I haven't written anything since that time, other than some emails to friends (and general work communication). I'm now 5 days post-surgery on the knee (done Aug. 12) so thought it was time to provide some more information about the last 2 1/2 weeks.
July 31 was the last day of being off work for 4 weeks. The company where I work here in KC offers what is called a Long Term Service Award (a sabbatical) once every 7 years for its employees. It's a great benefit and one I am very happy for. On said July 31, Benjamin and I were in Iowa, having come up for a Shettler Family Reunion starting Friday night in Washington, Iowa. Before we went to Friday evening's festivities, Benjamin, Jerry and I went up to the ballfield in Wellman, Iowa, so Benjamin could practice and his grandfather could watch him do various things baseball related.
We had been there 45 minutes or so, taking BP and playing various games. Benjamin hit a few out on the 200-foot fences. I even took a few hacks and smoked a couple over near the Catholic Church. Old man can still hit. We decided to finish with some ground balls. Benjamin took some at short and threw to me at first. Then I got the bright idea that we should turn some double plays, so I went over to the second base position and Benjamin and I were working on turning double plays. We did 10-15 of those and were having fun. Close to being done. Then Benjamin fielded a ball and I approached second base in anticipation of the throw. I remember the throw from Benjamin being perfect -- coming right at my chest -- before life changed. As I hit the bag, my right foot either slipped on the bag or got caught on it (I don't remember). My lower half of my body then felt as it is exploded. I say lower half and not right knee as the pain was so intense that I didn't even know which leg was hurt until I looked at my right leg laying in a weird position as I lay on the ground. I remember hearing a pop/snap, then the intense pain, then being on the ground.
I won't go through every excruciating detail of the entire day (although I won't forget it until death or old age sets in), but things are different since that day. The doctors and staff at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City did a good job of getting the pain under control, ruling out a broken bone with an x-ray. They would have proceeded with an MRI and subsequent surgery that day had I not been 300 miles from our home in Kansas City. They preferred that I have the surgery in KC.
That was a good recommendation, although it did mean that I had to wait until Aug. 12 for surgery. The time lag went like this:
- Monday, Aug. 3 - MRI (results came back that afternoon of a patellar tendon tear)
- Wednesday, Aug. 5 - meeting with surgeon (went over pre-surgery stuff and what to expect)
- Wednesday, Aug. 12 - surgery.
The surgery "went well," which is what you are told when the surgeon is able to do what he/she said they intended to do, and you (the patient) wake up. I'm not saying that to be crass or ungrateful, as I am extremely grateful to live in a place where a patellar tendon injury can be repaired, where I have a job with benefits and the resources to pay for this surgery, and for a family who loves me enough to take care of me post-surgery.
But in terms of life being back to normal, hardly. I cannot drive (nor can I for another couple of months most likely). I can work from home but will hopefully be able to return to some time at the office in the next week or two. Daily living is a chore. Or more correctly, a lot of chores. Mostly for my family, but also for me. Thoughts (mostly doubts) go through my head about when I will walk again, how much mobility I will have, etc. Mostly I realize I've been a lousy sympathizer/friend to family, friends and others who have suffered through things similar to what I am going through and much worse. You just don't (or at least I didn't) have the capacity to understand the impact on a person when their ability to just live his/her life is taken away. Or at least the life they were used to.
I still have a life, and a very good one I have realized over the last 2+ weeks. My knee will bounce back here in the next month or 2. My brain tells me that, and my heart is starting to believe it too as i can do a bit more each day. Back to my life. Even if my knee didn't bounce back, I've still been blessed beyond measure. A wife, son and daughter who would (and have) literally take care of me in my time of need, day after day. A God who walks with me every step of the way, through the good and the bad.
Psalms 90 has been a comfort in the past couple of weeks. Verses 1-2:
"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
And then verse 12
And then verse 12
"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
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