So for the past year, I’ve had a big, painful lump come up on the side of my left leg (above my ankle) whenever I’ve tried to go running or jogging, or when I walk for longer distances (like to the park). I went to my PCP, and he sent me to an orthopedic surgeon. Well, this doctor didn’t have a clue what was happening. So he sent me for an x ray. Nothing. Next I got an ultrasound. Nothing. Finally, I had an MRI and the problem was finally diagnosed as a hernia (which is weird because that usually doesn’t happen in the lower leg). My doctor told me he had never seen that before, so he sent me to another doctor (I’m pretty sure I’ve told this story before…). I had to wait three months to get in with this new doctor, and then he spent literally five minutes with me. He basically said, “I don’t feel comfortable doing the surgery, go see our head surgeon.” So I had to wait another three months to see this next doctor. But after I saw him, he said that he could do the surgery and someone would call me to schedule it. Well, when she called, she told me his first available surgery was in May. But I MOVE in May! So she said she would e-mail him and see what they could do. And that was that and I didn’t hear from her. Well on Monday (March 28), she called and said, “There has been a cancellation! Your surgery is on Thursday!” As in, just a few days later!
Well that, of course, set off a bit of a panic in me. I would be having my surgery on Thursday; Austin was leaving for a rotation in Tucson on Friday!!! Who was going to watch my kids? How would we get food? What would we do??? I was going to be on BEDREST for FIVE days!!! And then spend EIGHT WEEKS on a walker! My mom said, “Don’t worry about anything. Just call your Relief Society president!” Well I did, but turns out a lot of OTHER crazy things had been going on in the ward PLUS the compassionate service leader had just been released. So other than some meals, there wasn’t much they could do for me. So I cried and cried and cried. And then I e-mailed everyone on my Arizona contact list, begging for help. But still what in the world do I do? If I didn’t have the surgery, I would never be able to comfortably (well, as comfortably as possible!) run or walk again. And if I didn’t do the surgery on this open date, it would run into our moving date and THAT wouldn’t work! So I called my mom. Tearfully I begged, “Is there ANY way you can come?” See, I have LITTLE brothers left at home. I still have a 5 year old brother and a 7 year old brother at home! My mom has her own young family to care for! Plus, she is in Alabama and it is SO expensive to travel all the way here. But, I got online (and prayed really hard!) and found a good deal on a plane ticket. Then my mom called around and found different people to take care of her kids (and my niece) and we booked the ticket!
On Thursday (the day of the surgery), Austin had to go and do rounds at the VA. While he was gone, my friend Ashley came over (she was going to watch the kids for us) and I showed her around. Then Austin came and picked me up and we headed for the hospital in Surprise. After that, everything went really fast. I got checked in and they took me back to my room. I hadn’t even changed my clothes yet before they came to tell me that the 10 am surgery was a no show so I was on! We were literally at the hospital for like half an hour before they wheeled me back for surgery!
After the surgery, the doctor told Austin that things had gone better than they had expected. I don’t know all of the medical terms (you’d have to ask Austin!), but I do know they didn’t have any tendons to repair, so that was good. They just had to fix the muscle and then cut holes in something that surrounds the muscle??? I dunno exactly. But anyway, it wasn’t as bad as they had thought it might be. I guess most of the pain was coming from the muscle hitting the nerves. So that was great. I came out of my anesthesia super fast and was quickly talking with the nurses. In fact, my biggest problem was my hypoglycemia! Having to fast all day is not a good thing for someone with hypoglycemia! Anyway, so after the surgery and recovery we were able to head back home. Ashley stayed a while longer because Austin had to go back to the VA to do a presentation, and I mostly just slept all day!
That night was actually a pretty darn bad night. I was up all night with really bad pain. Then Austin left at like 3:30 to head to Tucson. At about 4:30 he called to say his car had broken down on the freeway. So I had to get out of bed and try to make my way to the computer room to try to find a tow truck! I had Austin call another guy (who was also headed to Tucson) for a ride the rest of the way there, and we decided we would worry about his car on Saturday. The pain of being up was just too much for me right then! At about 5:45, Mr. Max got up. Thankfully, Ashley came over again at about 6:30 and I was able to head back to bed! Then at about noon, my mom showed up (Jenn picked her up for me!) and took over. For the next few days, I stayed in bed and my mom took care of everything and a few friends brought some dinners over. I was super sad to see my mom go early Wednesday morning! (By the way, when Austin went back to get his car on Saturday, it was GONE!!! But that is a whole ‘nother story!)
Wednesday was HORRIBLE! The kids wanted stuff CONSTANTLY and I fell down several times trying to hop around with my walker. My arms were so sore from trying to lift myself back up and I was tired and my leg hurt and I was over all, once again, very whiney and cranky! I didn’t see how I could possibly do this! In fact, I COULDN’T do it! So I called a friend, Laura, and she came and picked my kids up for the afternoon. I spent the rest of the afternoon praying for something to change because I couldn’t do this for 8 more weeks! (I also spent the afternoon begging Austin to quit medical school and come home, lol). I was about as low as I could get, I think!
And then came the miracle! On Thursday, I was much less emotional and could hop around better on my walker. And then that afternoon, another friend (Brittany) took my kids until after dinner time and I was able to get a bit more rest. On Friday, I was able to put my foot down a little bit to get around and it seemed much easier. That day, however, I received more bad news—Austin had to stay in Tucson for the weekend and do rounds on both Saturday and Sunday. Well, of course I lost it and started bawling again! The thought of him coming home on Saturday was what was keeping me going! During my crying, Laura walked in the house (she had my keys). She took my kids again (she and Brittney watched them again) and let me get some more rest. A few hours later she gave me a call, “Brittney and I have decided to watch your kids this weekend. You go to Tucson to be with your husband!” After much talk back and forth, I happily agreed!
On Saturday, I was able to put my foot down all the way and could even get around without my walker if I held onto something else. So first thing in the morning, I took my kids over to Laura and Brittney’s house and headed to Tucson! It was really bad weather—lots of rain and wind—and I passed by some pretty bad accidents. My leg was also pretty swollen and I was in pain, but I made it to Tucson! The rest of the day I was able to rest and be with my hubby!
On Sunday, I could walk without my walker at all and the pain was much more bearable! After Austin’s rounds, we headed back home so he could spend the afternoon with the kids. I rested quite a bit in the evening to try to get the swelling to go back down. But other than being very tired and sore, I felt ok!
On Monday (yesterday), I was a mom again! I left my walker in the garage and I took care of the kids and things around the house! I even went grocery shopping (which was actually not so good because it left my leg on FIRE!!!) and I called and told the Relief Society president that they could even stop bringing meals!
Honestly, I am considering this a miracle. I don’t even go back to the doctor for my post-op visit for another week and a half! I’m supposed to be on this walker until 8 weeks at the earliest! And here I am walking around without it, with pain that can be controlled with meds, and able to take care of my kids and house. I honestly believe that Heavenly Father heard my prayers saying that I couldn’t do this, and allowed me to be healed super fast! I am so, so grateful for that because I have another three weeks without my husband (who has to work AGAIN this weekend!).
But, I would like to say thank you for the MANY people who have been helping me! From meals, to taking care of my kids, to driving my mom to the airport, to even just calling to check up on me—thank you so, so much everyone! Honestly, couldn’t have made it this far without you all! How blessed I am to have such wonderful friends and family!!!
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