will be Thursday (yay!). He also said that she will be fine to stay in the apartment for a week before taking a plane home to Utah, which works out well since we have already reserved an apartment at the Helmsley buildinlg.
The Hemsley building is where Arian, Leah, Duane, Aunt Tricia and I (Kelty) have all stayed while we have been in NY. The Helmsley is technically called the "Presbyterian Guest Facility at the Helmsley tower", but it is much easier to just say Helmsley :). It is located just around the block from the Hospital, so our commute has been a very quick walk. This is the building where mom's apartment is also located.
Mom is sleeping soundly, and we hope that she can catch up on the sleep she has missed every night since the surgery. She was cared for again by her favorite nurse last night from the private nurse services, and that same nurse will be returning tonight. She is still on liquids until her stomach goes down, but is going to the bathroom very often, which is a very good sign.
I read to her the emails that have been sent to: gingerinrecovery@gmail.com, and she has enjoyed them. Dr. Boachi is clearly a very caring and knowladgable Doctor, and it was great to meet with him this morning. Please email at mom's email account to let me know if there are any details that you would like to know about that I've missed. Have a great Tuesay!
The Hemsley building is where Arian, Leah, Duane, Aunt Tricia and I (Kelty) have all stayed while we have been in NY. The Helmsley is technically called the "Presbyterian Guest Facility at the Helmsley tower", but it is much easier to just say Helmsley :). It is located just around the block from the Hospital, so our commute has been a very quick walk. This is the building where mom's apartment is also located.
Mom is sleeping soundly, and we hope that she can catch up on the sleep she has missed every night since the surgery. She was cared for again by her favorite nurse last night from the private nurse services, and that same nurse will be returning tonight. She is still on liquids until her stomach goes down, but is going to the bathroom very often, which is a very good sign.
I read to her the emails that have been sent to: gingerinrecovery@gmail.com, and she has enjoyed them. Dr. Boachi is clearly a very caring and knowladgable Doctor, and it was great to meet with him this morning. Please email at mom's email account to let me know if there are any details that you would like to know about that I've missed. Have a great Tuesay!
Monday, May 26, 2008
More Awake!
It's 1pm in the afternoon, and so far today mom has been more awake, and less confused. She still sleeps on and off, and is usually awake for only a minute, but she was able to talk with Uncle Ken for several minutes just now.
The pain specialist met with mom again this morning, and she is still on the Ultrum (for baseline pain relief) Dilauded (for when the pain spikes) and she is now back on the Morphine pump (for instant relief). I hope I spelled those right.
It looks like mom will be in the hospital several more days, but that will be confirmed when we talk to Dr. Boachi later this afternoon. She is now able to drink clear liquids, but no food. Before she can leave the hospital, she needs to have a functioning stomach, good vital signs, and medication that is keeping down the pain, but not making her groggy. Her stomach is doing much better, but digestion is still very slow.
Some of the things she likes to talk about when awake are: walks in the canyon, her kids, her siblings, Grandma, Adventure Time, and trips to Mexico. She also loves to sing her favorite musicals with me and I am always amazed at how much of the songs she remembers. She is definitely Grandma Florence's daughter :)
We are sending out love to you all! Congratulations Sarah Jane on your Marriage!! We were sad to miss it but were thinking about you on your special day. It sounds like everything went just as planned.
take care
The pain specialist met with mom again this morning, and she is still on the Ultrum (for baseline pain relief) Dilauded (for when the pain spikes) and she is now back on the Morphine pump (for instant relief). I hope I spelled those right.
It looks like mom will be in the hospital several more days, but that will be confirmed when we talk to Dr. Boachi later this afternoon. She is now able to drink clear liquids, but no food. Before she can leave the hospital, she needs to have a functioning stomach, good vital signs, and medication that is keeping down the pain, but not making her groggy. Her stomach is doing much better, but digestion is still very slow.
Some of the things she likes to talk about when awake are: walks in the canyon, her kids, her siblings, Grandma, Adventure Time, and trips to Mexico. She also loves to sing her favorite musicals with me and I am always amazed at how much of the songs she remembers. She is definitely Grandma Florence's daughter :)
We are sending out love to you all! Congratulations Sarah Jane on your Marriage!! We were sad to miss it but were thinking about you on your special day. It sounds like everything went just as planned.
take care
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Tricia's Coming Out to Join Us
Hey Family and Friends,
It is now Sunday afternoon and Duane's flight is scheduled to leave tomarrow evening. My wonderful Aunt Tricia has volunteered to come out, and has scheduled a flight that will arrive tomorrow. Through the last couple of days we have found that mom's care requires two people. She is now able to go to the bathroom, but needs one person to move the IV's and the other to support her on the way. Usually she needs help every couple of minutes because she is so disoriented and often wants to get up without help, a good example of her independent spirit :). There are several other reasons why having an older sibling around will be very helpful, we are excited to see you Aunt Tricia!
Our goal of getting mom the pain relief she needs without being too groggy is still in progress. She has been taking off the "pain pump" again, and has two different pill medications that should be more than enough to manage her pain. Duane and I have been in close communication with the nutritionist, pain specialists, and nurses and they have all been caring and understanding.
Mom has been either asleep or very confused today, partially from the meds and partially because she was up all night. The night nurse was a very skilled mother of two who has been a nurse for 18 years, and she comforted mom as much as possible, while making sure she was safe and getting the right amount of meds. Mom is not allowed to eat or drink at all because her stomach is still very distended. She is, however, on a drip of hydrating liquids (as long as we can keep her IV in!) Mom was very smart before this surgery and put on an extra 20 pounds, so we are hoping that she will not loose too much weight overall.
more soon! Thank you all for your support and please continue to keep mom in your prayers.
Kelty
It is now Sunday afternoon and Duane's flight is scheduled to leave tomarrow evening. My wonderful Aunt Tricia has volunteered to come out, and has scheduled a flight that will arrive tomorrow. Through the last couple of days we have found that mom's care requires two people. She is now able to go to the bathroom, but needs one person to move the IV's and the other to support her on the way. Usually she needs help every couple of minutes because she is so disoriented and often wants to get up without help, a good example of her independent spirit :). There are several other reasons why having an older sibling around will be very helpful, we are excited to see you Aunt Tricia!
