ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: 1cANAdian on December 17, 2008, 04:14:19 pm
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Hello Everyone!!!
As requested, feast your eyes on the first (and I might add, purr-fect) male to be the recipient of the leopard print Magic Scarf. The powers of healing it possesses are immense. Even though it did not arrive in time for the surgery, the Virtual Magic Scarf was a perfect substitute (see profile pic of me wearing post-surgical "bonnet", a much needed bib, and the VMS).
(http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp263/kccollett/MagicScarf1.jpg)
Many thanks to Debbie for starting up the tradition! We looked forward to receiving the package from AMD (keep running down that path to full recovery!) and her husband, Chris. It was a daily topic of conversation. It helped keep the spirits up.
And when it arrived, what a visual and tactile treat! Not to mention I was feeling that much better again. It also provided the impetus to make a little project out of the request for pictures. I had a lot of fun with it. I trust the next recipient will be equally agog over the physical and magical impact of the amazing Magical Scarf.
Cheers!
Ken
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Hey Ken,
Thank-you for sharing the "new you" and what a fantabulous statement you make!!! Continued healing and well wishes from Oregon!
Jackie
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Oh my gosh, Ken! Great use of the Magic Scarf - we should submit this to GQ. Now all the future male recipients will know how to properly wear the Scarf for each AN treatment occasion.
Great job - thanks! And you must be feeling pretty good to come up with that - so glad for you!
Cindy
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OOh, Ken! Tres chic! ;D
Who said men couldn't pull off a leopard scarf? You look mah-velous! And no droopy face!!! Doesn't get much better than that!
Lori
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Wow, Ken! That's impressive - not only the fashion statement, but that you can look so dashing at 9 days post-op!
Captain Deb's going to love your pirate leopard - I'm pretty impressed with the formal leopard, myself.
You've taken the Magic Scarf to a new level - and latitude! ;)
Thanks for sharing!
Nancy L
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HI Ken,
I hope you don't think of me as a stickler for moving this topic to AN Community. I just think it is all about sharing the joy, and is not really an AN Issue.
I have to say, you look amazing for someone 9 days out from surgery. I think your surgeon has done you well, and you appear to be headed for a great outcome. SSD and tinnitus are par for the course, and the other stuff will clear up in time.
And then we have the scarf itself. I must admit, I was not confident that you would be able to pull off a leopard print scarf look, but you have done an admirable job. Thank you for representing the male AN patients so well. ;)
I"m with Jan, I am partial to the Formal Leopard, with Pirate Leopard a close second.
You do realize that now you will have to part with the scarf, and send it on to the next patient? No hoarding it, however good you may look in it. :D
Steve
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I saw this at work (I check in every now and again) and was laughing while on a conference call. I had never seen a picture of the magic scarf so this was quite the intro!
You do look simply amazing for 9 days post-op.
Ann
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Ken -- even down here in the ANA Forum basement, you have set the standards of AN cool. For all of you Prebies, this is what it's all about -- a laugh in the face of an AN. We (and the magic scarf and the support of this Forum) win.
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You look GREAT! Thanks for sharing the pics! I would be remiss if I didn't ask about, what appears to be, the dot on your forehead. I ask because I had one post-op also. I don't recall if I ever got an answer about what it was. I can surmise it was left over from whatever mechanism they use to keep your head still during surgery. Is yours the same, or did I just stick my foot in my mouth and it's something totally else? ;)
Regards,
Brian
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Hi Pooter!
If I recall correctly, you has some post op issues. How's everything going now?
I'd like to say I took a puck to the noggin blocking a shot or something exciting like that, but alas, it was from the surgery. They used a tripod clamp gizmo thingy, as you suggest, to keep the head from moving even the slightest bit. The hole needed two stitches to close it up.
Cheers!!
Ken
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Ken,
Everything is back on track now. It's now gotten to the point that unless they see my scar (I keep pretty short hair, so it's hard to miss), they can't tell that I had surgery only 7 months ago (or thereabouts). I still have a little bit of facial weakness, but even my doctor won't call it permanent for at least 5 more months. It's continuing to get better, so I'm hopeful that it will all clear up. By and large, I had a GREAT outcome. True, I had some post-op issues (one in particular landed me back in the pokie (i.e. hospital) for a few days this summer, but as I look back things couldn't have gone much smoother than they did.
Thanks for clearing up the mysterious dot on the forehead issue for me. That's what I told myself just to make me not obsess about where it came from. ;) Now, if I can get an answer to my other burning question about the red patch that I had for several weeks (it even hurt a little), I would be almost complete. Did you have that also?
You and Priscilla are doing MARVELOUSLY! I'm glad for that. Lots of rest and down time for both of you is in order. You both have been through a MAJOR surgery. Don't lose sight of that fact as you get frustrated with the painfully slow recovery. I remember getting SO frustrated in early recovery because healing took SO long. I can look back now and say it wasn't that bad, but living through it meant it felt like an eternity for things to change. As long as you truly understand that it could just take some time, then you won't get as frustrated.
Continued healing. At your body's pace. Patience, patience, patience... I can't say that enough. :)
Regards,
Brian
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Hi Ken!
As you would probably guess, I am partial to the pirate look meself and am ready to leave Dr Love for you!!!!! OOOOWWWWWEEEEEE!!!!!!!! Ain't nuthin like a scallywag in a jaunty headscarf ter steal a wenches heart!
