The New Bionic Cindy, Part I

Oh, the places you'll go!

Thirty-two and a half years ago my life was put on hold as I spent six weeks in the hospital and 8 weeks in the home of my parents, healing and recuperating from a car wreck in which I was the passenger.  We were hit on my side and that type of hit was called being "T-boned," by the surgeon I met about 2 months ago, Dr. McMath.  I had multiple injuries, but the main one was a smashed pelvis.

I had great therapists in the hospital and an excellent (sports medicine) orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Herkimer.  Dr. Herkimer explained to me that there were too many parts to put back together and I was too young for a hip replacement.  I was to "wiggle in bed and shape a new socket for the ball," which was in fine shape.  For thirty years I have had good days and bad days, fluctuating between no pain and...well...much pain.

I have been seeing a great chiropractor, Dr. Petro, for the past 7 or 8 years, and I credit him with getting me off of mega doses of ibuprofen and working on stretches and isometric exercises, keeping me out of surgery for those years.  Recently, we (Dr. Petro, my wonderful husband, Mark, and I) decided that it was time for new X-rays and a trip to meet Dr. McMath to hear what his opinion was on my hip.  I have been having more and more trouble with everyday things like putting on my right sock, walking the stairs (we live in a split level home), standing or sitting for long periods of time, and most recently, waking in the middle of the night with "referred" knee pain.  All of this was due to loss of cartilage in the hip joint (leaving me with bone on bone), bone spurs, and the flattening of the ball from years of rubbing in the misshapen hip socket.

Dr. McMath sent me for physical therapy where I learned some new stretches, worked on some of my old stretches, and whatever new kind of "torture" they could put me through.  Seriously, Gordon, Shannon, and Jay got me ready for the inevitable total hip replacement surgery that I have been waiting for, for over 30 years.

As I was coming into my 5th week of therapy, I got a call from the surgery scheduler:  "There has been a cancellation in the schedule.  Instead of your April (or as I was going to ask for a May) surgery, could you have your surgery on February 5th?"  After a couple of conversations with Mark and my co-worker/supervisor, Tiffani, I called back and said, "Sure, that will be fine."  I hung up the phone and realized that instead of 3-4 months away, it was going to be a week-and-a-half away!!  Yikes!!!

Over the past week-and-a-half, I have seen more medical professionals than I have seen since July 2, 1980, the day of the wreck.  With all of the doctor visits done, and tests run, I turned out to be a healthy candidate for a total right hip replacement.

On the very early morning of February 5th, our daughter Jessie, Mark, my dad and I all met at the hospital for this next life-changing event...

...But, this is getting long, and it is getting late, so I'll save some of my story for tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

Cindy