Dear Friends,
I’ve often told people that sometimes you need to “slow down to hurry up.” Then again, I’ve also been known to say, “hurry up and slow down.”
Both sayings seem particularly appropriate for this season of our lives.
Today, Debbie and I had our much-anticipated follow-up appointment with Dr. Hoshino, the orthopedic surgeon who did such an incredible job reconstructing her shattered right knee.
The good news is that Debbie’s recovery is going very well!
Dr. Hoshino removed the surgical bandages and replaced them with a simple wrap that Debbie can remove when she showers. That’s a big deal when you’ve spent the last several weeks depending on others for so many of life’s simplest activities.
Next Wednesday, we’ll return to have what I call her “zipper” removed. Those are the staples holding her surgical incision together. Then, in about four weeks, we’ll return with new X-rays so the doctor can evaluate how everything is healing.
The appointment was short, informative, and pretty much what we expected, except for one important detail.
Three more weeks of absolutely no weight-bearing on either leg.
Not exactly the news Debbie was hoping for, but healing takes time. Sometimes you really do have to slow down to hurry up.
Now, Let Me Tell You About My Wife!
When we returned to Orchards, the rehabilitation facility where Debbie is staying, she wasted no time finding her physical therapist.
Her request was simple: “Teach me how to get in and out of our car so I can go home.”
Within 30 minutes, Debbie was transferring herself in and out of our car, using her arms and upper-body strength, much to the amazement of her therapist.
I have to tell you, if anyone out there is looking for an arm-wrestling competition, my wife is accepting all challengers!
She’s a beast, in the most complimentary and loving sense of the word!
Her upper-body strength and determination are remarkable. Watching her make those transfers look almost effortless was one of the most encouraging moments we’ve experienced since this whole adventure began.
So, What Happens Next?
That’s a very good question.
Thanks to the generosity of dear friends, we already have a smaller, lighter wheelchair at home that should work beautifully in our little house.
My next step is to bring that wheelchair to Orchards so Debbie and I can work with her physical therapist and learn exactly how to use it safely. We want to practice getting her in and out of that particular wheelchair, making transfers, and becoming comfortable with the equipment she’ll be using when she comes home.
It’s another important step toward getting Debbie back where she belongs.
Once we’ve done that, we’ll be in a much better position to make a smart decision about when she can come home.
Believe me, nobody wants that day to arrive more than Debbie and me. But after everything she’s been through, we don’t want to rush the process and jeopardize the remarkable progress she’s making.
We’re learning that there’s a difference between moving forward and moving too fast.
Sometimes the fastest way home is to slow down long enough to get there safely.
Thank you again for your prayers, your encouragement, your generosity, and the countless ways you’ve loved us through these past several weeks.
Please continue praying for strong bones, continued healing, wisdom in our decisions, and patience for both of us as we navigate these next few weeks.
We’re getting closer to home, one day at a time.
With grateful hearts,
Jim and Debbie
Hogan’s Journey