May Report
I’ve wanted to talk to both of my parents this week. Mother would be pleased that after 17 years of peonies trying to do something at my house, there are twice as many blooms as we’ve ever had at the same time. TWO!!! You can count all the blooms we’ve had on our eight plants on one hand. But this year, we have two at once! I feel like I’ve finally made it as a flower cultivator. Last year we had two buds but only one blossomed. I am certain we will get two blooms this year!
Daddy would be secretly pleased even though he would be fussing over the phone that I plowed our garden with the big tiller. The handles were up around my shoulders at times, but with Scott’s guidance and encouragement, I did get our garden broken up. We planted just before all the rain started. I hope our beans and okra have not washed into the woods. I’m sure most of the herbs and flowers have washed away. The deer and rabbits liked the cabbage and two of the heirloom tomato plants!
Scott went back to the doctor Last week. We had a big afternoon. First a trip to the police station to measure chair heights. Then therapy. Then the radiologist. Then the doctor’s office. There was no place for him to sit in the office. Nothing was high enough, so he had to stand while we waited (for an hour…that was rough.) But, finally they called us back. Everyone laughed and cheered when he walked in without his braces. He has not been released, but we had already figured out that wasn’t happening. He can bend to 90 degrees now on his own, but chairs and stairs are still out of reach. That requires more like 120 degrees because of the way you sit and the stress on the leading knee when climbing stairs. When he is warmed up and limber after therapy he can get to 110 degrees for a few seconds, so we are making vast improvements. We bought two PFDs (personal flotation devices) at Wal-Mart to use as chair cushions. They should raise a standard chair to about 24” which is the absolute minimum he can get to. There is a possibility that will be a permanent situation, but we are not giving up yet. The doctor isn’t making promises, but isn’t painting a black picture yet, either. We just don’t know how much flexibility his knees will ultimately wind up with. It doesn’t just depend on therapy and motivation and ignoring the pain. There is an issue of wires replacing tendons which can’t be predicted.
He walks without the braces most of the time now and his confidence is returning. He uses his canes when we are on any sort of unlevel or slightly precarious surfaces. He likes going to Lowe’s because of the big carts. We do the outside circuit a couple of times with him driving the buggy and so we get our walking in and sometimes some visiting, but always some shopping. Aaron and Lyn have former classmates working there who always chat with us and keep up with his progress. Wednesday he walked a half mile in 20 minutes. That is still a little under half speed.
The best part is listening to Dr. Dinkins and Scott negotiating when he will go back to work. Scott asked with broken heart, “I can’t go back to work yet, can I?” Dinkins’ response was, “No, I’ll see you in a month.” Scott’s instant reply was, “No, I’ll see you in three weeks.” The therapist and the doctor both have remarked that Scott is extremely motivated. They only see him when he is behaving. They’d be scandalized to see the stunts he pulls when they aren’t looking. You should have seen the smile Scott had when he was told he could lift up to 30 pounds now instead of being limited to a gallon of milk. Now I’ll have to keep him out of Tractor Supply. He’ll be carrying dog food and fertilizer bags on the sly.
Daddy would be secretly pleased even though he would be fussing over the phone that I plowed our garden with the big tiller. The handles were up around my shoulders at times, but with Scott’s guidance and encouragement, I did get our garden broken up. We planted just before all the rain started. I hope our beans and okra have not washed into the woods. I’m sure most of the herbs and flowers have washed away. The deer and rabbits liked the cabbage and two of the heirloom tomato plants!
Scott went back to the doctor Last week. We had a big afternoon. First a trip to the police station to measure chair heights. Then therapy. Then the radiologist. Then the doctor’s office. There was no place for him to sit in the office. Nothing was high enough, so he had to stand while we waited (for an hour…that was rough.) But, finally they called us back. Everyone laughed and cheered when he walked in without his braces. He has not been released, but we had already figured out that wasn’t happening. He can bend to 90 degrees now on his own, but chairs and stairs are still out of reach. That requires more like 120 degrees because of the way you sit and the stress on the leading knee when climbing stairs. When he is warmed up and limber after therapy he can get to 110 degrees for a few seconds, so we are making vast improvements. We bought two PFDs (personal flotation devices) at Wal-Mart to use as chair cushions. They should raise a standard chair to about 24” which is the absolute minimum he can get to. There is a possibility that will be a permanent situation, but we are not giving up yet. The doctor isn’t making promises, but isn’t painting a black picture yet, either. We just don’t know how much flexibility his knees will ultimately wind up with. It doesn’t just depend on therapy and motivation and ignoring the pain. There is an issue of wires replacing tendons which can’t be predicted.
He walks without the braces most of the time now and his confidence is returning. He uses his canes when we are on any sort of unlevel or slightly precarious surfaces. He likes going to Lowe’s because of the big carts. We do the outside circuit a couple of times with him driving the buggy and so we get our walking in and sometimes some visiting, but always some shopping. Aaron and Lyn have former classmates working there who always chat with us and keep up with his progress. Wednesday he walked a half mile in 20 minutes. That is still a little under half speed.
The best part is listening to Dr. Dinkins and Scott negotiating when he will go back to work. Scott asked with broken heart, “I can’t go back to work yet, can I?” Dinkins’ response was, “No, I’ll see you in a month.” Scott’s instant reply was, “No, I’ll see you in three weeks.” The therapist and the doctor both have remarked that Scott is extremely motivated. They only see him when he is behaving. They’d be scandalized to see the stunts he pulls when they aren’t looking. You should have seen the smile Scott had when he was told he could lift up to 30 pounds now instead of being limited to a gallon of milk. Now I’ll have to keep him out of Tractor Supply. He’ll be carrying dog food and fertilizer bags on the sly.
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