Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Exceedingly Blessed

Just after Thanksgiving an MRI revealed a mass behind my right knee.  This was not news that I was prepared to hear when I finally scheduled an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon at the urging of my friends.  A torn meniscus perhaps, or maybe just arthritis, but not a tumor.

The good news—Dr. Sorrell was 99.99% certain it was benign.  The bad news—to get to it, he would need to make a jagged 6 inch incision behind my knee.  Recovery would take about six weeks.  So how soon did I need to schedule surgery?  After all, I had things to do and places to go.

Destin for New Years…

sunset 008

…and New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl.

new orleans 025

So I scheduled surgery for Thursday, January 13 (at least it wasn’t Friday the 13th).

When Dr. Sorrell came to see me in pre-op, he said that he had been studying my MRI and thought it was worth trying an arthroscopic procedure before opening up the back of my leg.  If it didn’t work, they would flip me over and proceed as originally planned.  I agreed.

What a great feeling to wake up hearing one nurse tell another that I had had an arthroscopic procedure.  The difference in recovery will be huge!!  Instead of the mark of Zorro on the back of my leg, I have three holes in the center of my knee and one on the side.

My friends have been wonderful.  Glenda sat with LBeau during surgery, took my prescriptions to be filled and stayed until supper time.  She came back the next day to keep me company while LBeau went to work and helped me remove the dressing on Saturday.  She’s also become my designated driver.  Yesterday we visited one of my job sites, and today she’s taking me for my first physical therapy appointment.

We’ve had delicious meals every night, furnished by my Bible study friends and my P.E.O. sisters.  When they see me walking around (I’ve been weight bearing since the first day), they probably wonder why I need such service, but believe me, it would be difficult getting to the grocery store and being on my feet long enough to prepare dinner.

So I am exceedingly blessed.  And one more thing.  You can’t begin to know how much it means to tell someone you’re praying for them, until it’s you they’re praying for.  Thanks everyone!!

11 comments:

Joyce said...

So happy for you Kathy that they were able to 'do less'. Wishing you a speedy recovery and I'm glad you are blessed with many wonderful friends! Take care...

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

So glad that this turned out well -- friends are surely one of God's biggest blessings!

Anonymous said...

very good news indeed!! so happy you didn't have to have the mark of zorro or the recovery that would have required! wonderful friends you have, and reflects what a wonderful person you truly are. :) continued blessings your way,
-Tracie

Anonymous said...

kathy,
I am so thrilled to hear that your surgery turned out this way!!! Good friends are a treasure, and i don't know what we would do w/o them. Blessings to you as you continue to heal!! dianna

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Kathy, this is marvelous news!! So glad everything went so well and you are up and about! And the blessings of good friends and prayer are immeasurable!

God is good.....

Lou Cinda

I will keep you in my prayers as you recover....

Baumbastic said...

You have been triply blessed, first it was benign, then they were able to user arthroscopic techniques, and third with wonderful friends. All I can do from this distance is to say I am very glad things worked out as well as they did.

Tricia said...

What a wonderful outcome! And I love that you're also a P.E.O. sister! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

nanny said...

I am so happy that you didn't have to have the incision.....and that you are doing well. I wondered where you were...maybe too depressed to blog. (bowl game, enough said)
New Years in Destin, Beautiful!

Lady Jane said...

Oh so wonderful to have this kind of surgery. The recovery time is not nearly as long and the pain isnt as bad. So happy for you. Many Blessings to you. L J

Sarah said...

Kathy, happy to hear that your surgery was less involved that you first thought. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I'm happy to know you have a group taking care of you. ;-)

Unknown said...

So glad that you are doing so well and that you did not require the major surgery.