I got the “All Clear” from my doctor to go back to work!

I didn’t even get in trouble for taking out my own staples (though the nurse did give me a weird sideways look).

I couldn’t resist taking a sneaky picture of today’s X-ray. You can’t see it, but where the bridge was, there are now holes running down my middle metatarsal and my radius. My arm-bones look like a flute!

There were never any guarantees that I was going to be able to work again. While I still have a lot of rehab work to do, I’m so, so grateful that this hoped-for result is the one I ended up with, and for all the people who took such adoring care of me.

It’d be easy to join the “2016 sucked!” bandwagon because of my accident, but I’m far too aware of all the blessings that would be overlooking.

Thank you.

It’s time to get back into action. But where to start? With a mind-map!

Yes, the surgery went well. I kept recalling these horror stories about doctors on the Island (e.g. “They used forceps to deliver the baby — and pulled its head off!”), but everyone I dealt with was as organized and professional as the Toronto teams, if not moreso, and there was an added layer of warm, caring friendliness. So it was a great experience — if that can be said of such a thing.

Now I’ve got yet another bandage-covered club on my right arm and can’t wait to get it all off and my stitches out on Friday. The arm is sore and stiff, but it’s such a relief to know that this is the end of that ordeal — though likely the beginning of a long recovery process. I’d pictured having that bar out and immediately getting back to drawing, but things are going slower than that.

I have, however, told work I’ll start again on January 3rd, and am going back on the payroll for the holidays. It’s a bit scary making that commitment before I’m absolutely sure I’ll be ready, but it seems very likely, and I need the income. Yes, the mortgage is much cheaper than our Toronto rent was, but I’d forgotten about factors of home ownership like heating oil. (My God, that furnace can burn through the stuff quickly! There’s a little plastic bubble indicator on top of the oil tank in the basement; I can’t help but check it every day, and am horrified to see it’s moved each time.)

Otherwise, though, the house is a dream. Craig was here for two weeks and managed to get everything unpacked and looking great. (His aunt passed away, so he went to Scotland when I came here, then joined me later.) Now he’s away to Scotland again until mid-January. I miss him, but we’re accustomed to being apart at this time of year so we can be with our families. Charlottetown is really pretty in the snow, but I’m most excited about getting to be here at the house next summer — and off for trips around the Island.

(P.S. This post is recycled from a letter to an old friend. Sorry, Glynis!)

I finally liberated my big black bag of old journals from the storage locker at my parents’ place.

Now the chronicles of all my former hopes and angsts are safely tucked away on a bookshelf in the basement of my home. There’s a certain feeling of wholeness to that.

Today I went with my mum to her church’s coffee morning. Those are great conversations I always enjoy, but today the youth minister went one further and volunteered to go to my house and unstack the boxes so I could start unpacking. Even better, once there, he also reassembled our couch.

The physical work was a huge help, but even more helpful was how it lightened my mindset to suddenly be able to make progress, when just yesterday I felt deflated and helpless.

Thank you, Nathan!

I’m finally back on Prince Edward Island!

I love our new house, and last night all our belongings arrived. Unfortunately, Craig’s in Scotland because his auntie passed away, and my arms are not back to normal yet, so setting up our furniture and unpacking the boxes will have to wait until Craig’s back.

I have a meeting Monday with a local surgeon, who I hope will be able to fit me in soon to remove the ‘dorsal bridge’ in my right arm. His secretary stressed that he has a six-month waiting list, but this thing is meant to come out early in December – and I need it out if I’m going to be able to start back to work in January. And I need to do that, because otherwise I’m going to be drifting into financial and career trouble.

Fingers crossed. (I can at least do that.)

For the first time since my second surgery, I sat down and had a drawing session.

At my request, the OT gave me a splint for my right arm. It just didn’t feel safe swinging it about while I know it’s still broken. Even though there’s a metal bar in there, I don’t want to run any risk at all of having to go through that surgery again.

Removing the dorsal bridge will hopefully be no big deal, though the OT suggested that there’ll be a lot of work to do once that happens. I’m just hoping that’s all to do with my wrist, and I’ll get to keep all the headway I’ve made with my fingers. I need to get back to work in January!

The splint is also to keep the bedsheets from rubbing against my arms, which has been driving me crazy.

Okay, I put some of the Tiger Balm cream on and my arms certainly feel… different. Like, burny different. I like the smell, though!