Team USA

Team USA
Sloan's Lake

30 August 2013

Back In Action

After many health issues from previous problems, then a broken collar bone requiring surgery to repair, and delays in everything healing I was FINALLY well enough to return to the water!

I am fortunate enough to have a have a couple of really good guys in my corner to call and refer to for help. Thankfully they each had some time to offer me on the water. I had a few sessions working on starts and trying to paddle straight with an AWESOME kayaker Scott.  A session or two of just cruising around with Brian, then a long session of paddling hard, easy, and then attempting some paddle board stuff for balance with Chris. It felt really good to be on the water and my seat was good but might need some more work, so maybe over the winter I can get a new one done.  It’s now time to focus on school and enjoy the winter... because I will not be breaking anything this year!


Larry and I after I broke my collar bone
Bear Creek Lake-Burton swimming after me :)

Trying to figure out the paddleboard

23 April 2013

Challenges


Returning home proved to be full of more challenges than expected, which is how my life generally goes so one would think I’d be prepared for the unexpected.


I had surgery on my hip scheduled for May, but that didn’t happen. I ended up with a rare eye infection that made the ophthalmologist refer me to a neurologist who was afraid I had an auto-immune disorder and therefore if he was right it was possible I could lose my sight having my surgery. So, surgery was delayed! I had lots of test ran and saw a lot of doctors. They never figured out what the cause of the eye infection was but it was determined I was safe to get my hip repaired. Because the hip surgery was going to be major I had to schedule it with 2 surgeons and it was delayed until July. This was a big bummer but it gave me a chance to hike a little, be on the water a little and just have some summer! 
Mt Sherman

 

 Surgery on my hip went really well. They were able to repair the cartilage, anchor it down, shave lots of bone that was impeding movement and were hopeful for a good outcome. Unfortunately recovery didn’t go so well. I got an infection from being in hospital and was in and out of the hospital for weeks. Even after multiple rounds of antibiotics and finally being infection free I was left with permanent damage to my gut. All of this meant I was not getting proper nutrition and my overall health and healing was compromised. Lots of doctors visits, tests, medications and frustration. Thankfully I have lots of family support, great friends and a cute dog to help me through. 
Cleaning up the mess in my hip
Trying to beat the infection

Burton taking care of me