You Need Hands.
7/30/2011 11:26:17 PM
I had a thumb fusion on Tuesday. It was the best operation I’ve ever had. Is that a strange thing to say? I was treated so well, it was like a morning out, with hot chocolate and hot, buttered toast as good as you’d get at your local Weatherspoons.
This is the fourth hand operation I have had with this particular surgeon, and I am exceptionally comfortable with his knowledge and ability – he has not let me down or misguided me once and it dawned on me, whilst I was lying on the table, chatting with the nurses, that it was my surgeon who had been instrumental in getting me writing and maintaining my hands so that I can continue to write. I will be thanking him in my first book.
About four years ago, I had a wrist fusion, and like this op, it was during the six weeks school holiday. I wondered what I could do with my time, as I was due to be in plaster, then splints, for the duration. Since I am right-handed and it was my left hand in a heavy back-slab, I decided to write ‘that novel’ I always said I had in me. This eventually turned into Truth Or Dare?, although it started as an entirely different story.
The following year, my surgeon gave me a new knuckle and the year after that, he repaired two ruptured tendons – that was the worst operation in terms of recovery. It seemed to take forever, and it was on my right hand. I was in a cast for six weeks and then splints for some time after that, but, as usual, my surgeon did a sterling job. He had to strip half a ‘spare’ tendon (lengthways) from the underside of my forearm and graft it in to the topside of my forearm, thus giving my fingers the ability to extend once more. For three weeks before the surgery, I worried about thanking other drivers for letting me pass, as it was the little and ring fingers that had dropped. It must have looked like I was giving them the two fingered salute!
And so to this year – my thumb fusion. Haven’t got into any trouble with other road users and did not offend the medical team when they asked what the problem was, by showing them my two working fingers.
That could explain the star treatment……
Only joking. I would like to sincerely thank the hospital staff at DCH for a lovely morning and I look forward to seeing you all again soon for my next op.
Oh yes…there is already another lined up!