Straight Leg Perfec!
Stylin! That’s us, in case anybody asks. Yesterday we drove to Vancouver in neighbor Betsy’s Lexus – bigger and better than our little Prius-C. I know the ‘better’ part might be arguable but in this particular instance the bigger is better. No doubt about it.
Tomorrow before our girls are even off the roost, Nyel goes under the knife at Peace Health Southwest Medical Center here for an Allograft Reconstruction of Extensor Mechanism Disruption. In simple English that means a repair to his ruptured quadriceps and involves a bone graft and tendon(s) replacement utilizing parts from the tissue bank (read: cadaver parts.)
Yikes! Stop the wipers!
It will be a long surgery requiring two surgeons and who-knows-how-many other team members. His hospital stay will be at least two or three nights but, as is typical these days, they want him out of there as soon as possible. Hospitals aren’t the healthiest places to be in these times of super-microbes.
His left leg will be encased in a straight, immobile, fiberglass cast – and that’s where the Lexus comes in. We tried straight-legging him onto the back seat of the Prius, but he’s a tall guy with long limbs. He could barely manage and a three-hour ride from Vancouver to Oysterville, even with good drugs, didn’t seem manageable. So it was Betsy to the rescue!
She still has her mom’s Lexus which mostly bides its time in the garage; Betsy has her own wheels. Nyel tried the stiff-legged stretch across the back seat and found it much more do-able. So here we are, ready in high style for patient and chauffeur!
Maybe Not Ambulance Quality
I even practiced driving today. No problem, though all those bells and whistles are a little confusing. Betsy warned us that the windshield wipers and the headlights go on automatically, but she didn’t tell us how to over-ride those wipers, much to the carwash attendant’s distress! We (actually, Nyel) finally figured out what to do to make them stop but now we have no idea if they’ll magically go on when it rains,,, or not.
Fortunately, the forecast is for sun. But truth-to-tell, I just want the forecast to be for Success and Smooth Sailing Ahead for Nyel!
We will be thinking of Nyel and hope for a successful outcome as well as a smooth ride home and to health.
Larry and I wish Nyel the very best as he goes through this complicated surgery. Sydney, we wish you the best also as it is especially tough when your loved one is in pain and there isn’t much you can do about it except hand them a pill. We will be thinking of you both with positive thoughts.
I have had two surgeries in that facility and have nothing but good words to say about my care. Be well.