Cabernet and Carboplatin

This weekend I was thinking about how small my world is. Many days I don't leave the house, and so often, when I do leave it's to go to see a doctor or a therapist. But today brought promise of my world expanding. Not immediate, but at least I have hope on the horizon. I saw my prosthetician today, with a rehab physician joining us on Zoom. They were both pleased with my strength and flexibility. Lots of questions were asked and answered, but most important, measurements were taken for a "trainer" prosthesis. In the next few weeks I will get this temporary prosthetic leg to use during physical therapy. Depending upon how I do, I should get my permanent leg in around six months. If motivation is any factor I will be ahead of schedule. My occupational therapist has been working to strengthen my arms, and most likely, when I start physical therapy tomorrow, my therapist will have me up on a walker. If not tomorrow, soon. I will have to get stronger snd work on my ba

Jerry had an opportunity to teach some flight students in Redding, PA, but it would mean he would have to be gone overnight. After discussion and many offers of help from friends, we decided it would be a good opportunity for both of us. Jerry loves to fly, loves to teach, and he is very good at it. His life has been so tied up with mine I knew he really needed to do this. So we made plans. My friend Lynn came over with lunch on Friday, and we had a long, overdue visit. We had shared the same best friend--Jacqui, although Lynn had a much stronger bond with her. They had been close since their twenties and had experienced so much together. But then, many people considered Jacqui a best friend. That was just how she was. Jacqui died right as the pandemic was getting underway, and there isn't a day I don't think about her and miss her. Same with Lynn, though we had a chance to catch up on so much. Lynn left and there was a couple hours gap between her leaving and the time my f

It has now been eight weeks since my chest was cut open for my pulmonary embolism surgery, and according to the surgery notes, I can now bear weight on my arms, something I have been I patiently waiting for. But no one told me how scary it would be. My occupational therapist and I did my first transfer. She put a therapy table at the height of my wheel chair and I slid right over, steadying myself with my hands. It was an amazing feeling! But unfortunately, the living room sofa is not height adjustable. Nor is the TV room sofa, but I tried anyway. The wheelchair was not locked and I ended up on the floor on my behind. Not a good look. Fortunately, it was a short way down so I didn't hurt myself, but poor Jerry had to haul me off the floor. And then, of course, is the issue of two arms that have lifted nothing heavier than a coffee cup in four months. Whatever muscles I had are gone, and the muscles in my upper right arm are still quite painful. So the images I had of me floating

I have been steadily getting donations for Barcstoberfest, Barcs' biggest fundraiser of the year. Rather than donate on line, a friend mailed me a check accompanied by a lovely animal-themed card. I could have mailed the check to Barcs, but instead I decided I would hand deliver it. This is a bigger deal than it sounds. Before my accident, I spent several days a week at Barcs, walking dogs and socializing cats. I wasn't sure how I would handle being there. Would it make me depressed? Would it remind me of everything I had lost? But I decided I needed to go to the place that I have spent so many hours. So Jerry and I got in the car and drove to Barcs. Jerry wheeled me down the path to the area behind the building where there are play yards for the dogs. in the first yard there were several volunteers with dogs. The next yard was the yard that staff holds play group. Play group is an important tool to socialize and evaluate dogs. So much can be learned about dogs by watching