The timing of the surgery I had in May 2010 on my left shoulder was fantastic. I had zero stress from school because the semester had ended, and classes didn't start up again until August. It was a relief knowing I could strictly focus on recovering from this surgery without thinking how much homework/studying I have to do rolling around in the back of my mind. It was wonderful. Physical therapy started at the end of June. It was extremely difficult because my muscle was detached from my shoulder blade. A lot of times people don't think of their shoulder joint and shoulder blade coinciding. In order to do the various motions you do with your shoulder joint your shoulder blade has to move in some sort of fashion. Since I could only progress so far, I called Dr. B in Kentucky and we decided it was in my best interest to get my left scapula fixed so I would be able to progress in therapy.
Before having my scapular surgery on July 20, 2010 I wanted to have some fun first. At this point I was 21 years old. This surgery was less than 2 months after I had just had surgery on my left shoulder joint. If you do not incorporate any amount of fun in your life when you're having all of this surgery (doesn't even have to be surgery, it can be anything) there is no way you would be happy or feel like you have a purpose in life. It is a daily reminder in the back of my mind that reminds me there is more than just medical stuff which is why I get up everyday and keep fighting to get better. My life isn't the ideal lifestyle but it sure could be a whole lot worse.
11 days before surgery. My nieces and I in Chicago in front of
Buckingham Fountain. It was a fantastic day. The
sun was shining, it was hot and we walked around everywhere.
6 days before surgery. This is my niece Emily and I having fun in the
hot tub. I am not holding her; she is on an inner tuber.
2 days before surgery. This is my dad and I
at Natural Bridge State Park. We took a ski lift up to the
top and walked around taking in the view.
July 20, 2010 was surgery day in Kentucky with Dr. B. I had left scapular muscle reattachment surgery. This surgery with the new technique was WAY more painful than the old way. The incision is longer and some of the muscles are transferred to help stabilize the shoulder blade. This time Dr. B took part of my latissimus dorsi, serratus, and rhomboid and mobilized them so they sat on top of the very bottom of my shoulder blade to stabilize it. Everything in your torso hurts when you wake up from surgery. The pain goes across the front of your chest and all over your back because a lot of muscles are pulled tighter and reattached that way. Laying on the incision hurts like no other. It feels like there is a golf ball sitting on the bottom of your shoulder blade because your body isn't used to having these newly attached muscles there. Luckily this sensation goes away once your body adapts to it. Coughing, sneezing, and laughing all took on a new world of their own; nothing like doing an innocent sneeze and having all those muscles pull on your shoulder blade causing an insane amount of pain.
Usually I make a fake smile for the camera. Not this time.
It was more just take the picture and be done.
This is the bandaging I had to wear.
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16 staples. This surgery is SO painful. The muscles are pulled and resecured
to my scapula via 5 sets of drill holes and are then basically sewn back with sutures.
The worst part about having staples is the incision looks
very unattractive afterwards. It does start to look better after
a couple weeks. In this picture you can see the difference
between the incision length on my left and right. The position
of my shoulder blade also sat different on my right side. It kind of
looks like I am shrugging my right shoulder but I'm not. That's the way
it sat because there was nothing holding the bottom of my
scapula in position.
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Two weeks after surgery was a very special day. My Grandpa King who had served in WWII and was a decorated hero went with my cousin to Washington D.C for the day through the program Honor Flight Chicago. What a great organization. My Grandpa had one of his most special days of his life. Unknowingly to him, as he and all the veterans were spending the day in Washington D.C, all of the veterans families were gathering at the airport, along with military bands, and military personnel. We all made a parade to welcome home every one of these heroes. I felt horrible but there was nothing that was going to stop me from going to this one and only time that would allow me to honor my grandpa in this way. We spent several hours standing there waiting for the heroes to arrive. It just about killed me. As some of the older gentlemen walked and others were wheeled out one by one and saw all the hoopla that was there for them, every thought of myself went away. The expressions I saw, the older men in tears, the smiles on the older gentlemens faces made this the most special event I have ever seen.
My mom and I waiting to see my grandpa.
My Grandpa King. He was shocked. The expression on
his face says it all.
If there is any advice that I could give, it would be to participate in what gives you LIFE no matter how rat nasty you feel. I had every reason not to go to Honor Flight Chicago at the airport. It was late at night. It was crowded. There was nowhere to sit so that meant standing for several hours. I was only home from Kentucky for one week and was 2 weeks out from surgery. My grandpa would have certainly understood why I wasn't there. My point is when you decide to stay home really consider it because you could be giving up some once in a lifetime moments that will warm you heart forever and you do not want to regret missing them. Live your life and enjoy yourself.
The last summer blast before school starts with my nieces.
My sister, my mom, and I getting our picture
taken at my cousin's wedding. This was taken
2.5 weeks after surgery. I did not want to miss
their wedding.
