Day 18 Post Surgery: Stitches, or rather the one long stitch used for the 15cm wound, was removed late today. The surgeon is very happy with my recovery to date. No formal physiotherapy required but I do need to continue my current exercise routine which is mostly walking, step-work and pool exercise. One elbow crutch should still be used in some environments until January 24th after an X-ray and reviewed again by the surgeon. Until then, I’ll be taking precautions to not over do anything and just taking my time to fully recover. A more settled sleep pattern is a priority. No more sleeping flat on my back should help.

Everyone has been supportive and encouraging. Thank you.

I’m really hoping I can sit for longer at the computer too so I can write new poems and articles. It’s often uncomfortable as well as finding the time between my rehab routines.

Thanks for your patience. – Chrissy

Archived in: 🦋 Updates

Do you see the blue house at the top left corner of the image below? That’s our house. That’s our car leaving our little Avenue. Norm’s off to have a haircut. I’m on walk two of my three times a day walk of the Avenue before returning to the comfort of my soft bed to do my knee exercises. I walk about 150 metres. I was using using two elbow crutches until this morning. Now it’s just one.

Day 12 after surgery and day 8 at home. I’ve also started pool exercises this week which is so much easier and painless. The days a warm. I love summer. It’s the best season to be in the pool.

Not a good look but impressive.

Archived in: 🦋 Updates

Thanks to everyone who sent well wishes and love since my knee replacement surgery last Thursday, November 23rd.

The surgeon was so impressed with my progress that he sent me home after breakfast yesterday, Sunday November 26th. Pain and sleep management, although still not perfect, is easier now that I’m home.

I’m not up to writing much yet but I look forward to reading posts of those I follow.

Archived in: 🦋 Updates

In just three days I hope to have my knee replacement surgery so I won’t be online for at least four days. I’ll try to talk Norm through submitting a quick update post sometime over the weekend when I’m feeling up to it but I hope to be out of bed and looking for something to do besides physiotherapy.

I have rescheduled a few archived posts from Riverside Peace for the following week which I hope you will enjoy again until I’m up to writing again.

If all goes well with surgery and recovery, I hope to be home as soon as I can manage both post-surgery pain and Canadian/forearm crutches. My ongoing recovery and physiotherapy plan can be then done at home.

Because I’m severely allergic to the usual, and unusual pain medications, my anesthetist and surgeon have been working on alternative pain relief especially the first 24 hours after the surgery. Please pray for the wisdom of the medical team and for me to work through those early days so I can return home. Thanks in advance.

See you soon.

🦋 Updates and Announcements

100 Christmas Cards made. 35 are now ready to post. I’ve put aside 11 cards for our neighbours. Yes, there are 12 houses on our Avenue and we all see each other often and attend our monthly birthday street BBQ when we can. There’s plenty for friends at church and the Koala Hospital too. This year I decided on poinsettias as the theme. Every card is different. I’ll write in the local cards when I return home from the hospital in early December. I won’t be going anywhere much until I recover from my surgery.

Archived in: 🦋 Updates

I knew before I left the recovery ward that the surgery wasn’t as easy as expected. But then, there were no guarantees before I went in. Today the surgeon showed me the film he took inside my knee. The meniscus was torn and brittle beyond recognition. Only a tiny section at the rear was left behind. The knee joint resembled a nanny goat’s beard in full growth. It looked like it needed a shave. The video was fast-forwarded for a few minutes showing the “shaving”. There is a LOT of arthritis. My knee is still yellow purple and green… inside too apparently. Too bruised and stressed for more surgery too soon.

I have another appointment in 4 weeks when he suspects he will then send me for another x-ray to see how things are recovering. As for a knee replacement in the near future. Who knows. I’m surprised It’s not already booked but after his explanation and watching my video, I’ll just have to wait.

In the meantime, I’ll be on pain medication and will be using a walking stick to prevent any further stress on the joint.

