I have been home and mostly silent online after my “decompression lamenectomy” surgery at United Hospital in St Paul. This will allow me to walk more than 10 minutes without pain, which had become increasingly, very gradually, disabling for many years.
I am recovering on schedule and the 29 staples will be removed tomorrow.
The most stunning part of the whole thing was being held in such love by my family. Bob on guard all the time, Todd and Ann Marie arrived to make the hospital journey with me and stand by to wait with Bob to greet me back on the other side. Daughter Cully came the day I was discharged and was an angel at home– keeping track of meds, encouraging my walking and moving as prescribed, laundry, changing sheets, etc. thank you to all of them. And thank you too, to all my friends who sent cards and called –even a vivid lively bouquet from the library friends. Pilamaya for prayers from my “hunka” Lakota family. And thank you, of course, to my talented and intuitive surgeon, Margaret Wallenfreidman, and her team at the hospital.
Bob and I are sticking with our weight loss regime (me 33 pounds, Bob 20 pounds) and that, with the surgery for me means : hiking! dancing! gardening, more stamina, able to stand for lengths of time, more possibilities for more vigorous travel.
Bob and I say how fortunate we are… now there will be more time and energy and ability to further our work to help those less fortunate — and with Obamacare (Obama Cares!) the excellent medical help I received should be available to more people.
We are one big family, as the Lakota people taught me. We are all connected.
If you have time, you might listen to my favorite illustration of this… always lifts my heart. (this is for the scientists too!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGK84Poeynk (copy and paste into your browser)
Hi Judy,
Glad you are doing OK and congratulation on the weight loss.
I have a staple remover and could come up and remove your staples if you want.
I work for wine.
I think the staple removal works the same way… but I will pass on your offer this time
I am so happy to hear about your health improving for you and Bob. I know it is a lot of work. I am still going through issues with my pancreas being enlarged and painful. The doctors never figured it out and I owe them thousands even with the little bits my insurance paid $490.00 a month insurance). Life has lessons but life is good and I am trying to work on my health and do some more holistic things. You are both in my prayers and I will think of you both when I am back at Greengrass.