Our goal of getting mom the pain relief she needs without being too groggy is still in progress. She has been taking off the "pain pump" again, and has two different pill medications that should be more than enough to manage her pain. Duane and I have been in close communication with the nutritionist, pain specialists, and nurses and they have all been caring and understanding.
Mom has been either asleep or very confused today, partially from the meds and partially because she was up all night. The night nurse was a very skilled mother of two who has been a nurse for 18 years, and she comforted mom as much as possible, while making sure she was safe and getting the right amount of meds. Mom is not allowed to eat or drink at all because her stomach is still very distended. She is, however, on a drip of hydrating liquids (as long as we can keep her IV in!) Mom was very smart before this surgery and put on an extra 20 pounds, so we are hoping that she will not loose too much weight overall.
more soon! Thank you all for your support and please continue to keep mom in your prayers.
Kelty
Saturday, May 24, 2008
CT Scan
Just wanted to give you all a quick update on the CT scan... the doctor came back this evening and it was pretty clear there is nothing serious to worry about in her digestive tract. It's a serious case of distension, but after today, I think things are going much better. Her tummy is softer today even though it's still quite a bit bigger than usual. Some of the bloat is due to her own body's response to the surgery while some is due to the medication (causing constipation etc.). Phew.
Kelty Here
Thank you Duane for summing up the last couple of hours. I wanted to add some things. From the helpful and thorough explanations of Sue Dyle and Cody Young, I understand that the experiences that mom is having are, for the most part, a normal part of this process. The medicine does make her drowsy and feeling confused, but the goal is to get her the pain relief she needs without the drowsiness. Duane wrote that blog at 2 or 3 in the morning, and it had been a long day. It is now 12 noon on saturday, and mom is getting all the care that she needs. The orthopedic doctor wanted to make sure that there was not anything more serious that is causing the pain in her stomach, so they took an X-ray. Stomach distention is a very common and much disliked side effect of the narcotics, and since mom has been on some, that has caused some of the problems with her stomach.
Over the past 24 hours, mom has met with 4 or more pain specialists, even though she cannot remember the meetings at this point. What a blessing it has been, however, to have a "private duty" nurse the last 2 nights. At any given time, the normal duty nurses have 6 to 10 patients to care for, alot of responsibility! The private duty nurse can stay in the room with mom, and give her the medicine and care right when she needs it. It was great to have peace of mind during the wee hours or the morning when Duane and I went to sleep.
I will post the results of the Cat Scan asap, but I have been assured by the Doctor that it is more likely just constipation. Mom is now on 2 forms of pill medication when she needs it, and also a very low dose of morphine that she can push a button for right when she feels the pain. The first 3 days are the hardest, it will only get better from here!
Thank you to all family and friends for your love and concern, we can feel it all the way here in New York. Thank you to my wonderful husband and best friend Duane for standing by Mom's bedside and comforting her throughout this whole process, I love you! More updates soon,
Kelty
Over the past 24 hours, mom has met with 4 or more pain specialists, even though she cannot remember the meetings at this point. What a blessing it has been, however, to have a "private duty" nurse the last 2 nights. At any given time, the normal duty nurses have 6 to 10 patients to care for, alot of responsibility! The private duty nurse can stay in the room with mom, and give her the medicine and care right when she needs it. It was great to have peace of mind during the wee hours or the morning when Duane and I went to sleep.
I will post the results of the Cat Scan asap, but I have been assured by the Doctor that it is more likely just constipation. Mom is now on 2 forms of pill medication when she needs it, and also a very low dose of morphine that she can push a button for right when she feels the pain. The first 3 days are the hardest, it will only get better from here!
Thank you to all family and friends for your love and concern, we can feel it all the way here in New York. Thank you to my wonderful husband and best friend Duane for standing by Mom's bedside and comforting her throughout this whole process, I love you! More updates soon,
Kelty
Thanks for your words of encouragement
Thanks to all of you with comments of support and encouragement. We read them each to Ginger when she's in her alert state. Most recently, she loved hearing from you guys, Rozan and Sue and Sonny. You're awesome!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Another Tough Day
Duane here again. Ginger was taken off self-administered morphine this afternoon around 2:30 yesterday (Friday) and the pain got pretty bad. Kelty and Leah were by her side as she pleaded for help and relief, but there was not much they could do without approval from the RN (registered nurse) in charge of her case. Finally, after a couple of agonizing hours, around 4:30 in the afternoon, she was authorized to have a powerful narcotic given intravenously (I think it was Dilaudid) and that sedated her for several hours.
She did the "passing in and out of consciousness" thing for the duration until gaining full consciousness around 8:00 PM. The pain became very intense again, and we struggled to explain that we and the doctors and nurses were doing everything that could be done for the moment.
The problem was that Ginger's stomache had become very distended (bloated) and it was starting to cause more pain than her back! The abdomen was so stretched that it sounded like a drum when we or she taped it. It's a bit of a catch-22 situation because the narcotics she is taking often cause distension, but the distension is so intolerable that she needs narcotics. At one point, she threatened to leave the hospital and get her own medicine, even if she had to walk across the street in her skimpy hospital gown!
An orthopedic specialist and a radiologist came to investigate the cause of the distension. Finally, after some scans and a long nervous wait, we were able to determine with some amount of confidence that it was stool blockage and not necessarily anything more life-threatening. The doctors were very reassuring, and told Ginger that she wasn't going to die, which calmed her greatly, even though it didn't change the level of pain she was experiencing. Lastly, they ordered an enema and approved another shot of Dilaudid.
At 1:00 AM, as I waited outside her room, enema finished, and now returning to her bed, I overheard Ginger say, "I can't believe I would do this again!"
At 1:30 AM she was at last able to pass gas. I had never thought of passing gas as a privilege before.
Before leaving for our hotel room, I asked Ginger how she was feeling at 2:00 in the morning. She summed it up, "Gross, but not suicidal."
She did the "passing in and out of consciousness" thing for the duration until gaining full consciousness around 8:00 PM. The pain became very intense again, and we struggled to explain that we and the doctors and nurses were doing everything that could be done for the moment.
