Day 30: We Can Rebuild Her. We Have The Technology. We Can Make Her Better, Stronger, Faster.

[anarchist_nomad]

Below is the promised State of the Chesh health report. My beloved cheshcat herself has already updated yesterday to her own journal[*] and various mailing lists. Her report is more detailed than mine own, methinks, so if you have seen that, feel free to skip to the bottom of this entry, in which I provide updates from today. That said, here we go:

On Thursday morning, I drove cheshcat to the orthopaedic clinic. We arrived when they opened at 7:30am and I waited with her until eleven, when they wheeled her bed off towards the operating theatre. That afternoon, she underwent a distal realignment procedure known as Elmslie-Trillat. In short, they realign the knee by cutting the bone underneath the tendon and screwing it in where it is supposed to be. Serious ouch! Luckily, the local orthopaedic clinic is excellent... and our surgeon is particularly outstanding, too! For the first time in her life, cheshcat's right knee is now actually sitting in the grove where knees are supposed to reside.[**]

I went in to visit cheshcat on Thursday evening, but she was still quite groggy from the pain meds.[***] I went in on Friday morning and evening, when she was more lucid, which was a Good Thing^TM. My dear bunnypip and L2 joined me for visits on Saturday morning and evening, and we played some games together -- Fluxx and Bohnanza. Sunday (i.e., yesterday), I went again in the morning and the evening... and was fortunate enough to be present when the physiotherapists got her out of bed for the first time, post-surgery! Progress is being made!

Said progress continued today. Due to a T2K meeting, I was not able to make it to the hospital this morning. In the afternoon, however, cheshcat rang me to say that she had stood up again... and taken her first post-surgery steps.[****] Needless to say, the news added some extra smiles to my afternoon! Apparently, her rate of progress following such a major restructuring of her knee is also impressing the physios! Huzzah!

I went back in the evening to talk, discuss which RSC shows we should buy tickets to in 2010, et cetera. At this point, it doesn't look like cheshcat will be coming home tomorrow. Sometime between Wednesday and Friday seems to be the most likely. I gently teased her, saying that they had to let her go by Friday... or else she would miss her own UnParty this weekend! My, what an UnParty that would be, if we did not even have the guest of honour!

Speaking of the UnParty, I should use this opportunity to remind people that it will be happening this weekend -- November 7^th and 8^th -- at our home: the Flat With No Name in Oxford. As the "UnParty" name implies, we will not be doing a lot of fancy preparations, buying snack food, and so on.[*****] Right now, our efforts need to be directed in bringing cheshcat back to full mobility. The UnParty is simply this: We will be home all weekend and playing games, watching movies, chilling out.

If you are on my f-list, feel free to drop by and join us at any point! No need to RSVP and crash space is available for out-of-Oxford people! Your company would be quite welcome -- with one important caveat: If you are ill, please do stay away. As much as we would love to spend time with you, cheshcat's immune system is already strained by the surgical intrusions into her body and the screws left behind there. Bringing germs and whatnot into our household would most definitely be Not A Good Idea^TM. If you are sick, please stay home and send your good wishes from afar!

If you are planning on coming and need an address or other contact info, leave a comment and let me know! Hope to see you soon!!

---

[*] F-locked.

[**] I used to say that knees were proof against "intelligent design" of humans. However, I later came to realise that knees only disprove "benevolent intelligent design." They say nothing contrary to evidence of a malignant designer.

[***] More than once that I have been visiting, I have heard reference to the "pain girls." Hmmm...

[****] I mean literal steps here! Not metaphoric ones!

[*****] With one exception -- there will be more homemade ice cream whipped up at some point on the Saturday of the UnParty.

Comments

[bunnypip.livejournal.com]

Twas good to be able to see Chesh on Saturday (and again on Sunday, albeit without L2). I'm still hoping to get down to Oxford tomorrow before visiting ends and will of course be there at the weekend for the unparty too.

And hurray for the pain girls ... and the entire pain management team in fact :-D

[faerierhona.livejournal.com]

When I have some semblance of energy again I will totally be coming to visit!

[sweetcyanide.livejournal.com]

Hope cheshcat recovers well- have good party times! Of course, I'll be able to bring good wishes in person soon *bounce*

x

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

I'd love to come to the Un-Party - what, haven't you invented the matter transporter yet? Bother!

Well, give Chesh a big soft squishy feel-better hug from me, anyway.

[prolificdiarist.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the update; I'm really glad Chesh's recovery seems to be going well and hurray for having a Nomad on hand! :)

I won't be at the unParty, but I will be thinking of you both and sending lots of hugs, smiles and well-wishes.

*Hugs, smiles and lots of well-wishes!*

[sanjibabes.livejournal.com]

Am really glad to hear the good news re Chesh's op. Unfortunately I will not be coming this weekend for two reasons:
1 - I'm going to spend some time with my mum
2 - I currently have tonsillitus and whilst I might be better by Sat, wouldn't want to risk infecting her. Not to mention, if I'm not better, I won't be going to my mum's either.

[xmakina.livejournal.com]

Much love and hugs from me and miss_amaranth

Sadly we're both sick as plague parrots who've been hanging around in the pig-pen so our attendance would be a bad idea.

As soon as we've got a clean bill of health we'll organise meeting up though :)

[blazingrowan.livejournal.com]

*sends many good wishes from afar*

I very much like your cheerful, bouncy style of writing :) and hurray for the pain girls and for taking steps! (Is this the John Radcliffe hospital? SHINY, from what I've seen of it... have med students been flocking?) xx