Chin Up

I'd be a hypocrite if I only blogged about my good days. So here I am admitting that yesterday was pretty tough. But I took multiple naps and kept my chin up ... literally ... hahahaha!

I woke up with a headache that just wouldn't go away, and my chin became increasingly achy as the day progressed. The stiffness seemed to spread beyond my chin to both sides of my jaw. I'm attributing it to the fact that I've been exercising it much more ... meaning I've been eating more :-) I also had an orthodontic appointment the day before. Though no work was done, I did have to open my mouth wider than I was used to so they could assess the damage. And then I visited with some friends for a bit afterwards, choppin' it up and laughing more than I was probably ready for. So I really felt it yesterday ... as did my husband and daughters. I was a real pill to be around.

Today is much better.

Speedy Recovery

Many of you have been praying for a speedy recovery for me. Thought I'd give you an update on the effects of your prayers! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I covet your continued prayers as there's still a long road ahead - particularly physical therapy for my jaw, as mobility is limited and bone grafting for dental implants since I lost 3 (possibly 4) front teeth ... I look like my 1st grade picture when I smile :-) More surgeries may be necessary IF (and only if) things don't heal correctly.

Though I'm on the road of recovery and getting better, please don't forget to pray for those who are on the road of cancer - enduring till a cure is found.

The day of the accident (Thursday, July 5th) at Queen of the Valley Emergency Room. Taken by ambulance to Oakland Kaiser where I stayed one night.





Monday, July 9th just before my outpatient surgery at Oakland Kaiser. They'll line up my jaw, plate my chin, and wire my jaw shut.






Saturday, July 14. Almost one week on a liquid diet here. One more week to go.







Saturday, July 21. Wires finally off! Diet limited to soft foods. But hey, at least I can eat! Lower lip and chin still numb. Getting ready to go to the annual fundraiser for the volunteer fire department that helped me the day of the crash.

All Things Work Together

In an email I received from a friend, she wrote, "I can't wait to see how God's going to use this experience in your life!"

This statement caused me to pause ... not that my life is moving very fast these days ... but my heart and mind paused as I reflected on Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

What good could come out of such a horrific accident? Let me tell you ...

I truly experienced "God is with me" the moment of the accident, and every day as I'm getting stronger. And that I'm stronger than I realize.

I've been overwhelmed and humbled by the display of love from unexpected sources. While it is more blessed to give than to receive, I've been more open to receiving from others and have experienced how the display of love from others has blessed my heart so ... and how it's also blessed them ... to be able to minister to someone. Lord, never let me never hinder someone else's blessings.

I'm learning to live "one day at a time," and that recovery (both physical and emotional) is a process. Though I'm getting better, I have a long way to go. Though I'm not fullly healed, I'm amazed at how much better things already are! I'm learning not rush things and learning to be thankful for how things are ... today.

More to come, I'm sure ...

Finally Out and About

What a great way to celebrate the removal of my wires and the completion of my liquid diet - Attended the Annual Home Winemakers Classic at St. Supery Winery in Rutherford with some good friends this evening. The Classic’s sole purpose is to raise money to support the Dry Creek-Lokoya Volunteer Fire Department www.drycreek.org, the department that arrived when I crashed. I really wanted to go to this fundraiser to not only support the Department, but to personally meet and thank Ken who helped me and kept our bikes while I was in the ER.

To my surprise, not only was Ken there, but we also ran into Tony, the ER doctor who took care of me at Queen of the Valley! (Ken to the left, Tony on the right.)

I was thrilled to be able to meet and thank the both of these noble and humble men personally. (They said it's rare they ever get to see the people they work on after they send them off to the next place.) I was also excited to be able to finally get out and enjoy the beautiful weather with some good friends, laugh it up, and talk up a storm ... ok, maybe just short of a storm ;-)

Doctor's Orders

Had my post-surgery follow up with my surgeon this morning. Wires were removed and replaced with rubber bands to aid in the positioning of my bite. I was also instructed to not lift anything heavier than a grocery bag, to eat only soft foods (meaning anything not requiring a knife to cut), and to exaggerate my facial expressions which helps to strengthen the muscles and nerves that were traumatized. Lots of laughing and kissing was also prescribed (kissing limited to my husband of course)!

To my surprise, doctor's orders also include the practice of opening and closing my mouth as wide as I can while the rubber bands are on. At first, I was anxious about that (which the surgeons noticed), but they reassured me it would not cause any damage to the jaw bones which have not yet fused together. They said opening and closing my mouth is safe, whereas trying to bite down too hard on food or another traumatic blow is not.

So that's my workout regime for now: lifting grocery bags, making goofy faces, opening and closing my mouth, laughing alot, and kissing Andrew :-) Another follow up appointment in two weeks and no riding for at least another four.

I did lose 8 lbs (which makes me lighter on the bike). I just have to be careful that my soft-food diet isn't limited to tapioca pudding, soft-serve ice cream, and the like ;-)

Movies Watched So Far

(Tho' it's not a movie - The Tour de France every day)

Crimson Tide
Parent Trap
A Walk to Remember
The Devil Wears Prada (2X)
A Few Good Men
Finding Nemo
Flight Plan
Saving Private Ryan
The Constant Gardener
The Silence of the Lambs
SWAT
High School Musical
Men of Honor
Inside Man
Zodiac
Message In A Bottle

A Debt of Gratitude

I've been thinking alot about the day of the accident. A paramedic friend of mine mentioned how they were talking about it at the dinner table the other night ... how this could have happend, how it's good that didn't happen, how much worse things could have been, etc. Well, their young son interrupted them when he said, "Mom, God was right there with her!" I love that! Because it is so true ~ God and a few of his angels were right there with me on that day.

I owe a debt of gratitude to my friend, Jun, who maintained his composure while calling the ambulance, tracking down my husband, and waiting for hours in the ER with me and my family.

I owe a world of thanks to Sandy and Kelly, two cyclist who stopped and waited with us until the ambulance whisked me away. I do remember one of them (though I never saw her face) holding my head steady so as to not cause any possible further injuries.

I am so appreciative to Ken and the other volunteers from the Dry Creek-Lokoya Volunteer Fire Department. (Ken also held our bikes till Andrew and Jun were able to retrieve them later that afternoon.) I'm hoping to be able to express my thanks personally at their annual Winemaker's Classic Fundraiser, www.drycreek.org.

And of course to the many paramedics, nurses, and doctors who tended to me so caringly on that day ... a million thanks is not enough.

God bless you all for blessing me ... and others ... the way you do every single day.