Saturday, Feb. 27

Hi everyone,

I had a great day here today - lots of relaxation and rest - really nice to have own room and everyone here is so kind and gentle and helpful!!! My surgeon stopped by and spent 20-25 min. with me and he feels confident that he can dry up this wound. He wants to go in and clean it out only because he didn't clean it out in the first place - he doesn't want to trust someone else's work!! He feels sure that he can get an antibiotic spacer in and antibiotic glue at the top of the femur. The advantage of the spacer besides the antibiotic is that it will keep the length of my leg closer to the other one. His job is to dry up wounds and he is confident that this will happen - even offered to show me pictures of wounds he has dealt with before - I didn't opt to look at them!!!
I walked with the OT today and shortly afterward had another leak - but dr. isn't worried and doesn't care if it leaks 8-10 more times before Mond. - he will put a drain in for 2 days and then pull it out and I shouldn't have any more leakage. Currently he has stopped antibiotics for 3 days so that he can culture and identify the infection because still all tests are showing up as clean. I also walked with PT and did some exercises today.
Tomorrow is another day of rest and then late on Monday I will have my next surgery - so may not be back on here until Tues or Wed.

Thanks all for prayers and thoughts!
Carole

Friday, Feb. 26

Hi everyone,

Major change today!!! Received a call from Hershey Medical Ctr doc. yesterday afternoon about 4:45 and instead of seeing them Mar. 5, they wanted me here this morning at 9:30. This was quite unnerving to me and I had a sleepless night. Brother Eric was a trooper and brought me up here this morning on bad weather and rough roads.
I can't say enough about this place - they x-rayed me and I met with a resident who was very thorough and then brought in Dr. Maish. Dr. Maish basically minced no words and said he wanted me admitted to Hershey today - didn't like the appearance of the incision and said there is no reason for drainage still to be occurring Wthis long after surgery. Spent 2-3 hours waiting for a room and was finally admitted and had a minor procedure this afternoon where they put a filter in my jugular to catch any blood clots coming from my legs.
Will spend the w/end resting and being observed and am facing another surgery sometime Monday afternoon. Dr. Maish wants to up incision and thorougly clean and place a antibiotic spacer in the hip. This will help with the lengthening of my leg too. This will be followed by 6 wks of IV antibiotics and then another surgery followed by nursing home/home/or rehab center.

Keep the prayers coming and I will update again tomorrow. I am in rm 4222 and my phone #717-531-6477.
Carole

Thurs., Feb 25

Hi everyone,

As of now we dodged another snowstorm, friend Betty is here from Millersville visitng for the day - brought me lunch -mmmmmm- Karen Szoke just left and sister Jamie is to come by and watch Olmpics with me this evening.
Improvement today, I have been okayed for self transfers and can now go to pee whenever I have the urge - yea!!!! The little things that make you happy!!! MRI tomorrow of soft tissue to be sure everything okay in the hip before looking at next step. Sister-in-law Karen going with me. Walked 60 ft with walker this morning - continuing to get stronger!!

Thanks for prayers and thoughts!!
CArole

Wed. Feb 24

Hi everyone,

Lots of news today - IV times changed to 8:30 am and pm. Insurance wants me out of here by Mar. 8th and down to one drip/day - dr. won't approve the drip/day, but met with him today and staples still in until next Wed. However, we have started the procedure for contacting the next surgeon - starting with dr. in Hershey and if not happy then to dr. in lancaster who used to be in Hershey and now has private practice and only deals with difficult situations.

Lots of company today - am almost ready to do self transfers especially after waiting for 50 min. tonight to be watched doing the transfer from bed to wheelchair - will come home with walker and wheelchair and home health care once/day. Will have MRI on Friday to check soft tissue and healing in the joint.

Feeling pretty good - nepehew David sitting here with me this evening helping me to remain calm while waiting for nurse.

Hope all are well!
Carole

Tuesday, Feb. 23

Hi everyone,
Today went fairly well - am still having some minor leaking issues with my incision, but went to therapy and had some visitors again. Tomorrow I go to ortho and hopefully start on the next part of this adventure by having staples removed and then beginning search for next surgeon. We have several in mind and will be researching after my surgeon gives his suggestions. Hopefully will be in Hershey, but we will see. I was able to "hop" again today with my walker in therapy. Am eating well and trying to keep upbeat!!
Thanks for all of the kind words and calls, cards, etc.

Carole