2016: Knee Replacement Year
Blessings: Family, Health and Work
This year, we only had three surgeries for what we thought at this time was Hidradenitis Suppurativa - February, March, and July - and they were all outpatient. You were home from work for about a week with each one. You were doing so well that you finally decided to do the knee surgery you had been needing. We began with the left knee as that one was the most painful, and we felt that doing both knees on top of the skin condition was just too much. This was in early May. When we went back for the follow-up, it was discovered that you had developed a blood clot from the surgery that was causing heart issues. You were hospitalized for heart issues for a week, then sent home to recover and work on PT for the knee replacement. The cardiologist didn't think the heart issues were a factor in your health now that the blood clot was controlled, so we didn't think anything of it at the time. (Yet, now we know that was the beginning of the Amyloidosis affecting heart along with the skin.) That was on May 29, and you were home from work for all of June.
I say "home from work", because you continued to do your work even though you were recovering with the skin conditions and the knee replacement. LG&E came to the house to set up the screens and printer like you had in the office at work in our office at home. We had back to back desks. Those desks are still in our home, and I continue to use the printer while David uses the computer.
I continued to go to work on campus as we agreed that if you were working, then I should. When you were home working, UC allowed me to work from home as well. We felt blessed that both our work environments were so caring.
Travels
We went back to Madeira Beach and Disney World the last week of June per tradition. I didn't appreciate it at the time like I should have, but I just realized when writing this that you were less than two months out of knee replacement for this trip. Yet, you took us to Newport Aquarium one day when it rained on the beach and walked all over Magic Kingdom. You were quite the trooper, but that was what I had grown accustomed to so I just took it for granted much like I fully expected to grow old with you. I will forever regret not being attune to your health more. You loved us so much that you were always more concerned for our happiness than your own. You always said that you were happy if I was happy. I love you so much!!!!
Photo Shoots
Lauren had begun the tradition of having birthday shoots for the children. It actually became rather funny that the kids thought this was normal for families. We thought it interesting that children think whatever they do is regular routine for everybody. With this, I wanted a family photo shoot, so that was their Mother's Day gift to me this year. We took those pictures in the Fall with the change of colors.
I am a school counselor turned counselor educator, professor, and author helping educators and parents to build social, emotional, and academic growth in ALL kids! The school counseling blog delivers both advocacy as well as strategies to help you deliver your best school counseling program.
I'm a mother, grandmother, professor, author, and wife (I'll always be his). Until October 20, 2020, I lived with my husband, Robert (Bob) Rose, in Louisville, Ky. On that awful day of October 20,2020, my life profoundly changed, when this amazing man went on to Heaven. After Bob moved to Heaven, I embraced my love of writing as an outlet for grief. Hence, the Grief Blog is my attempt to share what I learned as a Counselor in education with what I am learning through this experience of walking this earth without him. My mission is to help those in grief move forward to see joy beyond this most painful time.
