Gross picture alert!

Thank you to all who have asked about my surgery Monday. I had arthroscopic surgery to remove some torn meniscus and scrape away some arthritis. It went very well and the worst pain so far has been the back of my throat. There are two abrasions in the back of my mouth that were (I assume) caused by something the anesthesiologist did and mostly that is worse than the knee pain. After I exercised and having walked around yesterday, there is some more soreness and stiffness but really much better than I expected.

The girls are very excited when I use my crutches which I find useful when I need to move quickly or am unsure about the surface I will be walking on. We got about 5 inches of snow yesterday and that made for slippery floors at church and sidewalks so I was glad to have them but I don't use them around home. I'm off to class, did I mention that this is the second week of the quarter and I am teaching at the univesity again? I guess that should be another post...

Surgery Today

I'm having my knee scoped today at 1:30. Prayers for a good response to the anesthesia would be appreciated! Thanks!

Ode to My Meniscus

Ode to My Meniscus - 2008

One summer day

A mom did try

To race her darling daughter.

Through a bounce house

She did fly

And really should have caught her.

But alas,

Her knee did “pop”

And the pain spread to her head.

Mommy lost

Then did shop

For a doctor whose bill she would dread.

Doc said, “Look!

What have we here?

I think your meniscus is torn.”

One MRI

Confirmed that fear

And now for her cartilage we mourn.

So surgery

Will now be planned

To remove the painful piece.

Now we do pray

The doctor’s hand

Is steady and his heart full of peace.

And so we part

I hardly knew you

Oh cartilage in my knee.

The day you’re gone

The pain will be too

And no more bounce houses for me!

- Janis Smeltzer, 2008

This poem was inspired by my friend Vanessa (who has written beautiful and moving tributes to both her stolen snowmobile and her stolen bike. Check out her blog here.) and written almost entirely while waiting for the doctor and scheduling nurse at the appointment today!