Saturday - update

Martha had good progress this morning but yesterday was a crazy day.

Her roommate had a massive heart attack after having double knee replacement surgery. I haven't heard all the details but this event was pretty emotional for Martha, as you can imagine. Martha said she really liked her for a roommate too. (All we know now is that she is in ICU.) Martha was also pretty nauseous yesterday and found out she is allergic to codeine. Basically she was pretty itchy and she said she wanted to claw her skin off. So, her therapy didn't really get done yesterday.

Today is a new day! Paul says she was up and doing much better! She ate a good lunch and walked around some. He feels confident she can go home tomorrow. The weather is not too good up there and the hospital is nearly an hour from their house.

The said "Thanks!" for all the flowers and cards.

Room Number information

This is Bern again :o)

Martha is in her room now, Room 5C4A . She got out of surgery at 10:00 AM, then spent about two hours in the recovery room. The doctor said the procedure went very well and the fit of the new knee was perfect. Other than possibly replacing the plastic lining if it wears out, the replacement should last as long as she does. He said she should go home Saturday. Paul says they were hoping for Sunday instead of Monday, so Saturday sounds even better!

If you want to send a card, you can go to:
http://www.lvh.org/lvh/Your_LVH/Patients_and_Visitors

I did - it was very easy!!!

Surgery Update

(this is Bern posting for Martha)



The surgery went well!

They arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am, it took a little while to prepare everything for surgery (the epidural - sounds familiar to me!). The actual surgery lasted about an hour.

The doctor came out to talk to Paul at 10:15 EST and said that everything was fine. The knee matched up perfectly and Martha will be in recovery for 1 - 2 hours then move to a room. When I know the room information, I will post that.

It looks like she could go home on Saturday if everything goes well.

Great news!

Knee Replacement Surgery tomorrow!

My right knee today!

My last set of x-rays

The time is nearly here....I've been putting it off for years - I can't wait any longer.
Thursday, February 21st - my old knee will be out and a brand new shinny metal and plastic joint will be in!

The pain is terrible when you have a bad knee - it's like the worse toothache you've ever had and it hurts all the way up my leg. Some days it just isn't worth the pain to get up and walk - but of course I do. I am a tough old broad, but this is too much. It's making me feel old and I hate that. So.........I found myself a top notch orthopaedic surgeon who does the "custom fit" knee from Otismed - www.otismed.com - check it out. My doctor is Thomas Meade in Allentown, PA - www.oaaortho.com. I'll be in the Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest in Allentown, PA from Thursday until Sunday or Monday.....that is just in case you feel the need to send cards, flowers, food, money, gift cards.....or come to my house and help Paul and Dozier care for me afterwards!! Check out the hospital website below and you can actually send me a FREE card!!!!!! How cool is that?

This is not going to be fun - lots of work in rehab afterwards........hopefully the physical therapy kind, not the drug/alcohol kind!

Anyway - I will post this to let everyone know that after Wednesday I'll be invisible for a few days (or weeks). I'll have my laptop fired up at my bedside as soon as I can get off the hard drugs and keep everyone informed on my status..... Bernadette is going to take over my blog for awhile to keep everyone informed!

Love and Peace and take care of your precious knees.....Martha
http://www.lvh.org/locations/cedarcrest.shtml

2008 Miss America Pageant - Las Vegas

It is cold in Pennsylvania!

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Snow, blustery winds....burrrrrrr. I sure liked the weather better in Vegas and in Texas. Dozier does not like to go outside when it is cold. He develops this terrible "limp" and can hardly walk after he is on the deck for ....seriously....1 minute! It is so funny - he is instantly cured as soon as he comes in. Yesterday we had "Dip'n Dots" falling from the sky! Seriously - it wasn't snow, sleet, hail or rain....it was like Dip'n Dots...unflavored of course.

Snowing Dip'n Dots! Thunder & Lightening, too.

I am beginning to prepare myself mentally and physically for my total knee replacement that I'll be having on February 21. I have so many "orders" to do and not do the week prior to the surgery..just hope I can remember it all. I will be in the hospital for 4 days - then home. Just Paul and Dozier to care for me!! Yikes!! I'm not worried - I know I'll be in good hands!


I just wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from my Texas trip.....such fun!