Re: Vancouver Surgery, Sun Run, Vacation

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Wonderful to hear how well Pat is doing already, and that she'll be well cared

for in rehab. She told me pre-op that her secret weapon was her smiley-face

hat. Sounds like it worked (and/or our much maligned medical system simply

did its job, for which we much be extremely grateful while continuing to

advocate for more resources and an end to tragically long wait lists).

Yes I do know a lot about the Sun Run, being a Sun employee and four-time

Sun runner. It's a wonderful event, and you can definitely count me in for 2005.

Someone voiced concern that it might be too much of a " crush " to be pleasant

or safe... not so. All 30,000 runners don't dash off in a pack from the same

start

line. It's all staged, and we walkers (no more running for me!) are well back

from the madding crowd. It's as fast/slow/fun as you want to make it. After I

graduated to marathons I still did the Sun Run - for the big eggy breakfast

afterwards. And I love the charity angle: we should definitely get surfacehippy

T's and direct our sponsorships to a relevant cause - like the Arthritis

Society's

anti-waitlist advocacy effort.

Re vacation: Am I nuts for planning a 5-day Cabo getaway next week? I'll only

be five weeks post-op, but my husband will be doing all the grunt work, and

we'll be staying at a friend's condo where we've been several times so there

are no surprises. It's an easy flight, and I figure it's a low-risk way to kick

back

and rest and read books in the healing warmth of the Mexican sun. I know it's

early... but I feel great ... have gotten over a major pain hump in last few

days,

am sleeping well and walking easily with a cane outdoors and no support

indoors - even doing stairs like a grown-up!

a

Durom / Masri / 17.02.04

> This will be the first morning I don't get coffee with Pat - Cliff

> came home yesterday - his neck renovated and now enjoying the fact

> that I get to cook for him for the next 6 weeks. He's doing well, but

> tired.

>

> Pat was absolutely overjoyed yesterday with her progress. Yesterday

> 3 days after surgery was to be her first day up on crutches walking

> around. She had her right hip resurfed, but her left is very bad too

> and so they are not rushing her - but the good news is that there is

> no arthritic pain in the right so she is raring to go. Because she

> lives alone she is staying in hospital a little longer - but man does

> she seem happy. Her Doc, Dr. Greidanus, told her that as soon as her

> right hip feels strong he will do her other hip so she will probably

> not have to wait the 6 months he originally told her - more like 3 or

> 4. I sure hope that the doctors here figure out it is possible to

> do bilaterals so others don't have these waits, but at least they are

> finally on the bandwagon and are actually somewhat excited about

> resurfacing.

>

> Pat just called to let us know that she will probably be moving to the

> Rehab centre on Tuesday and she has been told that she will be able to

> stay there in intensive rehab for about 4 weeks. She is absolutely

> thrilled and can't wipe the grin off her face (many of us will

> remember the aching cheeks from non-stop grinning).

>

> She asked me to let you all know that she has no pain, no fear, no

> anxiety and she is sleeping very well. She is grateful to everyone

> in this group for their help and support and to the Arthritis Society

> in BC for it's unfailing and continuing assistance over the last few

> years.

>

> She is such a positive person and takes everything in stride - I do

> believe that she will be ready for the 2005 Sun Run/Walk. She

> probably won't be online for a few weeks yet, but she will be back

> with further reports. I will keep in touch with her too and keep you

> updated.

>

> For those who asked, the little I know about the Sun Run (and a

> will know much more I'm sure) - it is a 10 K run held at the end of

> April every year - something like 30,000 people enter I think. People

> walk, run or crawl and apparently have a great time and they usually

> have great T shirts. You raise money for charities and while I have

> never done it before, I look forward to giving it a shot next year.

>

> I understand that weather is usually pretty good too.... and I know

> the best coffee places in Vancouver!

>

>

> Pam

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Wonderful to hear how well Pat is doing already, and that she'll be well cared

for in rehab. She told me pre-op that her secret weapon was her smiley-face

hat. Sounds like it worked (and/or our much maligned medical system simply

did its job, for which we much be extremely grateful while continuing to

advocate for more resources and an end to tragically long wait lists).

Yes I do know a lot about the Sun Run, being a Sun employee and four-time

Sun runner. It's a wonderful event, and you can definitely count me in for 2005.

Someone voiced concern that it might be too much of a " crush " to be pleasant

or safe... not so. All 30,000 runners don't dash off in a pack from the same

start

line. It's all staged, and we walkers (no more running for me!) are well back

from the madding crowd. It's as fast/slow/fun as you want to make it. After I

graduated to marathons I still did the Sun Run - for the big eggy breakfast

afterwards. And I love the charity angle: we should definitely get surfacehippy

T's and direct our sponsorships to a relevant cause - like the Arthritis

Society's

anti-waitlist advocacy effort.

Re vacation: Am I nuts for planning a 5-day Cabo getaway next week? I'll only

be five weeks post-op, but my husband will be doing all the grunt work, and

we'll be staying at a friend's condo where we've been several times so there

are no surprises. It's an easy flight, and I figure it's a low-risk way to kick

back

and rest and read books in the healing warmth of the Mexican sun. I know it's

early... but I feel great ... have gotten over a major pain hump in last few

days,

am sleeping well and walking easily with a cane outdoors and no support

indoors - even doing stairs like a grown-up!

a

Durom / Masri / 17.02.04

> This will be the first morning I don't get coffee with Pat - Cliff

> came home yesterday - his neck renovated and now enjoying the fact

> that I get to cook for him for the next 6 weeks. He's doing well, but

> tired.

>

> Pat was absolutely overjoyed yesterday with her progress. Yesterday

> 3 days after surgery was to be her first day up on crutches walking

> around. She had her right hip resurfed, but her left is very bad too

> and so they are not rushing her - but the good news is that there is

> no arthritic pain in the right so she is raring to go. Because she

> lives alone she is staying in hospital a little longer - but man does

> she seem happy. Her Doc, Dr. Greidanus, told her that as soon as her

> right hip feels strong he will do her other hip so she will probably

> not have to wait the 6 months he originally told her - more like 3 or

> 4. I sure hope that the doctors here figure out it is possible to

> do bilaterals so others don't have these waits, but at least they are

> finally on the bandwagon and are actually somewhat excited about

> resurfacing.

>

> Pat just called to let us know that she will probably be moving to the

> Rehab centre on Tuesday and she has been told that she will be able to

> stay there in intensive rehab for about 4 weeks. She is absolutely

> thrilled and can't wipe the grin off her face (many of us will

> remember the aching cheeks from non-stop grinning).

>

> She asked me to let you all know that she has no pain, no fear, no

> anxiety and she is sleeping very well. She is grateful to everyone

> in this group for their help and support and to the Arthritis Society

> in BC for it's unfailing and continuing assistance over the last few

> years.

>

> She is such a positive person and takes everything in stride - I do

> believe that she will be ready for the 2005 Sun Run/Walk. She

> probably won't be online for a few weeks yet, but she will be back

> with further reports. I will keep in touch with her too and keep you

> updated.

>

> For those who asked, the little I know about the Sun Run (and a

> will know much more I'm sure) - it is a 10 K run held at the end of

> April every year - something like 30,000 people enter I think. People

> walk, run or crawl and apparently have a great time and they usually

> have great T shirts. You raise money for charities and while I have

> never done it before, I look forward to giving it a shot next year.

>

> I understand that weather is usually pretty good too.... and I know

> the best coffee places in Vancouver!

>

>

> Pam