May 23, 2008

Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone!

It's about now (or maybe one day this coming week) that I had anticipated that Becky would be coming home from the rehab hospital. As it worked out, she's been home for about a week and a half. It has been some tough time with a great deal of stiffness and soreness. Becky's gotten started with outpatient physical therapy and, yesterday, managed to do something she hasn't been able to do in a very long time. While working her left leg on a leg press (a weight machine for strengthening legs) she was able to extend her leg out to the point her knee reached a locked position. That may not seem to be a huge deal, but when you haven't been able to do it in over two years, it's pretty significant.

Following hip replacement surgery, Becky was placed on "hip restrictions" for six weeks. That means she must exercise extreme care in how she moves her right hip to avoid dislocating the joint, which would require an emergency trip to the hospital and probably a surgery to put the joint together again. She's almost half way through that time. After the six weeks, hopefully she can begin more vigorous work on that leg.

We are seeing that Becky's left leg is a lot weaker than her right leg. Since the surgery done earlier this month to replace her right hip, the right leg is working better than her left leg, the hip which was replaced in February. The main concern right now is that the muscles of her left inner thigh are very weak. This makes it difficult to pull her left leg in to a center line with her body and affects her walking and standing. We think that a major cause of this is the softball-sized mass of bone that had to be removed from her left femur at the time of her left hip replacement. That mass of bone undoubtedly included a lot of muscle, which must now be redeveloped through strengthening exercises and will, at best, be a very slow process. Of course, everything that takes a lot of time is also wearing on the spirit and frustrating.

Becky is working very hard. She's going to need a lot of patience, perseverance, and courage while striving to regain her mobility. Everyone's prayers on her behalf are greatly appreciated.

Again, have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Love to all,

Dennis & Becky Bounds

May 15, 2008

Well, things got pretty crazy about 3:35 pm yesterday. I got a call from the case manager at Methodist telling me that Becky's surgeon had just informed her that Becky was supposed to have been discharged to go home the day before! Apparently nobody wrote down the order, given via the telephone, and gave it to Becky's nurse.
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So, we had to rush and get Becky's belongings packed up and get out of the hospital room. By the time I drove across town and we packed Becky's stuff and left the hospital, it was nearly 11:00 pm. All this means, of course, that Becky doesn't get to go to Health South. She had progressed to a point beyond the presumed need for inpatient rehab, so she is to go straight into outpatient physical therapy. Her first appointment is tomorrow.

The transition from hospital to home is always tiring for Becky and she slept much of today. Now, though, she's out with Cameron; finally getting some good time with him.

Becky is very stiff and quite sore. She has a tremendous amount of work to do and it's going to be difficult at best. The battle goes on!

Thanks again to all who pray for Becky and give encouragement. It helps more than you may know.

Love to all,

Dennis Bounds


P.S. Congratulations to our oldest daughter, Adriane, and to our son, Cameron. They both just got their grades from this semester of college. They both got all A's!!!!

May 10, 2008

After reading recent posts, especially those from Josh & Melissa and from Ken, Becky commented that those were two especially nice comments for the Sabbath. Thank you very much!

Becky is doing well, though stiff this morning. We have begun the process of transferring to Health South, but it looks like it will be at least Monday before the move can happen. They have no available beds there at this time.

Becky's working hard in physical therapy and is having an easier time following this surgery than after the last surgery in February, but that doesn't mean it's easy. All things are relative in this regard, I think. It's wonderful to see her now, though. She was up joking and teasing with nurses last night. That's generally a good sign that she's ready to leave the acute care facility and head off to rehab, so we know we're making the right move.

Thanks for all your comments, encouragement, love and prayers. They all make this easier to endure.

Love to all,

Dennis & Becky

May 6, 2008

Becky's surgery yesterday went well. Even in the recovery room, Becky was alert and in good spirits. Before surgery, Becky continued a tradition she started when she contracted a MRSA infection in late November; a tradition that has created a positive bond between herself and her surgeon, Dr. Terry Clyburn. Dr. Clyburn, who calls Becky his "humpty dumpty," has been amused by Becky's placing small rubber animals at various places on her for him to find in surgery. The first time Becky did so, Dr. Clyburn was amused but discarded the "critters" in surgery. The second time, one critter survived the surgery by being hidden in a gown pocket. This time, Dr. Cyburn taped the critters to Becky's arm for her to wear back from surgery. He comments that Becky has a great sense of humor and that is good for her recovery. The critters, a gift from Ryan Hendee, have really become a symbol of independence and imagination for Becky as well as a way to express her wonderful sense of humor. They've kept her beautiful smile on her face for many hours.

Becky has had remarkably little pain since coming out of surgery. As with most of her surgeries, Becky's pain level has been much lower than expected. Both Dr. Clyburn and Becky's former surgeon explained Becky's lack of pain by telling Becky, "You're just weird." As the initial medications wear off, Becky may feel greater pain, but so far the aftermath of the surgery has been very positive.

This morning, Physical Therapy came and helped Becky get out bed and take a few steps, after which Becky's blood pressure dropped and she had a bout of nausea, but felt much better after getting back in bed. Based on blood work done this morning, Becky was given a blood transfusion (receiving her own unit of blood) this afternoon. She's tired and sleeping now after her afternoon session with Physical Therapy.

Current plans are for Becky to return to Health South Rehabilitation Hospital north of The Woodlands, TX when she leaves Methodist Hospital. Dr. Clyburn expects her discharge from Methodist to happen later this week. After a week or so of recovery and good physical therapy at Health South, it will be time to return home and begin really intense home exercises and outpatient physical therapy to "reach for the stars" of full recovery.

Becky has commented how much she loves reading posts that several people have put here on her blog. Thanks to everyone for the encouraging and uplifting and humorous posts. The outpouring of love from friends is touching and encouraging for her and for our family.

We'll post more as things progress!

Love to all,
Dennis & Becky

May 2, 2008

In just three days, on May 5, 2008, Becky will go into Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center for yet another surgery. This surgery, Total Hip Arthroplasty (Replacement) of her right hip, will hopefully be the last surgery Becky will need to be able to regain her normal walking ability. This will be Becky's second major surgery in 2008 after having five major surgeries in 2007.

Following Becky's surgery on Monday, we expect she will stay in Methodist for about a week and then transfer to Health South Rehabilitation Hospital north of The Woodlands. After that, she will resume her outpatient physical therapy and exercises / therapy at home.

There are no further surgeries planned as of now. It is our hope that God will grant full healing to Becky and return her to good health and mobility so that she can resume her active lifestyle that was normal for her before the accident.

Please pray for Becky's healing and for the skill of every member of the surgical team as Becky goes through this seventh and hopefully final surgery since returning home from her initial hospitalization following her accident. The comments that have been posted and the prayers and other support that so many have given are encouraging and uplifting. Thanks to all who have given of themselves for us. I'll update this blog as information is available following Becky's surgery.

Love to all,

Dennis & Becky Bounds

K9 Fun Run

We had a great time at the
K9 Fun Run
March 16, 2008.

Becky & grandpuppy Montezuma watching teen basketball games 3/30/08