(Calm down, Deb, Calm down........ahem, ahem...........) OK...OK..... I'm glad your surgery went well and that you are feeling better and are on the road to recovery. Try to do a little walking every day--will really help wiv the old balance thing. Otherwise, relax and let the bod heal itself and let the Magic Scarf do its thing and only take it off in the shower else it won't work!
Hugs,
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/yohohoho-1.jpg)
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Hello again Brian!
Where was your red patch, and how big? The only other bits of my head that were sore (other than sugical site) were also related to the head restriaint. A coupe of quite sore and itchy bumps on the back, and one patch on the side, that were a result of the surgery.
Glad to head things are progressing well for you.
Cheers!
Ken
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Ken,
I had about a 4 inch by 3 inch (if memory serves, I was just post-op so don't hold me to ANYthing) area on my leg that was RED. It's like something that was very warm was rested against my skin for hours and then removed. It wasn't truly painful, but I was aware it was there..if that makes sense. I pointed it out to my doctor (because it took several weeks to clear) and he appeared just as puzzled as I was.
Glad to hear things are going better than expected for you as well. Keep the healing up!
Regards,
Brian
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I"m with Jan, I am partial to the Formal Leopard, with Pirate Leopard a close second.
Steve
Wow, I don't even have to give my two cents worth, and Steve agrees with me anyway :o Guess I've trained him well :D ;D
Ken -
I can't believe you are giving us not one, but three pictures! And I agree with Steve and Nancy, the formal leopard looks very dashing!
This trio of pictures might make a nice Holiday postcard for friends and family ;)
Thanks for sharing,
Jan
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Brian,
The red patch on your leg was probably where the doctor put his coffee mug down. Sometimes you just need two hands to do brain surgery, you know! :D
Lori
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Brian,
The red patch on your leg was probably where the doctor put his coffee mug down. Sometimes you just need two hands to do brain surgery, you know! :D
Lori
I KNEW it was something! Now I feel complete. Thanks for clearing that up for me. And I thought it was maybe because someone put down their boombox for tunes during my LOOONG surgery. ;) Thanks for clearing it up for me!
Brian
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Ken,
I got a laugh out of those pictures!! Now doesn't that just beat all. I like LADavid's comment though and couldn't agree more, we do win!! It's about time!!
Glad you are recovering nicely for such a large tumor and cudos to your surgeon for sparing your facial nerve. Take Cap'n Debs advice and give the body a rest, but do get outside and walk, walk, walk.
It's going to be two steps forward until you hit the "plateau" period then as you challenge yourself more with the life you used to live (most of us can't let it go and try to return to what we once did) you might notice it's more like two steps backward. Don't give up, ride the ebb and flow of your recovery and "welcome" to your new normal. Learn to let the "old" normal go as quick as you can. Life without a vestibular nerve does change us forever, but in a small way once we adjust ourselves to it.
Merry Christmas, peace to you and your family.
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Ken-
What panache, what style, you are most fitting of the title of "first Man of the Leopard." I must say that you've quite dazzled most of us with your photo-posting talents - and all this less than two weeks from surgery! You'll be a tough act to follow!
Glad you are feeling well and have retained your sense of humor - that will surely see you through any rough patches on the road.
LOVE the picrtures!! I always share them with the friend who gave me the scarf in the hospital - little did she ever imagine what journeys the scarf would take...
Debbi, sending you big cheers!
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Wow Ken. I mean really..wow! You look great; the scarf in its three versions is very fetching on you but I vote for "formal leopard". Glad I read this at home and not work--I would have laughed loudly and inappropriately.
Best,
Marci
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Wow, I don't even have to give my two cents worth, and Steve agrees with me anyway :o
Whoops, I think it was actually Nancy. :D
Steve
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Hello All!
Thank you very much for the positive comments on the Magic Scarf photos (and on my sauve good looks too!). The time it took to put together the montage was more than worth it if a few smiles were cracked as a result. I could not have done it without the person behind the camera. My wife, Michelle, has been supporting me emotionally and physically from the start of this little adventure. If fact, she made the correct diagnosis on the way to the doctor the hear about the MRI results. I've thanked her before, and I'll do it again now. Thank you Michelle! My presence on this forum is due to her too. The advice and positive messages from you all have been beneficial beyond measure. Being well informed prior to surgery is so important, and it all began here.
It has been very cold up here in Edmonton lately. And snowy. Despite that, I have followed advice. I got outside for a walk today. Then had a nap afterwards!
As Steve mentioned, I will have to take the Scarf off soon and pass it on to the next person. I see a couple surgeries posted on the Calendar for January, but have no idea who the people are. If any one is able to provide information on them, and the rules for passing the Scarf on (I believe the first person scheduled each month). Or maybe I'll be like Gollum from Lord of the Ring, and just try to keep it. We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious.
Cheers!!
Ken
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Hi Ken -
YOU LOOK MARVELOUS!! I always said real men CAN wear a leopard print scarf -- you really pulll it off with style!
Best wishes for continued goo healing!!!
Wendy ;D
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What a great thread! Made my night. Hope all is well 3 (!) years later!
(and thanks all for the talk of the red spots! I have a crazy scar smack on the top of my head from a monitor or something, and I kept picking at it while I was all drugged up. I forget these things are part of my life!)