December 12, 2021

Dear Family and Friends, 

    It has been just over one year since the amputation of my right leg (Oct. 15, 2020), and nearly a year since I began writing in longhand to those who seemed interested to know about my new situation. Then, when I hurt my right hand, I changed to typing, learning to use True’s laptop, and found that allowed me to print many copies, so I began sending a copy to all my family members, just in case they might be interested, too. Thus, this soon became a sort of monthly “newsy letter” to family and friends. I really do enjoy writing to all of you, and I appreciate your calls, letters and visits more than you can ever know! 

    Closing out this year, I’d like to give a recap of the past year’s doings. After the surgery and a month’s time in recovery (and a weeks stay in the ICU due to several infections), I returned home at the Riveria Mobile Park, and saw the marvelous renovation taking place inside of it. I came home earlier than expected, so my two girls completed the renovation while caring for me. I was bedridden initially, and everything had to be done for me in bed: changing, feeding, bathing, even washing my hair. I was hooked up to oxygen, so fanigiling with an air tube was pretty interesting. The remodel was completed sometime in December. Later, when their accomplishment was covered by our local newspaper, they described my home as going “From Drab to Fab”, and that’s exactly what happened. With the exception of the floor, molding, plumbing and electrical, done with outside help, my girls' accomplishment was unbelievable! 

    It took a long time for my stump to heal from the amputation, and even longer for the stinging and jabbing of the nerves to quit. I would often call it a “Grumpy Stumpy” for treating me so. It also jerked and jumped around frequently and it felt like my lower leg was still attached. I know it sounds funny, but it’s true. Insurance paid for home health nurses and physical therapists, who helped me regain my strength and vigor through specific exercises. Insurance also assisted with a much needed wheelchair, which arrived on Dec.1 (my 93rd birthday), because now I could get out of bed and move around the house by myself, to our delight. 

    It was certainly a joy, but also perplexing, to learn do most things from a wheelchair. With the help of my therapist, I was able to achieve my first goal of getting out of, and back into bed. Next, I learned to stand on my one leg at the kitchen sink while holding on, and do some knee bends and leg exercises. From my wheelchair, I used hand weights to improve the strength of my arms and shoulders. As therapy went along and I became stronger, my therapist began to challenge what I believed I could do. We set goals. Next came bathroom skills. This was more challenging, as it required standing on one leg, using one hand to hold onto something sturdy, leaving just the other hand to do everything else required. How I often wished for a third hand! Over time, I've become accomplished all bathroom necessities, plus grooming, dressing and showering safely. My next big goal was getting in and out of a car. With the help of a handy gadget called a Car Cane, we accomplished this goal within just a week. 

    My girls seemed to distribute their duties in my care without much effort. Linda, who has a home in town and animals to care for, handles all outside or incidental needs: errands, doctor appointments, medications, supplies, banking and so forth. True, who was living in the San Diego area, moved into my home and became my round-the-clock care person. Separating duties has worked just fine. So, it’s been Linda who has helped me in and out of a car more than True. 

    My biggest challenge remained ahead of me, though. This was the goal of walking again. After being cut off, the remaining leg stump took very long to heal. Only after all the healing had taken place would a prosthesis be possible, when the thigh would be able to support a new leg comfortably. After many months of stinging and sharp pain from the detached nerves, everything finally healed and quieted down. I began wondering when I was going to get a prosthesis to begin working with. Eventually in July, a cast was made and I was fitted for one. Due to readjustments that had to happen, it wasn’t until August that I began meeting with physical therapists at their gym two times a week. There I received intense leg and arm exercises with the prosthesis on. Because of my age, they really encouraged all my efforts by saying, “You’re doing great … better than people half your age!” They did expect me to follow through at home, walking and stepping on and off a step. Now, they have me trying to stand and place more weight on my prosthetic leg. It takes a lot of balance and trust to do this, but it is the only way I will eventually have two hands free. Right now, I grip my walker with one hand and do everything else with the other. 

    Being able to do all these things,I felt no fear of being left by myself when True had to be away for grocery errands or whatever, and I do wear a medical alert, should anything befall me. True is forever warning me to not try any “tricks” on my own. Being a good kid has paid off handsomely with more and more independence. She now feels she can get back to living some of her own life again, and can even be away to visit her children and dear friends. I know she misses them. 

    Because I've allowed myself over the years to become bent and stooped over, it is now very difficult to make myself stand up straight and tall, but that is my objective because it is imperative to walk correctly. This is now my goal, along with continuing to improve my walking technique. 

    My walking attempts at home and the gym have all been on smooth laminate floors, but in November and again this month, I have had the chance to test my skills outside, walking over pavement, and even a slight cement incline, with my walker. In November, I walked from True’s car into the clubhouse for our Thanksgiving dinner, and we wre greeted by surprise and cheers. Then, a week ago was my greatest achievement thus far. Every Friday I have a hair appointment for a shampoo and set at a nearby beauty shop. True usually takes me for the one hour appointment, but neither she nor Linda was able to that week, so Norma, my hairdresser, offered to come get me and bring me back home. True is strong and able to handle my heavy wheelchair, getting it in and then out of her car, but we certainly don’t expect other women to do the same, so how could Norma do it? 

    The transportation problem was solved when I (in my wheelchair) rolled myself onto the back porch where the motorized wheelchair is kept (what a wonderful gift that has been) and easily transferred my self into it. I turned on the motorized chair and slowly eased down the wheelchair ramp and parked it in the carport. Norma brought me my walker, then I stood and walked to her car. At her shop, the driveway had rough asphalt, on which I had trouble maneuvering, but picking my spots carefully, I did make it. We were really both quite proud of ourselves. 

    It is exhilarating to pan back over the year and realize just how far this old gal has come. Even though it’s been tough, it’s been a good year. I am very thankful to so many people, especially my angel daughters, True and Linda, who are right here with me, and also all the family, friends and others far away, who have supported and encouraged me to keep going, saying, “You can do it!” Thank you for your visits, your calls and your letters. Each fills my heart with joy. Of course, the one to whom I am most thankful is my Heavenly Father, for His love and watchful care through all of this. 

    Over the past year, it has been a pleasure to write each month about my progress and adventures along the way. But now, with my eyes still giving me trouble and feeling the effects of overstraining them, I feel it may be time to cut back a little in doing such a large number of letters, and so often. With that, I send my love and wish you a very merry Christmas!