In my room with a view

I came to in the OR recovery area. My wife was there and a nurse " Hello, Mr. Flannery, hello" I was in quite a fog. I was wheeled into my room. How lucky can I be, I have a window. The doctor originally told me they were going to wait for the swelling to go down before they operated, but when I awoke I was in a fiberglass cast and the doctor told me they operated while they had me knocked me out. I was semi releaved that they wouldn't have to operate again. I was told that I broke my tibia, fibia and dislocated my ankle. They put it all back togegther with 4 screws. I was going to be NWB (non-weight bearing) on my left leg for 12 weeks. As of this post I have six weeks left.....time flies.
My wife was with me until about seven that night, her parents stayed a while until the late afternoon. I was still in the neck brace. I had that brace on for about 24 hours. They were worried that I may have had a neck problem. Everytime I turned my head I got " Mr. Flannery......keep your head straight." . I knew my neck was Ok, how come they didn't. I guess it was procedure to keep it on for 24 hours. Well now my foot is so swollen all I can see are my toes because of the cast. The pain is unbeleivable. I swear my big toe is as big as a coke can....no exaggeration. I am getting Morphine every 4 hours for the pain. It doesn't really help but it felt great. I watch TV all night that first night...no food, no sleep.
In the morning my first visitor is a very good friend, Todd, everyone should be lucky enough to have a friend like Todd. I hope you all do. He is the salt of the earth, a great human being. He brought me a gift of fresh tomatoes, ice cream and roast beef. All smuggled in a tool box so the nurses would not ask too many questions. He stayed with me talking with me for a while. After he left, in came my nurse and told me that they were going to wash me down. SPONGEBATH.....high five!!!! Just joking .....it was very embarassing, my friend Bob happened to stop by as they were starting, of course they asked him to help. The jokes were flying. Bob is also one of those friends we all should have in our lives. A real nice guy. In fact if I think I have a lot of great friends like Bob and Todd. I am a lucky person. Any way the cleaning felt good being stuck in a bed unable to do too much for yourself stinks. My wife came in a little later in the afternoon and stayed until 7. I know this is hard on her...the leaving me, going home to an empty house....I feel helpless. I feel like crying, depressed I try to sleep but can't. I've been up for 36 hours. That night (Monday) I am up all night again. Throbbing pain in my foot. Tuesday is most of the same....vital signs every four hours....morphine every 4 hours...lots of visitors. I finally fall asleep for a couple of hours Tuesday. When I wake up my roommate tells me that my big friend (Todd) brought some Chinese food for me and it was delicious. I can't help but laugh. I am in no mood to eat so I give the food to the nurses. I hope they enjoyed it. I do have some chunky monkey ice cream that my wife put in the nurses refrigerator. It is SO good....the first food I've eaten since I got hurt.

The rest of my stay, 8 days long, is the same. They show me how to use a walker and maneuver the stairs. I get to go home Monday afternoon about 5. Amen, Home at last....my wife and Dog I have never been so happy. The challenges at home drive me to my lowest point, but I persevere and become so much stronger for them.