Just My Thoughts

We had a great few days with Barrett here. He needed his dad's help on a few things so he drove down on Thursday night after work. His sweet wife and wonderful kids are visiting at her sister's back east so he was a bit lonely (I wish!) for his mother. He spent some time on Friday talking with high school students about career choices in the medical field. Garth said the teachers said he did an excellent job and they were excited to visit with him for a while. He helped around the yard taking down Christmas lights and other odd jobs. Yes, we still had some Christmas decorations up because of the snow and frozen ground. I didn't want Garth climbing up ladders with his bad knee and shoulder, at least until the snow was gone. So Barrett and Josh did the job. Now I just need to pull up the candy canes when the extension cords are no longer frozen down to the grass.

Before Barrett left on Saturday we drove over to Ferron to visit with Connie Ware. He wanted to see her again since he spent so much time in her home while growing up. It is hard to see a lady who has been such a part of your life and see her so ill in bed. We just wish her to be comfortable and at peace.

It was a great visit with Barrett, although I wish he could come more often and have his family with him. Maybe in the spring they can come down on play at Grandpa and Grandma's house before they move away.

Nicky came down on Saturday, passing Barrett somewhere in the canyon I suppose. She has been here to help take care of Garth, who had surgery yesterday (Monday). With her here I didn't need to sit by myself in the FREEZING waiting room. I swear they were trying to create their own patients by making us sit in the cold so long. His surgery was scheduled to start at 10:30 but he didn't get taken to surgery until 1:30. We had been in the pre-op since 9:30 waiting for our turn. I really have no idea what was taking so long because they weren't taking anyone out of the area. There must have been some emergencies or something.

We were told his surgery would last about 5 hours so we went to the waiting room, which was a freezer. We both got blankets for our legs, put our hoods up on our sweaters, covered ourselves with coats, and bundled up for the long wait. He got back to recovery about an hour earlier than we thought he would, just at 5:00. We finally left at 8:00 to come home. The nurses there were great and of course Dr. Heiner was wonderful. I really admire that man. He takes care of his patients with lots of concern. He still had a surgery after Garth's so he was there late at night. No family home evening for him.

I remember the time he did my knee replacement, the one that had broken and was in such poor shape. He said he wasn't sure just how to repair the damage that was done, that he would have to play it by ear. When he came in to see me before surgery he asked if I had any questions. I said my only question was if he said his prayers that morning. He responded humbly and with tears in his eyes that he never starts the day without praying because he needs all the help he can get. I felt very safe in his hands. The surgery went well and he remarked that he just knew what to do to get the broken part out safely everything went well.

Garth's surgery went well after Dr. Heiner was able to find the huge tear in the labrum. What an appropriate place for a tear! A torn labrum on a Labrum. He slept through the night pretty well, considering a bad shoulder and bad knee. I hope things go as well throughout the day and the rest of his recovery. I love him and it was very difficult to see him go through so much pain the past few weeks. The pain of the block was very difficult as well. I just don't like to see my loved ones hurting.

So just keep him in your prayers that his recovery will be quick and free from too much pain. Thanks to everyone for all the calls and concern.