Thursday, December 23, 2010

Clarine's Milestone

Tuesday we loaded Clarine into the car and went to see her doctor. Getting her loaded into the car we were extra careful that she put no weight on her foot for that was the operating procedure ever after 5 November when her ankle was restructured. When we got to the doctor's office, the first thing that his assistant did was have us wheel her to a room where they took an X-ray. When the doctor came in to talk to Clarine, he went to a computer screen and keyed up her X-ray. Then he proceeded to tell us what we wanted to hear. While pointing out on the X-ray how close together the bones of her ankle were - no space between, he proceeded to tell us she could now put some weight on the foot - but don't go outside without the support boot. She even had license to go up and down the stairs. Well, that permission quite revolutionized our lives. When we got home, she went up the garage stairs with me walking up each stair beside her and she leaned on me each step she took, but she she did put some weight on her subject foot. She was hesitant at first after favoring the foot for seven or eight weeks. When night came, she walked up the stairs using the railing for support. That was the first night she didn't sleep in the hospital bed on the first floor since 5 November. (I thought it was nice not to be in that bed alone any more as well.) Yesterday - her first full day on the foot - she was in some discomfort by the time bed time rolled around. She arose this morning rejuvenated and ready to go again. She did some baking today and has been doing quite well I would say. She was told by the doctor to keep on wearing the electronic device that helps bones knit for another month - still three hours per day and to come back and see him in four weeks.
I am happy that we are finally in the down-hill side of this episode and things are taking on a rosier hue from our outlook. I think Clarine is possessed of a brighter outlook as well.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Cast is removed

Yesterday, we wheeled Clarine out the door onto a makeshift ramp and down to her car. Her car is lower and easier for her to get into than mine. We went for an appointment to see her doctor, Dr. Rogers (her second appointment since the operation). After a cursory look he said he would have his assistant get a saw and cut the cast off. (I don't know how they keep from cutting the flesh, but he says the saw won't cut through gauze. They replaced the cast with a boot with steel braces along the side. In the picture the boot is apparent. The white device on the boot is the electronic gizmo that promotes hardening of the bone. We are happy to have one more step in the process done, although she is still not to put any weight on the foot just yet. At least now she can wash the injured limb. We are going to St. George on the 6th, return on the 10th, so that will make the trip a slight bit easier to be without the cast. She is a very non-complaining patient. We are getting by quite well. Dan says he is going to stop by and see us this Friday. It will be good to have his visit.
I went to the swimming pool today and I will be at the Humanitarian Center for two hours tomorrow. Clarine behaves herself while I am away and gets to where she can handle needs that crop up by running where she needs to go in her wheel chair. I get her necessities set up while I am here.
We got about a foot of snow in this latest granddaddy of a storm. Another is scheduled for tonight. I cleaned the entire driveway twice since Sunday. A neighbor cleaned it once also. gwh