First week of getting movement

So it has been a week since Mom had her surgery........
What a long week it has been.
The weather has turned cold. The mood has changed and things have been quite hard. Mom has been trying to get her arm to straighten and doing a good job with her exercises. When I went over to see her on Sunday I noticed that her hand was extremely swollen. She was really having some problems getting around and her fever was slightly back. We called the surgeon assistant to see what we should do. She said that blood clots are rare in these situations but you never know. So we watched Mom's swelling to make sure it wasn't getting any worse. It was bad but not getting worse. She waited to go to the doctor at her scheduled appointment on Tuesday.

The doctor was slightly disappointed in Mom's progress. He thought that Mom would be getting around a little easier and her arm would be in better shape. Her actually shoulder looks really good and is healing up quickly but the amount of work that the doctor did really took a toll on her body. I know that she has the strength to pull through this and she will heal up quickly. The first couple of steps in the process will be difficult but once she is over this hump things will be easier. I know that Mom has the strength in her to pull through. She is so strong willed that once she gets it together she will be full sailing.

Things are so hard for her right now. There are times that I want to be in her shoes so she doesn't have to feel all of that pain. She can't read a book because she can't hold it open, she can't floss because she needs two hands, she can't brush her hair...every little thing is hard! I have teared up many times. No one wants to see their Mom in this much pain. You really realize how much she means to you when she is down. There is nothing greater than a Mom & my Mom and I have the greatest relationship! I wouldn't trade that for anything. She is a pretty amazing woman.

Everyone at work keeps asking about her as well. There has been cards sent, messages, calls daily. She is one loved woman and she deserves every bit of it!

Here is the X-ray and what the surgeon did to Mom's arm. She hasn't looked at it yet because I know it might freak her out. It looks rather interesting to me.

Mom's Surgery

Darren & I returned from Atlanta on October 12, 2010. We had a fabulous time vising lots of friends and family. We were ready to get home and sleep in our bed. Mom and Dad were supposed to pick us up at the airport. We got off the plane and there was a message from Dad that read "Small Problem, Julia will be picking you up". I immediately called Dad to see what was going on.

Mom had fallen on her arm and broke her shoulder. They had gone to the emergency room and X-rays were done showing the brakes and fracture. Mom was in a lot of pain so they made her comfortable with medicine and made her an appointment with a specialist. Mom went to the doctor's appt and the surgeon said surgery will be on Monday, October 18th. He explained the use of her arm and how she was too young not to do the surgery. She needed pins and plates but into her arm to attach it back to the ball.

Mom had a great attitude and was ready to start the healing process. We all knew this was going to be a long hard process for all of us. But our family is great and we knew we would all be there for Mom 100% of the time.

She went into surgery on that Monday and it was a very long day. We checked in for surgery at 11am and she was supposed to go back at 1:30. Her surgery was later pushed back to 5:30 and lasted until 9pm.

She looked really good after surgery. Julia, Dad, & I had decorated her room with pictures, her teddy bear, and flowers. Her coloring was really good when they wheeled her into the room and she was wide awake. They placed what is called a Pain Block in her neck that helped with the swelling and pain of the surgery. She slept really well that day and was ready to go home the next morning.

The surgeon came in and said the surgery was worse than he had expected. He had to place a lot more pins and plates in her shoulder. Her cut was above her shoulder all the way to her elbow! His main concern is circulation and making sure her bone does not "die". Mom would then need a whole new shoulder. She said to watch for swelling and make sure she starts her exercises immediately when she is up for it.

Dad and I got to the hospital the next day to pick Mom up. She was awake and eating a big breakfast. Julia, Brian, & Kingston later came by to see Mom. The nurse also came into check on her status and took out her IV & changed her bandage. This is when Mom took a turn for the worse. Her pain came on quite quickly and took her back a few steps. She was in extreme pain and could not get comfortable. I stayed by her side all day. She was really nervous about the pain and could not settle down. I later let the nurse know that it would be best for Mom to stay the night so she would rest and get her fever down. She did run a fever for that day and had to sleep with her leg pads on for blood flow.

We got to take Mom home on Wednesday afternoon. She was excited about going home and being in her own home. I think Dad was happy too! We got her meds filled and we were out the door. It was a gorgeous day so Mom sat outside while we played with sidewalk chalk with the kids. I am glad she got some vitamin D.

Julia took out her nerve block. She didn't do her exercises yet but rested in the chair.

She decided to start the her exercises the next day. She stood up and straightened her arm for 5 min. It was great! She got up a couple of times to move around and exercise her arm.

You can see Mom's Nerve block, and leg units that help with her blood flow.
This is her after surgery and she looked amazing!






Here are pictures of Mom's arm a couple days after the surgery. Her arm is quite swollen and bruised here.