Boot camp for the pelvis!

A shortish missive from Síle about Síle. 

I will be discharged from the fabulous Summit Rehab Center on Friday December 2nd. My days are busy. I have mandatory PT for 3 hours a day. Then I have so called bed exercises which I do at least 3 times a day. Add in how long it takes to actually get out of the bed or chair and you get the picture. I have a broken pelvis which will heal on its own but is " bloody painful" if I don't move just right. One week post surgery my elbow is improving nicely. I can now dress myself which is thrilling! (Don't  ask how long it takes). I navigate the Center with my walker and get more proficient every day. The gym is terrific  but when I am there, we are working so hard there is no chit chatting or any such foolishness. We are all too busy concentrating on our exercises . The therapists, nurses , doctors etc are also fab.

Thank you to everyone for all the love and support. I can hear your cheers when I navigate a tricky manouver!  After I return, I'd welcome visitors. 

And now for the good part. Pictures. And the excellent news that Jutta and Greg are now proud parents of Lukas. 

Nóra, Úna and Ainaté on Thanksgiving 

Jutta, Greg, and Lukas 

Úna

New Digs

This dispatch is coming to you from the 3rd Floor at Summit in Oakland. My mom was accepted to the acute rehab facility and will be here for 1-2 weeks. The social worker at Alta Bates emphasized the rather strict criteria they have for patients here so when she returned a few hours later to say that my mom had been accepted, Nora said she felt like she'd gotten into Harvard.

Ralph oversaw the transfer from Alta Bates this morning and while there have been some understandable hiccups that come with an intake day at a new facility, we're getting settled in. The room is new, spacious, and once again has a view of SF and the Golden Gate Bridge (I wonder what they could get for this place on Craigslist...).

While here, my mom will get a minimum of 3 hours of physical and occupational therapy each day to rebuild her strength. They take a holistic approach to rehab so also have a social worker, a nutritionist, therapy dogs, and apparently even someone to cut your hair (my mom asked about getting a touch up on her hair color too). The goal here is to emulate the outside world as much as possible, so they have patients get dressed in their own clothes in the morning, go to the dining room for meals, and try to have as much of a routine as possible. She was nervous about moving over here but overall feels good about the care and work she'll be doing in order to get home as quickly as possible.

And now for some pics of Úna. I can't share my favorite from today, but suffice to say that little missy discovered if she flashes her bum at me I will laugh pretty hard so she has returned to that joke-well more than once...

Minor setback but cute pics

Returning home from a birthday dinner for Ainate on Wednesday evening (carrying a chocolate cake, of course!), my mom took a tumble and fractured her elbow and a pelvic bone. She was brought to the ER at Alta Bates and is now ensconced in a room on the 6th floor with a view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. 

We had a visit from the orthopedist today and she'll have surgery on her elbow on Sunday. Fortunately the fracture in the pelvic bone is small enough it will heal on its own. Assuming all goes smoothly with the surgery, she'll stay in the hospital for another day or two and then be discharged. 

All things considered, the patient is in very good spirits and has been eager to get up and out of the hospital bed when she can. She'll be in quite a bit of pain for the next little while but so far all signs have been positive. Obviously being in the hospital the week of Thanksgiving was not in the original plan, but we are making due and are happy to be in the care of Dr. Cecchi and his, ahem, charm, the orthopedist Dr. Zwahlen, and the rest of the staff at Alta Bates. 

And now... some Úna pics since that always makes everyone feel better and smile. 

The 29th: always a day of reflection

January 29th, 2014 was the day of my transplant so the 29th remains a day that is etched into my brain so to speak. Today marks 14 months post transplant.

The big health news is that I am finally off the " damn steroids". Phew. Mind you they are a miracle drug when you need them but I am immensely relieved--- after 3+ years of almost continual use--- to be steroid free. Eoin commented that my energy was more " Sile energy" as opposed to " steroid energy" so I am assuming that that  is a good thing. ( you never know with your children...!). And my huge cheek bruise has finally faded to an acceptable hue. In other words I don't look like a prize fighter anymore. Despite minor aches and pains I feel very good. Drs Cecchi and Nakamura remain happy with my progress and joke that my counts are so good that I can donate blood!

On the work front, in addition to tutoring, I am also doing a spot of teaching--- 3 hours per week to seniors in Chinatown. It is enormous fun and it is refreshing to be back in front of a group. I have also been doing some Skype tutoring which is magical in a way.  For me to be sitting here in California and teaching someone in France or Pakistan is kind of amazing.

Donor Frank and wife Janet were visiting 2 weeks ago and one of the many fun things we did was visit Pixar for a preview of Eoin's latest movie "Inside Out". We all loved it. Make sure you go to see it when it comes out--- June 19th. And cheer when you see Eoin's name in the credits. His name appears twice no less. 

The famous Úna is talking up a storm. The only problem is that we don't always  understand her. Last week in Carmel she demonstrated that she knows our names--- well a version of them anyway.

O E for Eoin. OG for Gershwin (dog) and both Jim and Ralph are " Raf".

As always I remain incredibly appreciative of all of you and of the many ways you keep me afloat! Thank you. Xxo

Eoin and Ainaté with friends Colin and Steve on their way to the Inside Out wrap party

Eoin and I on Mother's Day ( of course we coordinated our outfits)

Úna taking her job as Jim's helper very seriously 

Nóra and Úna enjoying the beach in Carmel

A series of unfortunate events....sort of

Well that is a bit dramatic but I couldn't resist the urge to use that great phrase.

In fact I have had a number of issues in the last few weeks: a blood clot in my calf. But Jutta pointed out how amazing it was that my blood was actually clotting. And when you think of how long I survived with a mere 5k to 10 k platelets, it is miraculous. ( Platelets were 107k last week). Then I had a 10 siege of a truly debilitating stomach flu necessitating many days and hours of infusions.  And for the dramatic one. A face plant. Apparently it is very difficult to literally fall on your face but since I am so brilliant, I managed it with no problem! The result. A huge bruise on my left cheek. But I was very lucky as I broke nothing. And honestly when you see me, you will realise how amazing that is. ( I tripped on uneven pavement on my morning walk). Finally....And I have decided that this it for medical mishaps, I have joined as a friend says " the cold club". Two weeks of sniffling, coughing and hacking. I have a big box of face masks and they are getting a workout both as cover ups for my bruise and to protect others from my germs. But despite everything, I feel really good. Cecchi and his team have been taking fantastic care of me and he points out that recovery time will always be longer for me than for ordinary mortals who don't have their brother's immune system!  

In other news.  The newish biz English Over Easy is picking up and it is fun to be teaching again.  I would love to build up more clients online and so if you have ideas or referrals, I am all ears. 

 I have also been sewing and below is my latest project. It is perhaps the never ending item as I keep making another little tweak here and there. The latest being a line of Sachiko stitching to prevent the "white" part from fraying. God daughter Bridget has volunteered to give me some coaching on sewing with knits which I look forward to. 

Úna continues to delight and and she is babbling up a storm. Her clearest word is " goodbye". My niece Sheila finished her chemotherapy --- a huge milestone. The next step is surgery. 

As always, my spirits are buoyed by all of you and the continued love, thoughts, and good cheer you send my way.  Thank you.

And now for the only reason you read this.......

My niece Aileen with Aoibh on her right ( Sheila's daughter) and Shona on the left. Shona is the newest member of our extended family)

Examining Gershwin 

Helping Ainaté work out

Waking up

Neighborhood walk