Japan Adventure

The second day a PT got me up on a walker. It was very scary, and I couldn’t imagine how I would ever be able to walk again. I kept thinking my knee would surely pop open if I put my weight on it! My right leg was bandaged from the top of my thigh all the way to my ankle, so I guess it would have been impossible, but I was wary, just the same, and terrified of falling! Each day I was in the hospital, PT came in twice a day to watch me walk me down the hall on a walker. I didn’t make much progress at first, but gradually I became a little stronger. Although I hadn’t lost enough blood to require a transfusion, I was very, very weak, which surprised me. After walking just a few yards down the hallway, I would come back and collapse in bed, exhausted. I couldn’t imagine that I would ever feel like myself again! On the second day (I think) my IV was removed as well as my drain because I was scheduled to leave on day 3. The next morning I learned how to go up and down stairs, since I would be going home to Holly’s and the bedrooms are upstairs in her house. I really felt worse on day 3, however, and did not feel that I was ready to leave, so I opted to stay one more day. You may have to insist, but it's never good to go home too early!

All the hospital staff who came into my room were professional and kind and it was a better experience that I had anticipated. You hear so many scary things these days about hospitals and I’ve not been hospitalized very many times in my lifetime.

On Day 4, I was feeling much better and ready to go home. I remember being wheeled out and trying to figure out how to get my stiff right leg into the passenger side of our small rental car. Wow – wish Stan had rented something larger! The ride home felt very rough and I was glad to climb into bed when we arrived at Holly's.

WARNING -- GROSS PICTURE BELOW!

My right knee has a Frankenstein-quality to it. Stan thinks I may have won the family record for total number of stitches, if staples count . . . of course there's a bunch of actual stitches inside.














Click "Older Posts" below to continue with this story . . .