Steps to Recovery: Lovey Pushes On

I’m guessing some of y’all are wondering how rehabilitation and recovery are going for our dear Lovey now that three weeks have come and gone since her surgery.  She has willingly (no, not sighing-ly as in the surgery post) agreed to photograph some of her steps towards walking and wellness.

After the first week and a half of much pain and potent meds to dull that, she is now flinging those cast legs about as if they weren’t the weight of cement.  It was such a delicate beginning, lifting those legs up to the double pillows, or gently placing them on the floor again.  Some days it turned my stomach to hear her wincing, just picturing what it looked like behind the Band Aid of a cast.

I’m not one for binding up wounds very well.  I had a mole removed once and when I had to strip the bandage, clean, and replace it, I found myself spinning and in need of a bed and a fan blowing on me for a good while after.  So post surgery care has been an exercise in keeping my Fruit Loops, particularly since an infected toenail was also removed during the surgery (which because of the visual sticking out of the open cast ends added to my stomach turning saga).

Having to bear weight on the casts from day one was agonizing to watch, but she was a brave soul to keep at it.  Hard to believe this was required after slitting a substantial length on the back of her ankles to lengthen tendons.  But movement is the key to keep her tendons stretched.

Her phsyiotherapist was amazed to see her walk the full length of the gym in ten feet increments before needing a rest. I was amazed to see they even thought it possible to try stairs the very same day.  Who’d have thought?! But she did them: four stairs at the end of walking the full gym.  The physiotherapist just kept repeating, “She looks great! This is great!”  I imagine there must be a good deal of excitement in that kind of career when unexpected improvement comes on at a good pace.

(We like to tease her that this photo is a re-enactment of the Princess and the Pea.)

She has been keeping busy with friends stopping by to visit, lots of art supplies to keep her hands busy making paper flowers, trying her hand at jewelry making, drawing, sketching, using pastels (yes, art is her favourite subject if you haven’t guessed yet).

And, of course, one of her most favourite past times is reading.  Friends from as far away as Azerbaijan sent three new novels she hadn’t read yet and was thrilled to receive. Aren’t friends (and Amazon) great?!

Music is also very much a part of Lovey’s life, taking harp lessons on and off over the years.  We got back at it this year but have had to take a break from it since surgery time, though now that she is flinging and flailing those legs about once again, and not in such a delicate state, she is able (able, but is she? smile) to attempt the practice sessions again, and possibly the lessons again very soon.

And the new iPod to fill some of the very dull early moments of life after surgery has been a fun extra for her, and her best bunny, Sophie.

2015 really marks a road to recovery for our family on so many levels.  We’re grateful for progress, motivation, and cheerful hearts.  It really is good medicine.