The problem was that Ginger's stomache had become very distended (bloated) and it was starting to cause more pain than her back! The abdomen was so stretched that it sounded like a drum when we or she taped it. It's a bit of a catch-22 situation because the narcotics she is taking often cause distension, but the distension is so intolerable that she needs narcotics. At one point, she threatened to leave the hospital and get her own medicine, even if she had to walk across the street in her skimpy hospital gown!
An orthopedic specialist and a radiologist came to investigate the cause of the distension. Finally, after some scans and a long nervous wait, we were able to determine with some amount of confidence that it was stool blockage and not necessarily anything more life-threatening. The doctors were very reassuring, and told Ginger that she wasn't going to die, which calmed her greatly, even though it didn't change the level of pain she was experiencing. Lastly, they ordered an enema and approved another shot of Dilaudid.
At 1:00 AM, as I waited outside her room, enema finished, and now returning to her bed, I overheard Ginger say, "I can't believe I would do this again!"
At 1:30 AM she was at last able to pass gas. I had never thought of passing gas as a privilege before.
Before leaving for our hotel room, I asked Ginger how she was feeling at 2:00 in the morning. She summed it up, "Gross, but not suicidal."
Photo & Video
The photo is from before the surgery, and there's also a short video of Ginger's room.
I (Duane) will be posting more photos and video here, on my flickr account.
I (Duane) will be posting more photos and video here, on my flickr account.
Duane Here
I've just had the honor of being with Ginger for a few hours this morning. She has been quite coherent at times, but the coherence is primarily due to the fact that the morphine has worn off... so a button press later she is back to fading in and out of consciousness. The pain without morphine is still intolerable, but she's a trooper and has smiled through the bulk of it.
There are so many bright sides to this experience, especially when considering the remarkable physical trauma her body has gone through and how well she is doing just 2.5 days after surgery. You can tell Ginger is a kind and warm-hearted person right down to the core. She will hear a knock on the door (even if it's a neighbor's door and not her own) and politely tell whoever it is to come in, even though she doesn't know who it is and is barely conscious.
At other times, it brings me a smile or two to hear her semi-conscious mutterings. It's like a window into her dream world as she sleeps. I'll hear her say things like, "I've forgotten this fellow's name... (a few seconds later) and he's not here anyway (as she opens her eyes)." It's possible to have short conversations, but they usually last fewer than 30 seconds.
More later...
There are so many bright sides to this experience, especially when considering the remarkable physical trauma her body has gone through and how well she is doing just 2.5 days after surgery. You can tell Ginger is a kind and warm-hearted person right down to the core. She will hear a knock on the door (even if it's a neighbor's door and not her own) and politely tell whoever it is to come in, even though she doesn't know who it is and is barely conscious.
At other times, it brings me a smile or two to hear her semi-conscious mutterings. It's like a window into her dream world as she sleeps. I'll hear her say things like, "I've forgotten this fellow's name... (a few seconds later) and he's not here anyway (as she opens her eyes)." It's possible to have short conversations, but they usually last fewer than 30 seconds.
More later...
Friday Morning
Duane arrived last night and was able to see Mom for a few minutes before visitor hours were over. I had to get a special pass from security to stay into the morning. This morning Duane acquired a visitor pass at 7am and was the first to arrive, then I joined him at 9am when visitor hours began.
She seems to be in less pain today. The P.T. assistant came this morning and Mom walked all the way out into the hall and then back to her bed! She was able to sit up all by herself in bed before standing and this was a happy first! After getting back into bed she was ready for another dose of pain medication. The nurse has added a nerve pain medication to Mom's existing pain medications. Mom wanted me to post that she is in room #642.
I will be flying back home tonight at 7:30pm. I am SO thankful that I have been able to be here up to this point and wish that I could stay longer, but alas my children need me and Cody has to work for the next 3 days straight. I am very grateful that Duane and Kelty will be here with Mom.
One of the reasons I have been more detailed on these last few posts is because I really want my Mom to be able to read about what has been happening. I'm not sure that she will remember much of these last few days at all, or even that I was here by her side as much as I could possibly be. When you are able to read this Mom please know that you were truly incredible each day I was here. You were kind and sweet to each person who attended to you and displayed so much courage. I will continue to check in several times a day with Kelty and Duane to find out how you are doing. I love you so much!
Love,
Leah
She seems to be in less pain today. The P.T. assistant came this morning and Mom walked all the way out into the hall and then back to her bed! She was able to sit up all by herself in bed before standing and this was a happy first! After getting back into bed she was ready for another dose of pain medication. The nurse has added a nerve pain medication to Mom's existing pain medications. Mom wanted me to post that she is in room #642.
I will be flying back home tonight at 7:30pm. I am SO thankful that I have been able to be here up to this point and wish that I could stay longer, but alas my children need me and Cody has to work for the next 3 days straight. I am very grateful that Duane and Kelty will be here with Mom.
One of the reasons I have been more detailed on these last few posts is because I really want my Mom to be able to read about what has been happening. I'm not sure that she will remember much of these last few days at all, or even that I was here by her side as much as I could possibly be. When you are able to read this Mom please know that you were truly incredible each day I was here. You were kind and sweet to each person who attended to you and displayed so much courage. I will continue to check in several times a day with Kelty and Duane to find out how you are doing. I love you so much!
Love,
Leah
Thursday, May 22, 2008
A Rough Night with a Great Walking Moment
It's 1:30am and I wanted to post one more time tonight. Mom has been experiencing much more pain this afternoon and evening. We have meet with the pain specialist twice. The first time we discovered that she was "over medicated," so we were advised to help her cut back on the morphine drip. Several hours later her pain became much more severe and she was re-evaluated by the specialist again. Her morphine drip dosage was reduced and she has been given the ok to push it up to 6 times an hour. She is also taking Perkiset (I have no clue how to spell it) and her dose was increased to 2 pills every 3 hours instead of 1 pill every 4 hours. The pain medication does make her really quite groggy and confused, but even in that state she continues to say that the pain is to much to handle.
However just as I finished writing the last paragraph Mom had a strong urge to stand up and walk. She was totally amazing! First she walked in place griping the walker and lifted one foot at a time. As soon as the nurse and I were able to get the iv's in our hands she was ready to walk forward several steps and then she even turned around to walk back to her bed. Oh this was exciting! Mom said "Even though it kills I feel great being able to walk because I know that this is what will help me heal faster and better." She is now settled back into bed and going in and out of sleep. I wish for her that she were able to stay asleep for longer than just a few minutes at a time.