🦋 Updates & Announcements

I’m home after my laparoscopic knee surgery yesterday. Unfortunately, the damage and arthritis are worse than anticipated from MRI, X-ray, and surgeon’s initial consultation. The laparoscope was not in vain and the surgeon was able to see what the knee re-placement will entail. The removal of the torn meniscus and bone fragments and the bone scrapping of the jagged bone should relieve the pain I have been experiencing. I’ll have more information after my next appointment in 10 days to have stitches removed.

Archived in: 🦋 Updates & Announcements

I came across a USB with the drawings I had published among my poems and reflections in my book Glimpses of His Glory. I thought I would share them here in case I lose them again.

Archived in: 🦋 Updates & Announcements

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!You registered on WordPress.com 10 years ago. Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.

🦋 Updates & Announcements

Reverend David Curtis passed away on Friday 14^th April shortly before 9am. David will be sadly missed by everyone at St Thomas Anglican Church Port Macquarie. He has been part of the pastoral care team I coordinate. David’s wisdom and experience he brought to the team has always been appreciated as too his willingness to do end-of-life and palliative care visits for me. David was also much involved with prayer and healing ministries.

Please check out his blog – David Curtis

Our new photos taken by friends who came to celebrate our 42nd Anniversary with us.

Paul & Catherine have been friends for many years. The flowers, wine and candle in the last photo were delivered just after noon and just before our friends arrived. Norm is still the romantic.

Archived in: 🦋 Updates & Announcements

What more can I say?

Only that we don’t have a more recent photo. Perhaps later today after an anniversary lunch with old friends.

Archived in: 🦋 Updates & Announcements

If you have read my post Inconceivable Times this post is a follow-up.

By the time you read this, I will have already been wheeled in and out of surgery. My appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday left me with a number of forms, pre-operation fees and, a very clear understanding of what is going on and what is going to happen. It’s all been rushed because there was a cancellation which was offered to me so it could be done ASAP.

I will need hip replacements in perhaps a year or five but that will be to far off to leave the gluteus medius muscle unattached. This surgery is called the “right hip abductor repair”. I will be in hospital for 2-3 weeks with a further 6 weeks of non-weight bearing at home with extensive rehabilitation.

Once I’m through the worst of the post surgery drowsiness and pain medication, I hope to be back using my laptop in my hospital bed if not for much else than reading some of my favourite WordPress bloggers posts. You may even get a post-op photo of the 20cm -30cm incision for the more bolder followers. 😉

I have pre-scheduled daily posts so you don’t miss me too much. 🙂

Chrissy

Archived in: Announcements

Someone asked me recently “Who are you?” Even if you have previously read ‘About Chrissy’ click on the link anyway and check out the added new lines at the end of the page.

Archived in: 🦋 Updates & Announcements

Archived in: 🦋 Announcements

My dad passed away just after 2am yesterday, Saturday July 10th. The on duty RN was able to alert me in time for me to sit with him until he was gone. I didn’t have any sleep before or after, so I was exhausted by the time the undertakers left a 9.30am. With this horrid lockdown there will be just three plus the celebrant at the graveside funeral. Norm, myself and our son Ken, who lives within the lockdown boundaries, and where we’ll stay until we head home – outside the lockdown area. If the lockdown is just for another two weeks we’ll remain in the Sydney lockdown. If it’s for a longer period as they have predicted we’ll head home under the Covid rules at that time, including a self isolation in our own home and Covid tests. It’s difficult to plan anything beyond a day or two at a time with restrictions changing at short notice.

With most of my photos on my desktop at home, I won’t be able to add more until we return home..

Archived in: Announcements

It’s hard to type with my right pointer finger wrapped up.

On the Friday before Christmas the wind slammed the car door shut on the tip of my finger bursting it open at the base of the nail. It’s no longer painful but I need to keep the top half of the finger well padded to allow the nail to come off on it’s own. It’s going to be a slow process but with the side not lifted embedded in the flesh under that side of the nail, all that can be done is to wait. Typing has also become a very slow process.