Well, since I last posted, I had my surgery.  It went better than anticipated.  In about two weeks I'll get the cast off and probably get a walking cast.  After that, I have another ankle and knee to repair.  Then, maybe the Bionic Woman will walk again.

I've been thinking a lot about the career I've had to leave behind.  Reading posts on another site from nurses who are still working reminds me how dysfunctional the nursing profession can be.  We've given up so much of our control to satisfy the increasingly inappropriate "customer service" demands.  Back when I was a younger nurse, you would never have a family demanding to keep a patient on life support after brain death has occurred.  You certainly wouldn't have them demanding that their brain dead child have multiple surgeries.

I have a great deal of sympathy for the family of this young girl who died after a seemingly simple surgery.  Somehow, they need to come to terms with the fact that she is dead, not try to raise tens of thousands of dollars for surgeries and transport to another facility.

My thoughts are with the poor nurses who are caught up in this fray.

I saw the specialist, and thank goodness...he can fix my foot.  It's going to take several months to recuperate, but it was so much better than what I was anticipating.

I hope that maybe, just maybe, I can get my health back on track and at least work part-time.  It was hard work to get my license; I'm not ready to give up on it just yet.

Hard to believe, but it's finally here.  Monday @ 1130 I have my appt. with the specialist at Rothman.  I really, really hope he has something else to offer me than amputation.  I have been through so much.  I need some good news for a change.

It just feels like a waiting game until I get to go to Rothman.  Being stuck in a wheelchair is no fun at all.

I'm beginning to feel like I've forgotten how to be a nurse.  I don't know how I could ever go back to taking care of patients.  Being a nurse was a big part of my identity, and now it's over.

I wish I knew what the next chapter of my life will be.

It's been a while since I last posted.  My orthopedic problems have gotten worse.  I saw another doctor for a second opinion, and he said he wouldn't feel comfortable doing surgery and recommended I go to either Rothman Institute in Philly; Hershey Med. Center; or, Johns Hopkins Univ.  I have decided to go to Rothman, but I'll have to wait until I go on Medicare, since my insurance won't cover it, even as an out-of-network provider.  

I'd really like to get to a point where I am just normal again. 

I just got back from a trip to the NY State Fair, and visiting some quaint towns in upstate NY.  At the Fair, there was a free concert in the evening called "Happy Together."  It had all of these oldies artists; the concert ended with The Turtles, and of course they sang "Happy Together."  It was so much fun belting out those songs with everyone else and feeling like I was normal again.  The weather was beautiful, and it felt like early Fall.  Some of the leaves were starting to turn.

Back to reality...

I haven't posted much lately; not much going on.  I am so looking forward to going away next weekend; I haven't been on a vacation in years.  I've been spending a lot of time writing for www.theonc.com.  If anybody is reading here, you can check out my articles there.