I am SO SO glad that we have a private nurse here in the room with Mom during the night. I certainly could not provide the level of care that she has needed tonight on my own. I think I may even venture back to the hotel room for a few hours of sleep before we start our day tomorrow.
Thanks to all those who have left comments for Mom. When she is alert enough I know that reading them to her will bring her so much comfort and joy.
Love,
Leah
However just as I finished writing the last paragraph Mom had a strong urge to stand up and walk. She was totally amazing! First she walked in place griping the walker and lifted one foot at a time. As soon as the nurse and I were able to get the iv's in our hands she was ready to walk forward several steps and then she even turned around to walk back to her bed. Oh this was exciting! Mom said "Even though it kills I feel great being able to walk because I know that this is what will help me heal faster and better." She is now settled back into bed and going in and out of sleep. I wish for her that she were able to stay asleep for longer than just a few minutes at a time.
I am SO SO glad that we have a private nurse here in the room with Mom during the night. I certainly could not provide the level of care that she has needed tonight on my own. I think I may even venture back to the hotel room for a few hours of sleep before we start our day tomorrow.
Thanks to all those who have left comments for Mom. When she is alert enough I know that reading them to her will bring her so much comfort and joy.
Love,
Leah
Mom is finally in her own room!
Today started out much like yesterday. I (Leah) spent the first visit with her starting at 9am. After a little kind persuasion I was able to stay by her side for a grand total of 45 minutes. During the visit I was told that she would be moving into her room very soon... I have come to learn that in hospital language "soon" means anytime within the next 4 hours. At 9:45am I went back into the "Family Atrium" to wait until the next visit or until she was moved into her room. During our visit Mom seemed to drift in and out of consciousness more than before. She said several things that did not make much sense as she would come to and then quickly fall back asleep.
At 11:45am Kelty and I were right by her side along with two nurses as she was transferred to her private hospital room. It has lots of windows which she was happy about, but even as we moved from recovery to her new room she drifted in and out of sleep.
Soon a physical therapist named Sara came in and was time for Mom to attempt her first steps! She wanted to make sure that Kelty captured this event on camera to add it to her recovery video that Duane is going to be making for the benefit of others who are investigating undergoing the same surgery.
She was very strong through the pain and took about 6 small, slow steps forward with the assistance of the P.T. and a walker. Then she took 6 steps backwards. She wanted to try again a second time and took about 4 steps forward and then back. By the time she got back to sitting on her bed she was in quite a bit of pain. We had the nurse administer more oral pain medication along with the morphine drip that she is receiving medicine from continually.
I am typing from the side of her bed right now as she is trying to rest. She has been talking and even singing a tune or two as she drifts in and out of sleep. Sometimes she wakes up and seems confused about where she is. I remind her that we are in New York. She has asked to see various family members and friends, but then I remind her that again that we are not in Utah right now. Even though at this moment she is barely consciousness and confused she has really wanted to call her brothers Scott and Ken. Neither one answered but she did her very best to leave a good voice message for each of them and then quickly drifted back into sleep.
My plan is to stay by the side of her bed tonight along with her private nurse to make sure that she knows I am here for her even if only to provide brief moments of comfort to her in those spontaneous moments of awake time.
Kelty is back from her lunch break and my pregnant belly is dreaming of food and now it's my turn to take a quick lunch.
Love,
Leah
At 11:45am Kelty and I were right by her side along with two nurses as she was transferred to her private hospital room. It has lots of windows which she was happy about, but even as we moved from recovery to her new room she drifted in and out of sleep.
Soon a physical therapist named Sara came in and was time for Mom to attempt her first steps! She wanted to make sure that Kelty captured this event on camera to add it to her recovery video that Duane is going to be making for the benefit of others who are investigating undergoing the same surgery.
She was very strong through the pain and took about 6 small, slow steps forward with the assistance of the P.T. and a walker. Then she took 6 steps backwards. She wanted to try again a second time and took about 4 steps forward and then back. By the time she got back to sitting on her bed she was in quite a bit of pain. We had the nurse administer more oral pain medication along with the morphine drip that she is receiving medicine from continually.
I am typing from the side of her bed right now as she is trying to rest. She has been talking and even singing a tune or two as she drifts in and out of sleep. Sometimes she wakes up and seems confused about where she is. I remind her that we are in New York. She has asked to see various family members and friends, but then I remind her that again that we are not in Utah right now. Even though at this moment she is barely consciousness and confused she has really wanted to call her brothers Scott and Ken. Neither one answered but she did her very best to leave a good voice message for each of them and then quickly drifted back into sleep.
My plan is to stay by the side of her bed tonight along with her private nurse to make sure that she knows I am here for her even if only to provide brief moments of comfort to her in those spontaneous moments of awake time.
Kelty is back from her lunch break and my pregnant belly is dreaming of food and now it's my turn to take a quick lunch.
Love,
Leah
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Wednesday's Recap
9:00am - This was the first time that we were allowed to visit with Mom today. Shortly before we went in Mom was woken up for the first time and her breathing tube was removed. We were very pleasantly surprised to find her with a big smile and lots to say. Unfortunately we are still only permitted to go in to her bed side one at a time, but when I (Leah) was by her side I felt so comforted to hear her coherent words of contentedness. We were able to reassure her that the surgery went terrifically and that her spine looked quite straight in the x-rays.
11:30am- After waiting in the "Family Atrium" since the first visit we were so excited to be able to see Mom again. We suited up in our sterile yellow gowns and went to Mom's side one at a time. As I stroked her head she mentioned that it felt really good, so I kept that up for the 5 minutes I was able to be with her. She said that she felt a lot of pain in her back, but no pain in other areas of her body (this is actually a really good thing and I will explain why later in this post). As Kelty, Arian and I shared with each other our conversations with Mom the overwhelming feeling from her has been that she is very happy that she was able to have this surgery and also that all the medical staff have been wonderful.
During this visit I tried to acquire details from the nurse about when she would be transferred to her room and was told it would be later today. In the following visit we were told that she would actually not be able to leave the recovery unit tonight because they still wanted to monitor her closely, however, she would be moved to the "step down recovery unit." We were able to tour this area and the environment is much more peaceful and quiet. Although we really wish we were able to spend more time with Mom, we know that she is receiving top notch medical care.
