July 2011

It has been 1 year and 11 months since the accident, it's hard to believe so much time has gone by.   I definitely have days where I fail to remember where I began my journey of recovery but then I look back at photos from the hospital and it still stuns me - every time.  I hope that it always has a bit of a jarring affect on me, I want to always remember the struggles I faced in re-connecting those neurons in my brain so that I will always be grateful for this gift we call life.
It has been a good month ~ so far my sister and her family came to town to visit, I made dessert for a few friends who were each given baby showers, we took my nephew to the beach and the San Diego Zoo, I finally had a follow-up appointment with my Orthopaedist, and I had a 4-month follow up with my neurologist, as well as I am still making progress with Weight Watchers.  Jamie, Nate, and Jackson came into town so all of us ladies and Jackson could go to the baby shower for Lindsey.  Jamie and Jackson stayed through the following weekend, Nate returned to Vegas for the week for work but then came back to San Diego so they could attend a wedding and we could watch Jackson for two nights.  I made ladybug cupcakes for Lindsey's shower because there is a little lady on the way!  The cupcakes turned out really cute, thank goodness for the Internet so I can borrow ideas!  We had a blast with Jamie and her gorgeous family, I could sit and watch that child forever.  We took Jackson to the beach for the first time - what a production!  We took a pop-up tent to create a good amount of shade, plus beach chairs, sunblock, snacks, drinks, toys, cameras, etc.  Some of Nate's family was also able to make it for the day so there were many people accompanying Jackson on his first trip to the sand!

We also took Jackson to the Zoo.  Uncle Connor also came with us, he also pushed the stroller for a big portion of the day...what a cool uncle Jackson has!

  Jamie and I found a gorgeous dress for her to wear to the black-tie wedding, spending the day shopping with your sister is such a lovely way to waste the day.  Jamie and Nate went to stay in Del Mar for the wedding, we spent the time hanging with Jackson.  I know that I am biased, and I know that I am supposed to think my nephew is extra cute and extra smart but I very much truly believe that Jackson is one of the most gorgeous, most brilliant children on the planet and nobody can tell me that I am wrong, because quite simply I will know that you are lying.  Let's see...what else?  I finally got to go back and see Dr. Skyhar to find out if it was time to finally do something about my left shoulder.  He had an intern with him and when we looked at the x-rays of my clavicle my doctor (who-shall-remain-nameless for the sake of this blog)explained that my shoulder was one of the strangest things he had seen in all of his years of practicing medicine - is that something one can be proud of?  He scheduled me for a CT for the following week and then another appointment so we could look at the CT together and he could explain what we were looking at...holy crap!  First, the CT scan is super cool but seeing that view of my shoulder is also VERY weird.  You can see where it broke, you can see where you would think the bone would grow to repair the damage, and then you can see where it actually grew...again, I say holy crap.  We have surgery scheduled for August 2nd, exactly 2 years and 1 day post-accident.  The surgery is actually and outpatient procedure so I won't have to stay overnight in the hospital if all goes as planned.  A "small" incision will be made so they can go in and remove the bone from the muscle and then shave the bone down so it is no longer protruding.  Supposedly enough time has gone by that putting me to sleep should be safe and its not a lengthy procedure so I won't be out for an extended period of time; the shorter the procedure the better for my brain.  They say the recovery shouldn't be too bad, I am just going to wait and see.  I hope that the surgery makes it possible for me to get a better range of motion in that shoulder, which should in turn make it a better possibility for me to return to working in a professional kitchen again.  I know me and I tend to take double the estimated time to get back to "normal", so if they say I should be able to return to the gym 2 weeks post surgery I am going to say that it will take me 4 weeks....I guess we just wait and see.  I also returned to my neurologist this month, my last appointment with him was 4 months ago.  He was very pleased with my progress and politely told the Navy doctor that was shadowing him that I could be the poster child for Brain Injury, he explained the severity of my injuries and described the length of the coma, I think she was impressed with the amount of recovery thus far which definitely felt good!  He then asked about my love life, to which I truthfully told him was non-existent, I told him that if he could introduce me to somebody it would be greatly appreciated.  He then said he would if I would name my first born after him...done!  I am in!  Last night I got to go to dinner with some girlfriends, Carrie is in town and it was so great to have as many of the ladies together as possible.

Carrie, Kate and I, on the way to dinner

It is so hard to believe that tomorrow is Live Day, the 2nd anniversary of the accident.  I am truly grateful that I am here to discuss it, at the same time I am still stunned when I think about the drama of the past two years.  We recently went on a road trip to Redondo Beach and although I was not driving I still sat through the traffic and that is when I realized that I may not be as close to getting back to driving as I had hoped.  Then again, maybe I can just chalk the panic up to LA traffic...do I need Post Traumatic Stress counseling?   Last year we celebrated Live Day with a party, this year we are not having a party...instead, I will be prepping for shoulder surgery - does the fun of traumatic brain injury ever end? Think good thoughts for me on Live Day and on August 2nd (surgery day)...I will keep you posted on what's to come.