Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Eve of Re-struction

This is Alexis, Sam's Mom.
I have promised her that I will contribute to her blog around her surgical time.
It is Wednesday night and we are checked into a Boston hotel.
The trip here was pretty uneventful with the exception of Sam learning some pretty interesting methods of how to quiet a mild to moderately turbulent flight.
We get lost on our way to the hotel, but manage to see Fenway Park and Harvard University in the process. Sam navigates us through the city in the dark and we arrive unscathed, despite seeing a record number of ambulances and police cars along the way.
In the event that we would have been lost in a Boston "neighborhood"-
Josh (Sam's special friend) is here to protect Sam- so all is well.
The road to Boston has been a long and painful one for Sam. She has suffered from hip pain for at least 5 years, had 2 femoral stress fractures and through-out that time ran several 1/2 marathons and adventure races. The pain persisted and eventually she was diagnosed with Developmental Hip Dysplasia and referred to a surgeon for PAO. On Monday her surgeon informed her that he may do a a femoral osteotomy as well. Sam never does anything half way. Dr. Murphy told her that he will make the decision regarding the femoral osteotomy following the PAO. It will add several hours to the procedure and at least 236 gray hairs to my head.
Faith- an essential part of the equation.
Sam has just completed her night-before-surgery hibiclens scrub and is moaning about how tacky (terribly sticky- not tawdry) it is. She has had a rollercoaster day- emotionally. I, who know her well have managed to stay out of the thick of it. Josh, who is fairly new to the equation has been caught in the cross-fire more than few times. He takes it well, and Sam- who is more than aware of her ricocheting psychological well-being lets us know how much she appreciates us both being here.
We will report for duty at 9:00am and her surgery will begin at 11:30am.
After all this tme I can't believe that "we're on the eve of "re"struction.
Sadly Sam & Josh have no idea what I am talking about with that line- I only hope that some of you might!
Thanks to all of you who have called and sent her well wishes. We will keep you all posted.
THM (Tragically Hip's Mom)

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Sam,

Thinking of you today from across the pond.

As is the English tradition I tried to get some grapes delivered to you, but I'm afraid the person on the end of the phone couldn't understand my accent. Dread to think what they would have delivered...

I know that a little bit of surgery won't keep you down.

lots of love

Tim

Joslynn said...

We love you Sam! We know everything will go smoothly and you'll be back to your smiling self in no time!

Just think of this experience as the hardest adventure race of your life! You'll do awesome, just as you do with everything else in your life!

We will be thinking of you today and through you recovery process. We can't wait to get all of your blog updates - just don't bring your blackberry into the operating room with you okay!

We love you so much!

Jos & Craig

P.S. We're thinking of you too Lex! Stay strong and keep us posted. Sam is in the best hands anyone could wish for. Hope to talk to you tonight! We love you!