Dear friends;

I think it's time for another update on my most recent Un-Invited Journey chapter...the 70th birthday fall! It's been 11 weeks since that fateful day, so let me catch you up on my progress. 

I got the cast off my wrist at 6 weeks. The surgery site looked good and I was released to outpatient occupational therapy. I completed 6 sessions and "graduated" last Thursday with a "functionally normal" wrist. The surgeon did a great job and that description feels accurate. I am visiting my favorite local physical therapist twice a week now, and experiencing good progress in walking, muscle strength, balance and more. 

The ribs, bruising, laceration, and most external evidence of the fall has healed. This body and its' ability to heal itself has again gained my utmost respect and appreciation! 

I am growing in acceptance of the "un-invited total makeover" that the last 8 months has generated in my appearance. The radiation bald spots have been replaced by silver grey, frizzy curls, and the significant hair loss brought on by a few other new medical conditions on my scalp has been replaced by a head full of salt and pepper frizzy curls. I do find much humor in the fact that for years as a mother with young children I paid every 3 months to get a perm that looked much the same as I am getting for free today. It took a lot less prep time in those chaotic years, and it takes a lot less prep time today (nothing but a spritz of water every morning).  I am choosing to thank God my new season didn't bring an impossible coiffure that my broken wrist could not bring to beauty, neither do I have to rely on John (who hasn't had hair for 20+ years) to blow-dry and curl what hair I have.  And then there is the left forehead, eyebrow and eyelid drop. It appears that a nerve or two was severed during the fall, and likely not going to self-repair, so there may be more "work" to come in that area. Or a new pair of glasses that I wear all the time!

The head trauma continues to be challenging, though the headaches are lessening in intensity and frequency. I can be outside in the sun and tolerate noise for longer stretches of time. I am tele-med meeting with an excellent neuro-psych counselor whose speciality is traumatic brain injuries and cognitive challenges with chronic illness (i.e. Parkinson's disease). Those weekly session are proving to be invaluable in navigating my old life with my new brain limitations.

We are developing a new schedule that allows John a couple of get-away days every week, and some extended breaks monthly. My generous friends, both from here and abroad, are stepping into care-giving roles while he's gone, and I am finding that estrogen is a pretty good "cure for what ails you!" John is currently on a 3 day motorcycle ride with a friend along the coast heading north, going over the Golden Gate Bridge before turning around and heading home on every winding road they can find. And our "bonus daughter"  Rebecca is here caring for me. It's a win-win!

I will attach a few pictures to this update, as sometimes a picture can say what words never can. (Hopefully I will find a way to do that.) I was ecstatic the day I was able to get  back on my electric trike and take off for a ride around our neighborhood. It happened on the 10 week anniversary of the Fall. The other picture Josh took last week of John and I, when I could finally stand long enough for a picture, unaided by my walker. Every week bring milestones!

Thanks to you all for your notes of encouragement and well wishes, prayers and healing thoughts. 

Love,

Judy