I was just walking out of the Doctor's office..... (
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sheilafontenot/journal/view/id/5a1daa32d398d067528b4b38)Journal entry by Beryl Townes — 5 minutes ago
Hi Everybody, This is Beryl. Here is Sheila's story in her own words. Please remember to keep her in your thoughts and prayers for the next few weeks as she heals.
I managed to take a pretty horrific fall on October 24th and have been trying to heal ever since. I managed to break my nose, sprain my left wrist and elbow, turn my whole left foot swollen and purple (doctor thought it was broken but it was not), tear up the skin on my face (skin is now really soft since I am a few layers down—I think people are making a mistake paying for chemical peels) and I thought that was it. A few days after the accident my right shoulder really started hurting and after an MRI, my orthopedic surgeon who has done 3 surgeries for me in the past, told me I needed a specialist—he would not consider touching it. I now have a great surgeon (I hope) who specializes in this kind of thing. It seems my rotator cuff and tendons and whatever else is in there are all torn and mutilated and the ball and socket are no longer friends and keep popping in and out—that is a real treat.
I will be having a fairly major surgery on November 29th—the wednesday after Thanksgiving—2 weeks from today. They will be doing a reverse shoulder replacement. As I understand it they cannot fix the rotator cuff etc., as is and will actually be moving the ball and socket into reverse positions ( I should be able to scratch my upper back easily :-) I will be in Cedar Park hospital because apparently they have the newest equipment to do this kind of stuff. It will be inpatient and I will probably be in the hospital a couple days. Following release I will have skilled nursing care at home for some while and I believe Beryl and other family and friends will be staying overnight with me. Therapy and rehab will be done at my home. The arm will be in a shoulder immobilizer for up to 4 months. I expect by mid December to be up and around and doctor tells me I will be able to type some etc., and hopefully I will be doing less pain meds :-)
I will still be somewhat available —when I am not asleep or stoned on pain meds and you may certainly call or email and leave me messages. If you need anything you might be better served by reaching out to Beryl and please be a bit patient as she may be with me when you call etc.,
I appreciate all your prayers and good wishes. I would be lying if I said I was not dreading this and am afraid of all the pain that is coming my way—I don’t do “weakness and vulnerability” very well as I have had to be independent most of my life, so this will be hard for me to ask so much of others—and perhaps that is the lesson I am supposed to get from this—to learn to lean on others and accept help.Read Moreof the journal titled "I was just walking out of the Doctor's office....." (
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sheilafontenot/journal/view/id/5a1daa32d398d067528b4b38)
