It is hard to believe, but a week has passed since my surgery (June 10). I couldn’t imagine before the surgery how I would get along, and in the beginning I would not have been able to without the help of family and friends.
During this time, I have not been alone for hardly more than a few minutes at a time, when my caretakers sort of passed on their way to and from the shifts they appointed for themselves, and when I had recently been to the bathroom and could stay put for those minutes on my own.
Sometimes I have chafed at the close watching, as I am used to doing things on my own and in my own way. However, in the early days, I knew my strength and balance were not the best, and I needed that help.
Now that I have gotten more confident and stronger, with a clearer head, I do most of the power work myself. However, I need people to fetch and carry things for me, the walker needs to be moved from chair side to bathroom each and every time. It also needs to be placed aside of the bed at night, so it is within easy use. The commode comes in handy then also.
A friend is coming in the morning to help me clean myself up for the day and get me dressed. So far, I have only been lounging in sleepwear, but tomorrow I have a date with the doctor, and so will dress up in something such as T-shirt and short, baggy pants.
My helpers also are needed to do simple everyday tasks, such as get the mail or mail a letter, fill a water glass, prepare a meal.
Meanwhile, I am trying to keep my spirits up. I know that eventually I will be able to use the knee caddie/scooter thing and be able to get around better, but while I think about it, I haven’t tried it as yet. Sometimes I want to scream like the young woman in an old commercial, “I would rather do it myself.”
However, at this point I can’t do many things myself, so I bite my tongue, put on a smile and say thank you and please a lot. Instead of feeling needy, I should feel thankful for willing family and friends.
Normally, this week’s column would be about Pa, that special man in my life who used to lift me up in his arms when I was sleepy from being gone to a party with the family. He would carry me in the house and tease me about being a sleepy head. He was a strong man, with a forever twinkle in his eye, and was always quick to tell a story.
I will think of these stories during this time of healing.