1:30pm- Mom was so happy to see each of us again. She said to me "I keep asking the nurses when I can see my kids again and even if they say it is going to be another 15 minutes it seems like forever." When Kelty was by her side she requested her i-pod so that she could listen to music and she also wanted to use her mouth guard which helps her mouth stay closed when she is sleeping. It was a bit of a fiasco trying to get those items in to her and we ended up in a little meeting with the very kind charge nurse named Bambi who was able to help us get those things to Mom.
2:45pm- Earlier in the day we had requested to talk to another doctor (Dr. B is out of town until Sunday) about a few more specifics of the surgery. We were happy to learn that Dr. Kim was in Mom's surgery and would be in to talk to us soon. He was very kind and took time to answer all of our questions. Again we were so happy to hear that things were looking better then we had hoped for. Here is some of the information Dr. Kim shared with us:
1. None of Mom's rib bones were needed to successfully complete the procedure. This is great news because she was nervous about dealing with the additional pain if portions of her ribs needed to be used.
2. After about 1 year Mom should have a "normal" range of motion in her spine above and below where the rods are secured. We should never be concerned about the titanium rods breaking, the will not.
3. Although a full recovery could take up to one year, Mom should be able to "preform activities of daily living" after a few months. We are SO VERY VERY THANKFUL to Kelty and Duane for willingly moving into Mom's house for the next 3 months to care for her day and night.
4. In the x-rays we viewed last night her spine looked very straight, but Dr. B predicts that she still has about a 20% curve. However, until they are able to take an x-ray while she is standing up we will not have a completely accurate analysis about the amount of curvature. The exciting news that Dr. Kim explained about this remaining curve is that with appropriate daily exercise (which we know Mom has no problem doing) it is possible for her to lessen the curve even further.
3:30pm- Since this was the last time Arian would be able to see Mom he spent the visit with her. For the first time he was allowed to be by her side for 30 minutes, yippee! She had been moved to the "step down" recovery unit by this time, hoary! Here is what he said about the visit : "She was asleep with her i-pod on when I got in, but she did not have the mouth guard in and so I found it, washed it and put it right into her hand. She soon woke up and was happy to see me. I told her that none of her rib bone was needed in the surgery and this news made her very happy. She told me that she felt so well taken care of, everyone had been so kind to her and that she was happy and thankful to be here." When Arian came back to Kelty and I it was apparent that he was sad to say good-bye to Mom. We were all so glad that Arian was able to get away from his hectic life and be here during this important time.
Kelty and I are waiting to see Mom again during the 6:00pm visit and then again at the 8:00pm visit. I'm sure that all will go well and we hope she will be able to get a good night sleep tonight.
Love,
Leah & Kelty
11:30am- After waiting in the "Family Atrium" since the first visit we were so excited to be able to see Mom again. We suited up in our sterile yellow gowns and went to Mom's side one at a time. As I stroked her head she mentioned that it felt really good, so I kept that up for the 5 minutes I was able to be with her. She said that she felt a lot of pain in her back, but no pain in other areas of her body (this is actually a really good thing and I will explain why later in this post). As Kelty, Arian and I shared with each other our conversations with Mom the overwhelming feeling from her has been that she is very happy that she was able to have this surgery and also that all the medical staff have been wonderful.
During this visit I tried to acquire details from the nurse about when she would be transferred to her room and was told it would be later today. In the following visit we were told that she would actually not be able to leave the recovery unit tonight because they still wanted to monitor her closely, however, she would be moved to the "step down recovery unit." We were able to tour this area and the environment is much more peaceful and quiet. Although we really wish we were able to spend more time with Mom, we know that she is receiving top notch medical care.
1:30pm- Mom was so happy to see each of us again. She said to me "I keep asking the nurses when I can see my kids again and even if they say it is going to be another 15 minutes it seems like forever." When Kelty was by her side she requested her i-pod so that she could listen to music and she also wanted to use her mouth guard which helps her mouth stay closed when she is sleeping. It was a bit of a fiasco trying to get those items in to her and we ended up in a little meeting with the very kind charge nurse named Bambi who was able to help us get those things to Mom.
2:45pm- Earlier in the day we had requested to talk to another doctor (Dr. B is out of town until Sunday) about a few more specifics of the surgery. We were happy to learn that Dr. Kim was in Mom's surgery and would be in to talk to us soon. He was very kind and took time to answer all of our questions. Again we were so happy to hear that things were looking better then we had hoped for. Here is some of the information Dr. Kim shared with us:
1. None of Mom's rib bones were needed to successfully complete the procedure. This is great news because she was nervous about dealing with the additional pain if portions of her ribs needed to be used.
2. After about 1 year Mom should have a "normal" range of motion in her spine above and below where the rods are secured. We should never be concerned about the titanium rods breaking, the will not.
3. Although a full recovery could take up to one year, Mom should be able to "preform activities of daily living" after a few months. We are SO VERY VERY THANKFUL to Kelty and Duane for willingly moving into Mom's house for the next 3 months to care for her day and night.
4. In the x-rays we viewed last night her spine looked very straight, but Dr. B predicts that she still has about a 20% curve. However, until they are able to take an x-ray while she is standing up we will not have a completely accurate analysis about the amount of curvature. The exciting news that Dr. Kim explained about this remaining curve is that with appropriate daily exercise (which we know Mom has no problem doing) it is possible for her to lessen the curve even further.
3:30pm- Since this was the last time Arian would be able to see Mom he spent the visit with her. For the first time he was allowed to be by her side for 30 minutes, yippee! She had been moved to the "step down" recovery unit by this time, hoary! Here is what he said about the visit : "She was asleep with her i-pod on when I got in, but she did not have the mouth guard in and so I found it, washed it and put it right into her hand. She soon woke up and was happy to see me. I told her that none of her rib bone was needed in the surgery and this news made her very happy. She told me that she felt so well taken care of, everyone had been so kind to her and that she was happy and thankful to be here." When Arian came back to Kelty and I it was apparent that he was sad to say good-bye to Mom. We were all so glad that Arian was able to get away from his hectic life and be here during this important time.
