Surgery Day: A New Knee!

There's nothing quite like a little surgery to get my mom to slow down and rest. Which is exactly what she's doing right now in her hospital bed as I type. This is Amber, her daughter, by the way.....stepping in for a blog post or two while my mom is recovering from a very successful (and not so little) knee replacement earlier today! Everything went smoothly and according to plan—even right on schedule, which we all know is a small miracle in itself.

For months and months, my mom's been getting through her day-to-day with a very painful left knee. Most of you know by now that not much gets her down or even slows her down. So when I arrived at the hospital this morning to be with her and my dad before she went back for surgery, she was probably the cheeriest pre-op patient in the whole place. Knowing that this knee replacement will eventually eliminate a lot of her daily pain and increase her capability as well as improve her quality of life, my mom was ready to get it done!

Mom and me, pre-surgery and with a smile on her face!

We did enjoy a little comic relief while waiting in pre-op as I'd brought cards that my kiddos had made for their Meemaw. I hadn't even read them myself yet as they'd all been sealed up and handed to me with precise delivery instructions from my children, which I was given four times over of course. Ha! Each of the cards was so cute and very much reflected their individual personalities. Logan chose to make her own card entirely and even included a thermometer in the "mouth" on the front. The other three decorated blank notecards as Santa had given them each a set in their stocking along with fun, new markers. Harrison's card really stuck with us. He'd written a sweet note on the back but it was the simple, to-the-point message inside that was the kicker. It said: "new knee" and "not new knew." So funny and very accurate!

Once Mom got taken back, Louis Dean and I kept ourselves occupied during her operation. Our first stop was, of course, the cafeteria as my dad was on a mission to get a hamburger. We got an update from the staff that all was going well, and afterward moved to the post-op waiting room. In fact, my mom's doctor almost caught us off guard when he came out to see us since we were expecting things to take a little longer. He was very happy with the results and assured us everything had gone perfectly.

After Mom had a chance to spend a little time in recovery she was moved to her room. When Louis Dean and I arrived, she had already gotten up and been assisted to the restroom and was walking back to her bed not looking at all like she'd just had an entire knee replaced! And I shouldn't have been surprised to notice she'd managed to swipe her earrings out of her overnight bag and put them on so fast I didn't even see it happen. She might not be feeling her best, but she's not about to go without a little jewelry! The physical therapist was in as well and Mom was able to do all the exercises required of her and even bend her knee up and down. It's all very encouraging though not unexpected, because I know exactly where I get my tenacity and toughness from—my mama. :)

Dad and I have been her cheerleaders the rest of the day, as she has struggled with nausea and pain on and off. But ever the trooper, she's valiantly worked her way through it all and is officially on the road to recovery. Which, I can tell you she'd agree, is absolutely the bees knees. And that pun is fully intended!

Thank you to everyone who has kept her in your prayers and sent your well wishes!