Sharon's now recovering as well...

Sharon had a successful foot surgery and now please keep her in your thoughts as she recovers.... it will be about 10 weeks before she can walk without the aircast boot on her right leg, and so is on crutches in the meantime.

Two weeks out and counting

Tuesday brings me to 14 days out of the hospital and a transition into another period of recovery. The pain behind my chest has really starting to diminish and the incision is already starting to knit back together. And best of all, I'm starting to sleep through the night, so I'm finding more energy to get out and enjoy all the sunny weather we've been having the last few days.

Throughout this recovery period I've really been going through each day moment to moment, and I've discovered that sleep comes to me before I'm able to start reflecting. I'm really happy that I can feel myself healing, but I'm still finding it hard to answer questions like: "How has life changed now that you've been through surgery?" because I haven't had time to think this kind of "big question" through. Let's see what the days and weeks ahead bring and I will have had time to think about my life, now that I've got it back again.

Hey Derek, can I call or come by and visit?

Hi there everyone,

I've been hearing this question since I'm now back home, so I thought I post some thoughts on visiting.

If you happen to be sick, please call my cell 334-5751 and we'll chat for now. I can't risk catching anything right now.

Please call my cell and we'll schedule a time to meet. I find that I can only handle one visit a day for the time being, but this will change soon and I'll post when my energy level is getting better.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks always for all the support and well wishes. My recovery is going very well because I feel really well supported. Thanks again!

Now in recovery from surgery, and it's harder than I thought!

So here's the timeline for surgery

July 29 -- Surgery
30 -- ICU
31 -- Cardiac Ward
August 2 -- Release from hospital

I can't believe that it all happened so quickly, and my head is still spinning as a consequence. But I'm happy that I'm in full recovery mode now, and am so grateful that everything went so smoothly.

I see people on the street and they can't believe that a week from surgery, I'm up and about! And I can't agree more with them... it feels truly miraculous.

I'm starting to get more energy to have people visit, so call me on my cell at 334-5751 and we'll make plans.

The hardest lesson for me has been that although I'm getting better, I've left surgery in a little less health than when I was waiting for surgery. So the patience part of the word "patient" has taken on a whole new dimension for me.

So I alternate activity with rest and try hard not to lift anything very heavy so that my wired up sterum doesn't complain too much.

And last and best, it's great to be back home!