Kelty and I are waiting to see Mom again during the 6:00pm visit and then again at the 8:00pm visit. I'm sure that all will go well and we hope she will be able to get a good night sleep tonight.
Love,
Leah & Kelty
Recap from the Kids
Family and Friends,
Thank you so much for all the loving support and prayers, the positive energy has been felt throughout this process. Thank you to Dion for updating the blog, Leah, Kelty, and I wanted to give a quick sibling update. Here is a review of yesterday with some more details.
12:00 P.M. : After braving the NY traffic on a commute into the city from New Rochelle we arrived at the hospital right on time. From the moment we sat down at the check in station people were warm and friendly. Mom started signing paper work and got her plastic medical bracelet. We then walked to the "waiting" room where we ran into Dr. Boachie. We did no waiting and were shown directly to a surgery prep room by the doctor.
1:00-2:00: There were many prods and checks to prepare mom for the surgery. Dr. Boachie came back in and drew lines where the incision would be. He visited with us briefly and was very warm and calming. All of the hospital staff seemed to acknowledge that Dr. B was a well respected surgeon. There were many "oh, you are with Dr. Boachie, that is good" comments from nurses preparing mom for the surgery.We also met with the anesthesiologist Kate. She was very kind and professional. She immediately noticed that mom has a small throat. She was concerned that it was going to be challenging to get the breathing tube in. Because of this she mentioned that once they got the tube in they would keep it in for the remainder of the night. This was because of mom's history with sleep apnea.
Between the time that the nurses and doctors were doing their final checks before the surgery mom was very bright and positive. She was happy and was full of thoughtful and kind things to say.At one point, around 1:30 she paused and said that she could feel the prayers and support in her behalf. She really seemed to be buoyed up by the love and support she felt.
Mom was also full of thoughtful advice and tender words of love. I think that because mom lost her dad at a young age she has been particularly sensitive to the fact that death can come even when unexpected. For this reason perhaps, she has prepared well incase the worst scenario occurred. I think she was in this mode of thought in her conversations prior to the surgery.
2:00 p.m.: They hooked up mom to an IV and Kate then gave her a sedative. They then started to wheel her out and the drug quickly started working. As mom was fading she asked that we all be contributors on a daily basis and that we work to be "givers." She said "I love you" many times and asked us to "be kind to the earth." Then she was whisked away.
3:40 p.m.: The attendant in the family waiting room informed us that the surgery had just started. We found out later that the small delay was due to the fact that there were some complications in getting the breathing tube in.
8:20 p.m.: After what felt like a long wait, Dr. Boachie came into the family waiting room and let us know the surgery had gone well. He showed us photos on his digital camera of some x-rays of mom's spine. We saw it from the back and side views. It looked incredible. The curve was almost totally gone. It looked straight. I bet mom has gained a few inches. He seemed very positive and optimistic, but he also looked tired.
The Anesthesiologist came in to the room and Dr. B departed. She shared that mom would be in the recovery unit all night and would remain sedated. This was because the breathing tube would be kept in. Kate also confirmed that mom's surgery went well and that all the indicators were positive.
8:30 p.m.: Dressed in sterile smocks we were permitted to enter the recovery unit one at a time for about 5 minutes each. Mom was hooked up on various machines and was asleep/sedated due to the breathing tube. Arian brought in the special shawl that mom had requested and each said a few words of "positive affirmation" per mom's request.
The last thing we were told was that Mom would have the tube taken out around 8:30am the following morning and the first time we would be able to see her would be soon after that time.
Again, we are so grateful for all the helping hands and faith filled support. Mom is so fortunate to have people who care deeply about her. It was a blessing to be able to have the surgery here and especially under the hands of an accomplished and kind surgeon like Dr. Boachie. We feel truly blessed and appreciative that mom will be able to enjoy a better quality of life and added longevity because of this event. We have much to be grateful for.
Love,
Arian, Leah, and Kelty
Thank you so much for all the loving support and prayers, the positive energy has been felt throughout this process. Thank you to Dion for updating the blog, Leah, Kelty, and I wanted to give a quick sibling update. Here is a review of yesterday with some more details.
12:00 P.M. : After braving the NY traffic on a commute into the city from New Rochelle we arrived at the hospital right on time. From the moment we sat down at the check in station people were warm and friendly. Mom started signing paper work and got her plastic medical bracelet. We then walked to the "waiting" room where we ran into Dr. Boachie. We did no waiting and were shown directly to a surgery prep room by the doctor.
1:00-2:00: There were many prods and checks to prepare mom for the surgery. Dr. Boachie came back in and drew lines where the incision would be. He visited with us briefly and was very warm and calming. All of the hospital staff seemed to acknowledge that Dr. B was a well respected surgeon. There were many "oh, you are with Dr. Boachie, that is good" comments from nurses preparing mom for the surgery.We also met with the anesthesiologist Kate. She was very kind and professional. She immediately noticed that mom has a small throat. She was concerned that it was going to be challenging to get the breathing tube in. Because of this she mentioned that once they got the tube in they would keep it in for the remainder of the night. This was because of mom's history with sleep apnea.
Between the time that the nurses and doctors were doing their final checks before the surgery mom was very bright and positive. She was happy and was full of thoughtful and kind things to say.At one point, around 1:30 she paused and said that she could feel the prayers and support in her behalf. She really seemed to be buoyed up by the love and support she felt.
Mom was also full of thoughtful advice and tender words of love. I think that because mom lost her dad at a young age she has been particularly sensitive to the fact that death can come even when unexpected. For this reason perhaps, she has prepared well incase the worst scenario occurred. I think she was in this mode of thought in her conversations prior to the surgery.
2:00 p.m.: They hooked up mom to an IV and Kate then gave her a sedative. They then started to wheel her out and the drug quickly started working. As mom was fading she asked that we all be contributors on a daily basis and that we work to be "givers." She said "I love you" many times and asked us to "be kind to the earth." Then she was whisked away.
3:40 p.m.: The attendant in the family waiting room informed us that the surgery had just started. We found out later that the small delay was due to the fact that there were some complications in getting the breathing tube in.
8:20 p.m.: After what felt like a long wait, Dr. Boachie came into the family waiting room and let us know the surgery had gone well. He showed us photos on his digital camera of some x-rays of mom's spine. We saw it from the back and side views. It looked incredible. The curve was almost totally gone. It looked straight. I bet mom has gained a few inches. He seemed very positive and optimistic, but he also looked tired.
