Thank you all so very, very much for your kind words and thoughts on my last post,
they all helped me tremendously and I'm sorry I couldn't reply to all individually at the time.
I didn't ask John to update as he has been so busy during the last four
weeks, I'm sure you'll understand.
This little post will be written with rest times in-between for my hands.
Present situation ....
new fibreglass cast as of two weeks ago
Surgery of almost 2 hours went well, no problems with anaesthetic
and they also gave me a 16hr full arm block to help with the
initial pain when I came around.
I must tell you that I had a 'quilting fairy' as one of the two surgeons!!
I mentioned I was concerned about the outcome as I was a quilter, she said she too
was a quilter taught by her grandma and believe it or not she shops at the
very same store as myself a short ride away - her comment was
"Kaffe Fassett and Tula Pink - can't get enough" HOORAY!!
She reached under the cover and held my hand as the anaesthetic struggled
to get access to my difficult to access veins and I drifted off quite happily.
Apologies for overlong medical detail in advance, this will be a one off!!
Discharged 24 hrs later after a few little hiccups with medications, two were
missed the night of the operation and two the morning of my discharge, I was also given
morphine. Having not slept for 24 hrs I was not feeling good at all and whilst
with John in the Discharge Lounge I became aware of all these coloured dots
when I closed my eyes, very strange. Home in the car on a very hot day,
seat reclining when I began to see beautiful groves of the most wonderful coloured
trees - purple ones, gorgeous, green even better and so on. Arrived in the drive
where I apparently passed out cold! John was able to get me out of the car as I
was gaining consciousness and we made it into the house. At this point I also had an amazingly heavy
plaster cast.
OP appt two weeks ago I was checked and told I would have to be in a lighter
cast for four more weeks as the surgeons could see I had
thin bones - read osteoporosis here.- and I had really battered the bones .Infusion will be needed to try and
strengthen and stimulate new bone growth.
I could regain up to 80% use of my hand, it won't be as it was before, very stiff
because of the stainless steel and titanium plate going from palm down into the forearm on one bone
and pins and screws holding the other bone with fragments. Both carpal bones
were able to be re-aligned.
However
I decided to see what I could do right now - able to steady two of the
2 and 1/2" squares with two left H fingers and pin with right - bingo!!
In a few days I'll see how I go trying to feed through the machine - fingers crossed.
I have had a brief rummage through one of my huge scrap piles and was
thrilled to find
this beautiful Martha Negley fabric - it's her first, you can see 01
in the selvedge, not ironed as you can see, I'm now excited to see what other
long hidden treasures are waiting for me in there,.
So, a long path ahead they tell me but I won't let this beat me,
I shall take all care necessary but will be quilting with the help of physio and splints.
I'm going to ask youngest grand-daughter to help me make my little room more
user friendly for a slightly handicapped quilter who has been told that presently
she is not to attempt to lift more than a teacup with my left hand - no problem there, I do
have a working right hand.
I always enjoy a cuppa!
On the subject of a cuppa I bought this fabric a week before my accident, had
to bring a half yard home with me.
I hope to post again in a week with quilting progress.
Happy Quilting
Maureen
17 comments:
What an intrepid quilter you are Maureen--I give you full marks credit for struggling through all of this and still sewing!! Sending prayers for a good recovery and much more use of your arm. Gosh it has been quite a year hasn't it? Hugs and prayers Julierose
This is such good news!! Thanks for keeping all of us up to date on your progress.
A good surgeon who cares so much is like gold. The lighter cast would have been so welcome, and you are a miracle to be trying to pin and sew so soon. John ,you get the Purple Rosette for all you have been doing and no doubt continuing to do. As you said,A better option that way than having helpers come in each day, not knowing where they might have been with these thousands of positive cases appearing. Guess we can all be thankful we do not live in Wellington. And to rummage round and find fabrics, even that is a huge step forward. XXX
Delighted to read that you are taking steps in the right direction but be sure to take it easy. I have been thinking of you overtime I sat at my machine or threaded a needle!
Keep going in the right direction and time will soon pass and bring you where you want to be.
Down the Long and Winding Road with Love from Liverpool from me to you.
What luck having a quilter to repair you. I hope the bone regrowth works. The lighter weight cast must feel so much better.
I had no idea that was Martha Negley's first fabric. I will have to go searching through my Martha fabric shelf and see which numbers I have.
Have fun searching through your scrap piles. This might be a good time to sort them by size or color or value.
I'm sure the sight of all your pretty fabric will speed healing! And how wonderful that your surgeon is a quilter! (You know you were in good hands!)
Wahoo!! I knew they could not keep a great quilter down...So happy...Now, do nothing else but fondle your fabric!!! Yeah on this great news.. xoxo
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Pretty fabric is always good for the soul and healing.
How wonderful to find your post today. LOVE that green cast (if you have to have one, go bold!). I'm so happy you had a fellow quilt maker in surgery - what were the odds of that! And here's to healing, both physical and emotional/mental. Take care and savor every bit of progress!!
What a trooper! So pleased to read your update, you have certainly been through the mill but good to hear of your determination to come out the other end able to sew. Congratulations to John for all his hard work too.
Can't keep a good quilter down for long! Your positive attitude is sure to help speed recovery. But don't overdo it. Healing thoughts flying your way.
Pat
Great to see a post from you, Bionic woman! I have been praying for you to catch a buoyant wave in attitude and outlook. Super to hear from you!
Great to hear the bounce in your voice. Best wishes for continued healing.
What a horrible setback! I am glad you are well on the way to a speedy recovery. Do take care of yourself. Play with fabric, look at books and magazines, and in good time you will be able to start quilting again.
This too shall pass. Last year, less than a week after getting a new hip joint I blacked out, fell and broke my wrist, on same side as hip. I could still use a cane on the other side. Feeling sew much better now, just not motivated, and have so many UFOs I'd like to get the tops done this year, or at least a few of the 30 that came to mind!
I'm so happy to hear there are improvements happening. Yay to any sort of connection to your quilting! So good to hear you are in fighting spirits.:)
I’m delighted to hear you’re improving. ‘Wonderful to have a quilting surgeon. Best wishes for continued improvement.
You might look at Freddy Moran’s more recent quilts for inspiration about quilting with disabilities. She cuts out shapes (and even has people who cut things out for her) then lays them out, glues them with glue sticks, and someone else quilts them. Really neat to think of new ways to work.
Post a Comment