I’ve started writing this “2009″ Holiday letter many times, scratching it each time. I guess I needed to wait so I’d have a better perspective. Today is December 9th, 2009 and I can see this year better now.
In March after my annual L Quinta Art Show I went to the Doctor because my knee ( I had a very successful knee replacement in 2005) had been swollen. My doctor removed some fluid and gave me a cortisone shot. the fluid was tested in the lab at 1, 2 and 5 days and found to be negative, free of any infection. HOWEVER, within three days I couldn’t walk and went to urgent care. My white cell count was very high and the doctor removed some fluid from my knee again. THIS TIME it was immediately found that my knee was infected. I had to undergo emergency surgery to remove the grossly infected tissue in my knee. Great!, the doctor had given me a staph infection. Following surgery I went home with a piccline (in home intravenous) whereas I had to administer Vancomycin twice a day through the piccline. Unfortunately this did not work. Next, I had a surgery to remove the knee replacement which was the start of a total knee revision. The knee was replaced with cement which was encrusted with antibiotics that were dispersed locally concomitant with a piccline AGAIN. A nurse came twice a week to change the line and a physical therapist came three times a week. I couldn’t do much and was mostly bedridden with an occasional spin in my private wheelchair for three months. In October the infection seemed to be gone so I had a third surgery to put in a new knee. Since everything had been removed this time the new knee had to be anchored with a titanium rod through the bone in my lower leg and upper thigh. I requested the titanium be anodized purple but I was turned down! From October to December I was non-weight bearing on my right leg so it was a wheelchair or hopping with a walker. I think this was the hardest time for me. It’s December and I finally feel a little better, and am hopeful that I am finally on the true road to recovery.It will be 10 months from my last show, to going to Carefree Arizona in January. I’m nervous and excited. I can finally put weight on my leg, and for those of you who “Know me”, I am overdoing it…and LOVING IT!!! (easy does it, Shawn!).
It is awesome to be somewhat independent again. I can finally drive….YEAH!!
This year I also lost my “Dear mother”. It was a horrible 4 weeks from the time she fell and the weeks that followed in the hospital, seeing her daily. I still start to call her and ’share’ that something special or just because I haven’t heard her voice for a while. I’m told it will be a long time before these feelings change. I really don’t mind since it brings her presence to the present .I LIKE THAT.
Everything else is moving along, as life does. I cherish my family and friends, am grateful I still get a “Buzz” from creating my glass art, love the garden, and, most of all, look forward to continuing on this ‘path’ I call, “Be here now.”
Thank you for being there and reading this. It is my hope we meet again in 2010 and that I get to share my newest glass styles for you to feast your eyes on.
SHAWN