The Anesthesiologist came in to the room and Dr. B departed. She shared that mom would be in the recovery unit all night and would remain sedated. This was because the breathing tube would be kept in. Kate also confirmed that mom's surgery went well and that all the indicators were positive.
8:30 p.m.: Dressed in sterile smocks we were permitted to enter the recovery unit one at a time for about 5 minutes each. Mom was hooked up on various machines and was asleep/sedated due to the breathing tube. Arian brought in the special shawl that mom had requested and each said a few words of "positive affirmation" per mom's request.
The last thing we were told was that Mom would have the tube taken out around 8:30am the following morning and the first time we would be able to see her would be soon after that time.
Again, we are so grateful for all the helping hands and faith filled support. Mom is so fortunate to have people who care deeply about her. It was a blessing to be able to have the surgery here and especially under the hands of an accomplished and kind surgeon like Dr. Boachie. We feel truly blessed and appreciative that mom will be able to enjoy a better quality of life and added longevity because of this event. We have much to be grateful for.
Love,
Arian, Leah, and Kelty
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
All Went Well
A short while ago, Dr. Boachie came to tell Arian, Kelty and Leah that Ginger's surgery went very well, and she came through it just fine. The doctor commented that her back is now dramatically different than before, and she will probably be under anesthetic until tomorrow. (reported by Dion - another member of Ginger's Fan Club)
Right On Time
It's Tuesday, May 20th, and everything is moving forward like clockwork for Ginger in NYC. The surgery should last approximately four or more hours, and then she will be recovering in ICU. She's in great shape for this procedure, having superbly passed all exams and tests since arriving in NYC last week.
Before surgery this morning, Ginger's doctor dropped by, gave her big hugs, and met Ariane, Leah and Kelty, who are impressed with his warmth and kindness. (Nurses and others at the hospital say this surgeon is The Best. ) As she was wheeled away to pre-op, she was looking at her kids, and they'll be the first thing she'll see when she regains consciousness. They'll be waiting for her and spending the night in the surgery waitingroom. (More to follow post-op.)
Before surgery this morning, Ginger's doctor dropped by, gave her big hugs, and met Ariane, Leah and Kelty, who are impressed with his warmth and kindness. (Nurses and others at the hospital say this surgeon is The Best. ) As she was wheeled away to pre-op, she was looking at her kids, and they'll be the first thing she'll see when she regains consciousness. They'll be waiting for her and spending the night in the surgery waitingroom. (More to follow post-op.)
Monday, May 19, 2008
This is my unquestionably final post!
All three of my children are here in New York. How blessed I am! Arian, my son, will stay for a couple of days. Leah, my eldest daughter, will return home to her babes after four days. Kelty, my youngest daughter, will stay by my side throughout my recovery. She and her husband plan to move into my home until I'm an independent woman once more. Isn't that the best?!
This afternoon, the four of us took a grand tour of Burke's Rehab, where I anticipated going after my week at the hospital. Well, it seems that they only want me if I can do a full schedule of physical therapy. However, I will not be able to do P.T. for a few months. Walking will be my only "rehab" according to Dr. Boachie. In other words, I'm not really a candidate for a rehabilitation facility. In fact, they told me they would probably release me under the circumstances. I'm glad we really got the scoop so we could redirect our course!
The NEW plan is to stay at the guest facility right next to the hospital until I am cleared to fly home. With Kelty's help, that is! My doctor says that his patients recover best in their own homes (with assistance) and his goal is to get me there as soon as possible.
How do I feel, just hours before this major spinal reconstruction?
FABULOUS! And, GRATEFUL!
I thank you all for caring enough to follow my recovery. This blog is for YOU and perhaps it will also be a way to share my experience with other people who are struggling with scoliosis and considering surgery.
It's been phenomenal to get all the little messages of encouragement posted on the blog. What would I do without wonderfully caring people in my life?!
Kelty will pick up messages here or at gingerinrecovery@yahoo.com.
Now, I'm off to bed and then, tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST, I'll be on the table, getting my IMPROVED SPINE!
Please, please, please send me your loving hearts so I can gather strength from you.
Ginger
All three of my children are here in New York. How blessed I am! Arian, my son, will stay for a couple of days. Leah, my eldest daughter, will return home to her babes after four days. Kelty, my youngest daughter, will stay by my side throughout my recovery. She and her husband plan to move into my home until I'm an independent woman once more. Isn't that the best?!
This afternoon, the four of us took a grand tour of Burke's Rehab, where I anticipated going after my week at the hospital. Well, it seems that they only want me if I can do a full schedule of physical therapy. However, I will not be able to do P.T. for a few months. Walking will be my only "rehab" according to Dr. Boachie. In other words, I'm not really a candidate for a rehabilitation facility. In fact, they told me they would probably release me under the circumstances. I'm glad we really got the scoop so we could redirect our course!
The NEW plan is to stay at the guest facility right next to the hospital until I am cleared to fly home. With Kelty's help, that is! My doctor says that his patients recover best in their own homes (with assistance) and his goal is to get me there as soon as possible.
How do I feel, just hours before this major spinal reconstruction?
FABULOUS! And, GRATEFUL!
I thank you all for caring enough to follow my recovery. This blog is for YOU and perhaps it will also be a way to share my experience with other people who are struggling with scoliosis and considering surgery.
It's been phenomenal to get all the little messages of encouragement posted on the blog. What would I do without wonderfully caring people in my life?!
Kelty will pick up messages here or at gingerinrecovery@yahoo.com.
Now, I'm off to bed and then, tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST, I'll be on the table, getting my IMPROVED SPINE!
Please, please, please send me your loving hearts so I can gather strength from you.
Ginger
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Ginger here. Such odd sensations at this juncture. Sometimes I feel like I'm walking towards a moving train. At other times, I remember that I am choosing a healthier life with a supported spine which will carry me through many more years of living, loving, and laughing. Truly, that's my choice.
