ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Post-Treatment => Topic started by: Tamara on July 19, 2008, 07:22:41 pm
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My dear Forumites,
Just wanted to share my small victory with you. I am 5 weeks post op. On Thursday, I drove about 300 miles to my sons' Boy Scout camp in northern Wisconsin. Thursday night, their troop has a special gathering around the "Eagle Fire", a huge conflagration that takes all day to built, and may only be built and lit by Eagle Scouts. My eldest son made Eagle this spring, and it was my recovery goal to be at his first Eagle Fire. I spent Thursday night through this morning at camp. I also went hiking and did archery (several bullseyes in spite of my currently poor eyesight). The only difficulty I had (aside from putting in eyedrops on the expressway :o - OK, bad idea!) was walking the forest paths in the dark. I had to hold onto my husband's hand pretty tightly, as my balance was a bit off in the dark (he's Scoutmaster). The only concession I made to being postop was sleeping at a B&B nearby instead of in the tent. I wanted to be sure to keep the incision clean after the issues I had.
Maybe others of you can post your "victories" too. Sometimes it's good to be reminded how far we've come!
Hugs to all,
Tammy
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Tammy,
I'd consider what you just did a BIG victory!!! ;)
Congratulations!!! I'm sure your heart was soooo proud to be at the Eagle Fire. Congratulations to your son also, to make Eagle Scout! You sound like a great mom!
That is a good idea you had, for everyone to share their small victories. It does help to look for our small goals.
I'm not quite 2 weeks post op, so I hope to share some soon.
Thanks for sharing what you accomplished.
Lacey
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Tammy - congrats on your victory!! That's great to hear!!
I had surgery on March 19th. My sone turned 1 on May 21st. I had gone into surgery with my mind set that I was going to have a big party for my son's 1st birthday. ... and well, somehow I planned and cooked for a party of about 60 people less than 2 months post surgery. That was my goal!!
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Way to go!
DHM
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Wow, Eagle Scout that it is great. I think our kids are easily the best motivator to get well. Last Tuesday I had my staples removed and got permission to drive just two weeks post op. I first postponed my surgery until after my son graduated from high school and now my goal is to be able help him pack and get ready to send him off to college. He is my first born and I have a special connection with him. He was extremely worried about me before surgery and I now can tell that he is glad that things are going so well post surgery and he is now looking forward to going to college.
Also, Mary congrats on your son turning 1. Every birthday is special. But they change so much in that first year. Congrats on being able to celebrate his birthday with 60 people.
Great thread. Great idea.
Julie
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Tammy-
Wow! I'm so impressed - I'd say that is HUGE accomplishment. Heck, I was feeling proud of myself for getting in and out of NYC yesterday all by myself - the thought of driving 300 miles is Herculean!
I actually think we are all pretty amazing, to tell the truth. Every one of us has our own path to recovery and it is filled with milestones, both big and small. We should all take time to celebrate each victory along the way. Thanks for reminding us of that, Tammy!
Debbi
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Congratulations to all you guys ;D
IMO all milestones, both big & small should be celebrated.
So pat yourselves on the back and keep reaching for the stars ;)
Jan
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Hi Tammy,
All I can say is WOW!!! None of what you mentioned seemed like a small victory at all, especially after all you've gone through and not that long ago. You are one of my idols now! It's great that there are so many people with inspirational stories like yours. It makes those of us who have not yet been treated even more optimistic!! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Wendy
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Debbi,
I am in awe of you getting in and out of NYC! Driving rural Wisconsin roads and highways is nothing compared to that. I don't even know that I'd attempt that without being postop - heck, I don't even like driving in Chicago. Way to go Debbi!
Also glad you like your Blinkeze - I'm mostly wearing mine at night now - I think that it's too heavy for everyday wear now that I can close my eye better. And give your thanks to DHM, not me - she's the one who pointed me to it...
Julie,
That sounds like a great goal, and I'm sure you'll make it! Our kids ARE great motivators. I started driving at 2 1/2 weeks and it was OK, just a little different, but I've also got some eye issues.
Mary,
Glad you made your goal - enjoy your little one - as you know, they grow quickly!
Wendy,
Aw, Pshaw! You'll be posting your own victories soon!
Lacey,
Victories will be coming - I look forward to hearing about them :)
Take care all,
Tammy
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I will run in my 3rd 5K race this year on Wednesday night and am hopeful to post a time under 26 minutes. To look back at 1/10/2007 and the following recovery all seem so distant...life hasn't stopped.
Joe-
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Tammy
Your advice is so wonderful. My surgery is in one week and I know I want to carry with me your vision of celebrating the small victories in my recovery. I am happy for you and so encouraged to hear that life returns to the normal and wonderful events of our families. Congratulations to your son! That is an amazing accomplishment for him. I can hardly wait to share my first postie small victory!
Kathleen
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Tamara:
Congratulations on your not-so-small victory. It is quite impressive and a testament to, not only your powers of recuperation but more significantly, your determination and motivation to be a part of an important moment in your son's life as you helped him celebrate his notable accomplishment of attaining Eagle Scout status and participating in the 'Eagle Fire' event. Your love for your son is palpable and easily evidenced by the 300 mile drive you made. Sleeping in the B&B seems like a pretty minor concession to your post-op status. I can tell you that at some point in everyone's life, sleeping in a tent loses it's appeal. It did for me - at about age 18. :)
I concur with your suggestion that we all should celebrate and post our victories, whether they be small or large. I would only suggest that we might want to begin a new thread to do so. Either way, we certainly do need to read about the positive aspects of AN recovery and not just the negative. We all know about the negative, personally or via others, but the positive needs to be noted also. Lets do that. :)
Jim
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Joe,
What a great goal - more power to you - I've never been able to run! I'll be thinking about you tomorrow - let us know how you do!
Jim,
What, you don't like my thread? ;) I'll leave it to you to start a new one if you wish - I'm guessing it's the title you want to change... have at it! :)
Tammy
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Wait. I'm confused here ???
Why do we need to begin another thread? And what's wrong with the title?
Jan (call me an instigator, but I don't get it)
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Tamara, Jan:
It was just a suggestion but, judging by the response, apparently not a good one - so please ignore it.
The concept is excellent, as I stated. I certainly wouldn't want to discourage anyone from posting positive messages, no matter the thread title. I guess this is where I say "my bad". Well, I would if it didn't sound so silly. Carry on. :)
Jim
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*slaps Jim's hand!* :o whatta bad boy!!!!!!!! ;) (hit me later for that!).
AN Community is a great forum to post such future notations of victories and accomplishments.... just a thought, no biggie
tammy, congrats on your son! OMG! that is fab news! And for so many here, that conquer challenges.. and achieve what was thought to be unachieveable... to you all, I say... knock 'em dead! go for it! Let us celebrate the wonders with you!
Congrats to you all!
Phyl
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Jim -
no problem. But congratulations on getting into the "tough moderator" mode - up 'til now it's usually Phyl who cracks down on us :D
I'm all for moving threads, etc., just didn't understand the reasoning on this one.
Carry on,
Jan