Re: What a couple of months!

April 14, 2008

, You're in my thoughts. Jeri

>

> Dear Pals,

>

> The past couple of months have been really interesting and full of

challenges, but thankfully I have come through. I got very painful a

couple of months ago, right after having a flu that seemed to hit my

hardware. I'm sure my bolts were to blame, I was fine when I was up

walking and standing, but had take your breath away pain while

getting up from a seated position, or when laying down. Over the past

two months it improved slowly, and about two weeks ago it just

vanished, glad it did, as I sure don't know what brought it on. So

when Edie's Dr. Bendo says, you have good weeks and bad, he's sure

right. At five years post-op my head was sure spinning as to what

could be the culprit with this pain, and kinda let my head run away

with it. So even this far out I guess there will be challenges, even

for me who has had a remarkable recovery, and have been painfree a

long time.

>

> I met up with a lady out here in Denver from Florida having

surgery with Dr. Kumar, we had lunch, her and her Mother, and not

knowing what she looked like I knew her coming, she had a classic

Flatback stance. Yesterday I drove up and visited her after her

surgery, they let me into ICU, and then helped the nurses move her

down to her regular room. Mia sure looked better than I did at that

stage following surgery, even with having to lay down all the time

due to a dural tare, and she has a pressure sore on her chin from

being on her stomach for so long. I'm trying to get her to join here,

she was so surprised to meet me through Kumar, she thought she was

the only one going through all this. I have made so many good friends

from this group and through helping Kumar with his patients.

>

> For all the gals at the last retreat and knew my Mom was having

breast cancer surgery, there has been a turn for the worst with her.

She has done almost a year of a protein treatment through the cancer

center, and two weeks ago she started coughing, was coughing up

blood, and after tests and a PET scan they have found the cancer has

spread to her lungs, and unfortunately it's terminal. Just wanted to

let you gals know, you were all so supportive of me while I was at

the retreat, and it meant so much to me. Since we have no timetable

on how this will go, I'll be here when I'm at home, but won't when I

have to be out there in Boise to help with her care.

>

> Camille, I and Nan will have an annoucement about the next

retreat in May, it will be a good time, the last one was a blast.

>

> I like many of you are enjoying spring, nice 50 degree day here,

after a light dusting of snow last night. I'm just itching to get out

and plant stuff in my yard, just a bit early for us yet.

>

> I love hearing the stories of the gals freshly through the

surgery, and how they are getting back to their lives. Revision was

and is one of my best gifts.

>

> Colorado Springs

>

April 14, 2008

,

Sorry to hear about your Mom. It is hard to see them go, my mother

was a decline I had to watch too. I am here for you, if you want to

chat.