For those of you who haven't seen an x-ray of my spine, you simply wouldn't understand why I would volunteer for this invasive procedure when I'm getting around adequately, albeit assisted by Ultraset, my drug of choice. Well, curvature of the spine (scoliosis) is progressive. My curves get curvier on a monthly basis. Some of my discs are slipping off of the discs below them. So, I'm taking the surgical risk to prevent the probabilities of more pain, more complications, less freedom of motion. This surgery is a choice. I am fully choosing it. I still have a great deal of active living to do. Therefore, I will surrender myself to this Major Procedure.
I would appreciate all of your prayers and positive energy on Tuesday. Especially at noon Eastern Standard Time and 10 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. Although the procedure is not due to start until 1 p.m. (EST), your loving support will help me to feel peaceful as I am prepped for surgery. If everything goes perfectly, the surgery will last around five hours. Dr. Boachie has decided to avoid the risks of undoing my existing eight fusions, although my new titanium rods will extend into this area of the spine. This means that he will only enter from the posterior side and not the anterior side. Happily, the surgery will be five hours instead of a full day or two.
I am feeling extraordinarily grateful for all of your support. I've been touched by many unexpected kindnesses as I've prepared for this Big Event. It's very challenging for me to need help. Too many years of being on my own. At this point, I am definitely grateful for every ounce of support. I'm going to be rather dependent for a while. So foreign. I anticipate that it will teach me new things, if I don't resist the lessons. Time for some humility.
My mom was humble and gracious until the very end of her life, even though it was really tough for her to lose her independence. I'm hoping some of her humility and graciousness will "rub off" on me. Maybe genetics can help a bit.
For those of you who haven't seen an x-ray of my spine, you simply wouldn't understand why I would volunteer for this invasive procedure when I'm getting around adequately, albeit assisted by Ultraset, my drug of choice. Well, curvature of the spine (scoliosis) is progressive. My curves get curvier on a monthly basis. Some of my discs are slipping off of the discs below them. So, I'm taking the surgical risk to prevent the probabilities of more pain, more complications, less freedom of motion. This surgery is a choice. I am fully choosing it. I still have a great deal of active living to do. Therefore, I will surrender myself to this Major Procedure.
I would appreciate all of your prayers and positive energy on Tuesday. Especially at noon Eastern Standard Time and 10 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. Although the procedure is not due to start until 1 p.m. (EST), your loving support will help me to feel peaceful as I am prepped for surgery. If everything goes perfectly, the surgery will last around five hours. Dr. Boachie has decided to avoid the risks of undoing my existing eight fusions, although my new titanium rods will extend into this area of the spine. This means that he will only enter from the posterior side and not the anterior side. Happily, the surgery will be five hours instead of a full day or two.
I am feeling extraordinarily grateful for all of your support. I've been touched by many unexpected kindnesses as I've prepared for this Big Event. It's very challenging for me to need help. Too many years of being on my own. At this point, I am definitely grateful for every ounce of support. I'm going to be rather dependent for a while. So foreign. I anticipate that it will teach me new things, if I don't resist the lessons. Time for some humility.
My mom was humble and gracious until the very end of her life, even though it was really tough for her to lose her independence. I'm hoping some of her humility and graciousness will "rub off" on me. Maybe genetics can help a bit.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Getting Prepped for Surgery!
Surprise! I'm back, typing on a borrowed mini-laptop. Sheesh, I keep making errors and then correcting them, followed by another round of boo-boos. My fingers know just where to strike the keys, PROVIDED that the keys would show some good manners and relocate themselves to where they ought to reside. Humph!
From dawn til dusk, The Hospital for Special Surgury entertained me with various novel types of examinations on an hourly basis. I came back to my dear little room outside the city (in New Rochelle) and I'm quite wiped out. Lots of poking, more blood tests, EKGs, pulmonary studies, and the good thing is this , I SILL HAVE A GREEN LIGHT FOR SURGERY ON TUESDAY
Love, the gal who was't going to write again. (Ginger )
P.S. Tonight I looked at photos of each of those I love and they were SO SO SO inspiring! So many of you are in my photo collection and I find myself smiling as I see your faces. You have touched my life unquestionably.
From dawn til dusk, The Hospital for Special Surgury entertained me with various novel types of examinations on an hourly basis. I came back to my dear little room outside the city (in New Rochelle) and I'm quite wiped out. Lots of poking, more blood tests, EKGs, pulmonary studies, and the good thing is this , I SILL HAVE A GREEN LIGHT FOR SURGERY ON TUESDAY
Love, the gal who was't going to write again. (Ginger )
P.S. Tonight I looked at photos of each of those I love and they were SO SO SO inspiring! So many of you are in my photo collection and I find myself smiling as I see your faces. You have touched my life unquestionably.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Ginger's NYC address
This is where Ginger (left, at age 21) will be staying in New York City:
Hospital for Special Surgery
Hospital for Special Surgery
535 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
As she said only moments ago, she's ready to climb the mountain!
New York, NY 10021
As she said only moments ago, she's ready to climb the mountain!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Dear People I Love
Dear People I Love,
I may have seemed like a very normal person to you, but my insides aren't normal at all! I developed severe scoliosis or curvature of the spine when I was thirteen and several discs were fused at age fourteen. I lived in a plaster body cast for a year, since it was the Dark Ages of fusions and there was no instrumentation to hold my spine in place. I can truly say that my recovery was a highlight of my childhood, because I learned more than I possibly could have if I’d been a well-bodied kid.
In five days, I will leave for
I am a bit weepy as the day draws close, but I am not afraid. In fact, I want to create a YouTube video of my recovery so that other 'mature' adults will consider the surgery route if their scoliosis is progressing and making life difficult. Of course, that means I will need to recover in a way that is graceful enough to be inspiring. Good thing I'm not really vain, because I am fairly certain I am going to look like a truck ran over me!
Anyhow, this will probably be the only post written by Yours Truly. From now on, my children and my friend Dion will be providing the updates. If you want to connect with me, it would be best for you to write an email. In fact, I'd love to hear from you. The email address that my kids will be checking is gingerinrecovery@yahoo.com
I probably won't have the energy or coherency to speak on the phone and it's not because I don't love you. As I understand, the morphine is likely to scramble my brain. It may be as long as two months before telephone conversations will be possible. If a phone call needs to be made, you can contact my daughter Kelty at: 801-372-3540. (This is Ginger's cell phone.) If she is not avaliable, leave a message.
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