Lessons Learned - Gratitude Given -

Lessons Learned

Due to my ankle surgery; there is not anything to report on our Inner City Mission; we were not able to go out and make our visits. We did manage to go to my Granddaughter's baptism; which was awesome. 

Here is our sweet Karli, My Husband and I

 I guess today I will just do some musing. 22 years ago I broke my ankle and therefore ruined a well planned vacation. We had rented a cabin for a week with  plans to fish and enjoy the outdoors. My oldest son had just returned home from his mission. We were all excited to have him to ourselves and enjoy hearing about his experiences. On the first day we went to a great fishing spot. We had all gone down to the creek and were beginning to fish. After a while I decided that I didn't want to fish; I wanted to just relax and read an Ensign Magazine that I had left in the car.  I moseyed up to the car to retrieve the magazine and started back down the hill. I slipped and jammed by foot into a boulder and broke my right ankle. I could actually hear it crack. I was so freaked out and in a great deal  pain. Of course, my family gathered around me quickly and my three sons and husband carried me up using a scouting chair hold; of which I complained that they were not doing it correctly. I thought that I could complain since I had served in the Cub and scouting program for years. I think mostly I was afraid of them carrying me up a steep hill. I did appreciate their efforts to get me up the incline safely.They stabilized my ankle as much as possible. A priesthood blessing was given and I felt comforted and knew all would be well. While traveling to the nearest hospital I was fairly comfortable; so I decided maybe it was just a bad sprain. However, that cracking sound that I had heard couldn't be rationalized away. At the small town hospital, I had an X-ray that showed  I had a very bad break. We were sent back to Las Vegas for my surgery which occurred the next day.Our vacation of course was ruined.
A few weeks after my ankle was fully healed, I was walking towards the Hospice Hospital that I worked for and tripped over the cement curb and fell and broke my left elbow. I am left handed so this posed a big problem for me. Luckily it wasn't a bad break; but I still had to wear a sling for several weeks. When I returned to work I had a new name; I was called Grace.
During the recovery of these two accidents I learned some valuable lessons. I am a nurse so I had helped a lot of people over the years. I thought I knew it all; just like
the best scouting lift.
These are some of the first lessons I learned.
  1. Having bone pain is very painful.
  2. Having surgery is not fun.
  3. Having a cast on is not fun; in time it will itch like crazy.
  4. Being in a hospital as a patient is the pits.
  5. When you push the call light; it may take a while before someone answers it
  6. Sometimes you don't get your pain medication on time.
  7.  It seems like there are people coming in and out of your room doing various things day and night.
  8. There is no rest in a hospital setting.
  9. It is very difficult to sit on a bedpan.
10. Getting out of bed is a chore.
11. Crutches do not help when trying to get into the fridge, opening doors and getting into a car.
12. You feel like people get tired of you complaining or asking for help.
13. First conversation is always; "What happened to you?"
14. Putting on make-up, doing hair is impossible without both hands.
15. You can't put on nylons at all; in fact you can't really dress without help.
16. You can not take baths; and showering doesn't work well either.
17. You need help whether you want it or not.
18. You have be to waited upon for almost everything.
19. You can not write if the break is on the arm you use to write with.
20. You can not type or use the computer if your arm is in a sling.
20. You can not drive if it is your right ankle.
21. You are really truly handicapped

Gratitude Given

70. I am so grateful for my sons and husband who did know how to left me gently up the hill using the chair carry. 
71. am grateful for good physicians.
72. I am grateful for all those who took care of me.
73. I am grateful for modern anesthetic; you wake up quicker and feel less drugged.
74. I am grateful for good medications for infections and pain.
74. I am grateful for bedpans and for bedside commodes.
75. I am grateful for children that helped me so much when I broke my ankle and elbow.
76. I am grateful for a kind and tender husband who has helped me so much all three times I have been injured. This time he has had to change the dressing everyday and he is so gentle. He also is running to the fridge several times a day to get me new ice packs, fluids and food.
77. I am grateful for all the meals that my children then and my husband now have provided for me.
78. I am thankful for all of the house chores that they took over for me
79. I am thankful for the sweet cards and drawings that my children made for me and now my grandchildren.
80. I am thankful for the kind ward and neighbor friends that brought food in and also came to visit

81. I am thankful for the individuals that I worked for all of their assistance.
82. I am thankful for those who called to check on me.
83. I am thankful for the many people who opened doors and assisted me in other ways.
84. I am so grateful for a lovely husband and son who gave me a blessing before my last surgery which brought peace and comfort to my soul.
85. When I asked for a blessing this time, I had decided that my husband should anoint and I wanted my son to give me the blessing. In this sweet blessing I was comforted and I knew I did not need to worry at all about the surgery. I felt completely at peace. I am so thankful for the priesthood  that my husband and sons hold. Through this  priesthood authority they can bless me and others at anytime for anything that may be bothering us whether physical or emotional. 
86. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that heard and answered my prayers 
87. I am grateful for those friends and family that also prayed for me.
88. I am grateful to have more insight into how those with handicaps feel.
89. I feel I have learned great lessons in compassion through all of these experiences.
90. I feel I was a better nurse after having these moments. I now knew first hand how patients feel in the hospital and home settings.
91. I know and have greater love and compassion for all those who suffer with greater challenges than I.
92. I am grateful for all of the lessons learned through these kinds of life experiences.
93 .I have a greater appreciation for my own body and the fact that I can see, hear, smell, feel, talk, and that I have hands to use and feet to walk. 
94. I am so grateful to have all of the modern conveniences to help make my recovery more pleasant. I am humbled by the fact that so many in our world suffer for greater difficulties than I can even imagine. I have a sincere love for mankind an wish that all could be healed. I do know that through Christ they can be healed.
95. I know beyond a doubt that we have a loving Heavenly Father and an ever caring Savior Jesus Christ; who loves us all and wants us to love one another and to lift and assist one another through the refining fires of life. Yes, I am truly blessed.

 

Wise Woman Builds Her Home