An Arm And A Leg

My arm is getting a lot of undeserved sympathy. Thanks to the magic of stem cells (or maybe placebo effect) I am able to move off the disabled list (officially on Wednesday) so Harry’s leg should get all the positive energy and prayers, please! Here is today’s progress report.

The leg is looking good – the puncture wound is much less angry and Harry is staying on oral antibiotics. However, the pain with a fracture like this is still terrible. Harry is the bravest man I know, and his good spirits in the face of this difficulty is quite inspirational.

But we have had to face the reality of this major injury, and so our idea of Harry coming home tomorrow has been replaced by probably leaving the hospital and going to a rehab facility, hopefully Surrey Place. Dr. Spitzfaden seems to think this a much better idea. Harry would be in competent hands, and I could learn better how to handle things for the long six to eight weeks of non weight bearing recovery. Also, they have an x ray department, so Harry could get an x ray there at the end of the week and it can be e mailed to Dr. Spitzfaden, instead of trying to manage transport to the doctor’s office. By the end of next week, we hope there will be evidence of bone starting to heal. If not, well, we will face what comes. Still aiming for healing without surgery…

Physical therapy was noticeably better today. Harry is in charge, that’s the first rule, and he is quickly figuring out how to cope. The therapist was amazed by how well he did – we give credit to Monika and her twice weekly Pilates lessons with Harry. Sadly, it will be a while before he can get back to Pilates, but the benefits are very apparent here.

Peter again made two trips to help us today. Laura came for another visit, and also visited our good friend Pat, who is just down the hall. Unfortunately Pat and Harry have not been able to see each other because they are both too compromised, but I have been traveling back and forth between them. Here is Laura with Pat, and Laura with Harry. Laura long ago worked for the Frontier Nursing Service, riding horseback through the Appalachian mountains. Her natural nursing expertise has made her a real angel of mercy lately. She is unfortunately getting plenty of cases to tend to these days, but not on horseback.

• 

• 

Next, a visit from the Marlows, with many laughs, and they brought Harry some swag, along with kisses. Harry and John were both in the US Navy in Viet Nam, so they call each other “Boats”. We were very disappointed to miss birthday celebration dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Boats at our favorite restaurant yesterday evening. They are very good sports about our misfortunes, having had a lot of practice with us that way over the past year.

• 

• 

Late, as usual, I rushed home to get some stuff and glimpse the animals – and Jane! I had one important assignment, to bring Harry’s script back for his understudy to use for blocking in The Philadelphia Story. Jack was coming by for a visit and to pick up the book. It was the first thing I found, and I set it on the counter, then left it there. A complete fail at the one job I had today! But I did enjoy the brief time with dogs, cats, horses, and especially Jane. She is the unsung hero of this story. And of course, no picture of her! All the house animals wonder where Harry is…

• 

• 

• 

I rushed back (without the script) and Jack provided many laughs, as always, without any recrimination. Harry had been so pleased to be cast in a play with his good pal, and they are both coping well with this big disappointment. I was really looking forward to seeing them both on stage together – and in a comedy! Ah well, there will be other plays, I hope, for those two to entertain us all. No picture of Jack, alas, but here is a better picture of the sculpture that did the damage…

We miss our home in the country, but there was a hawk outside the window here at the hospital today. Hoping he brought some better luck…