A RETURN TO ACCIDENT SITE & NOTES FROM MEMO PAD

By OLIVENE GODFREY

It's been said that if you fall off of a horse, you should get back on it soon to avoid a phobia about it. As you may remember, I fell on April 10 from an elevated sidewalk onto the street pavement below, resulting in shoulder and arm injuries. On that day, son Barry and I had planned to eat lunch at a popular cafeteria, the Village, in downtown Chatsworth, GA. Their restaurant is located on the elevated sidewalk near my accident site. This past Sunday, I decided to return to the site as I have enough phobias without adding another to my list.

This time Barry parked the car in a parking place that is level with the elevated sidewalk, on a side street, and we walked to the cafeteria, so I didn't have to walk up any steps. I made it fine and as usual enjoyed the meal at the Village and don't think I will get a phobia about going there again.

This is being written early on Memorial Day and it is dark and rainy outside with such weather forecast for rest of the week. We have had a cool spring which makes it hard for my patio plants and Barry's tomato plant to get as much sun as they need this time of year. But, despite the weather, Barry's tomato plant is thriving and he already has a cage around it. He has it on a platform with wheels which he can roll into the garage in bad weather. I am looking forward to eating the tomatoes later in the summer.

I suspect that my sling for my right arm has become a security blanket for me since I broke my shoulder and arm. I feel uneasy when I don't wear it as I fear someone bumping in to my arm or just touching it. The doctor says I need to take it off some which I am doing but Barry is threatening to hide it if I don't go without it more.

I am beginning to do things I hadn't been able to do with m right hand, simple things like flossing my teeth. I have taken Aleve for my pain and was pleasantly surprised that it has helped relieve the arthritis pain in my legs.

The last of the week was busy here as the Trane dealer crew installed our new heat pump and the physical therapist was coming to the house, too. Barry says it is amazing that on Memorial Day we are running the heat which works really well. We had planned a cookout but will probably have to cook inside which is easy to do with our huge fireplace and small grill which will give us charcoal flavor to our steaks late today.

Barry and I have colds which is my first one in about two years and we haven't felt very chipper this weekend. I hope our colds will not last long.

As soon as I am able to have an eye exam, I have got to have my eyes checked by my eye doctor in Dalton. I had worn bifocals for several years and the frames of the glasses were broken when I fell and I have done without them since then. One reason I have waited as last year the doctor said I had tiny cataracts on my eyes and might need surgery. He uses a laser which I have heard makes the surgery easier for the patient,

See you next week.

DOCTOR VISIT REPORT & ROTATORS CUFF & MORE

By OLIVENE GODFREY

It has been six weeks since I fell and injured my right shoulder and arm and this past Thursday I saw my doctor for a checkup and also had new X-rays. The doctor said the X-rays showed that I am healing and she ordered a therapy program for the shoulder and arm with the home health physical therapists who have been working with me on my balance. I have exercises I have been using for the balance problem and they seem to be working. Walking with the cane helps a lot as it gives me confidence and helps with my balance. I don't mind using the came and if anyone smarts off to me, I can whack them with the cane.

I have used my left hand to do everything the past six weeks and I am afraid I am developing rotators cuff so am also doing exercises for that arm, too. It would be awful if I couldn't use the left arm. I have got so used to using it that at this stage in my recovery, I can eat better with it than with my right. The doctor told me to take the sling off some and practice a gentle exercise with that arm which I am doing. The right arm looks normal now and I am typing with the right hand now but the arm is still very weak.

Since I am awkward eating with the left hand, I have been reluctant to eat out since my accident. I have been to doctor's office several times and to get a haircut and that is all. So, Barry has told me that we are going out to lunch tomorrow and where we go depends upon how well I feel. So, I am hoping I feel rested and up to going out.

I only had the home health bath aide four weeks and the past week have been in the shower with no help. But, I only shower when Barry is at home, in case I run into trouble. When my late husband became ill, we had the master bathroom which I use now equipped for the handicapped so it isn't too hard to shower in it.

See you next time.

NO NEW NEWS ON MY INJURY & THOUGHTS ON FAMOUS PEOPLE

BY OLIVENE GODFREY

This past week, I have had a few improvements in my right hand and am typing with it again. I have appointment with my doctor on Thursday for check up on my broken shoulder-arm bone and should know more what to expect in my recovery then.

Meanwhile, I will share some thoughts I have had while I rest in my recliner. Did you ever meet a movie star?, or a high public official?, or any person who has achieved prominence in their chosen field? If so, were you a little afraid?

Many people seem to feel that famous and important people
are a little greater than they are, that these people know something special about life. Actually, such people are human beings just as we are. If you have an opportunity to talk with them for awhile you learn that they aren't much different than you.

Yet, except for members of royalty who usually inherit their titles, prominent people do posses some outstanding traits.
They have within them a drive for personal recognition,
And they desire respect and affection of their fellowmen.

If you live very long, you soon learn, and often it’s a painful lesson, that life isn't fair. It is a succession of opportunities, both good and bad; Goals are good only if they are possible for you. And, you must make sure your goals are worth the cost.

It's my belief that if you want your luck to change; you have to change your attitude. By having a positive attitude you can do much to guide your destiny.

See you next time.

By Olivene Godfrey



ANOTHER ACCIDENT AND MORE....

Ironically. Only moments after I had written last Sunday that my broken bone was healing I had another accident. I am not sure what happened. My office chair has wheels on it and I think when I stood up, the chair slid into me and the next instant I had banged my bad arm into the wall behind me. It hurt like the dickens and I have not yet recovered from the scare it gave me. To sym it up, the injury wasn't related to my broken shoulder arm broken bone. The impact had been my elbow which was black and blue and badly swollen soon. The doctor told me to put ice packs on my elbow and it seems okay now. I am thankful to God that the injury wasn't worse.

I am afraid I am getting phobic about walking and falling again. The therapist who has been helping me with my balance, said we will work on this next week. I have been walking with my cane now which I should have used for some time.

I am still having some pain but it isn't any worse than some I have had in past. At the same time, I think this period since my first accident is the most frustrating of my life. I still feel so weak and helpless. I have to do everything with my left hand, including typing, and this hand is stiff with arthritis so I am frustrated often. I am a note writer and write notes to myself and to son Barry all during the day to remind of us of things we need to do. I also make notes of writing ideas.
Since I am right handed, my left hand is very inept at writing, and I often can't read my notes.

I am still enjoying the spring greenness in our yard. Barry bought anew riding lawn mower this spring and enjoys mowing the yard and has it looking good. I am going to try to venture outside more this next week with the help of the therapist. Meanwhile, I am going to move gingerly when I get out of my office chair now.

See you next time, I hope.

BY OLIVENE GODFREY



Good doctor's report, learning to slow down & enjoying spring from windows

It has been three weeks now since I fell and broke my shoulder and arm bone and it seems like a much longer period. I went to dr this past Friday for a follow-up visit and x-ray. The good news is that my broken bone is healing nicely. I don't need to see dr again for three weeks and then if my arm is okay I may be able to remove the sling. It will be wonderful to be able to use my right hand again. Meanwhile, i will be exercising my right arm gently each day. I am still taking medication for the pain but am able to go for longer periods now without it.
I see a ray of light at the end of a dark tunnel.

A dedicated, young therapist is working with me on my poor balance which has caused me to fall several times in the past. Her advice to me often is Slow Down. She says that i tend to jump up from a chair and trot across the room. That was instilled within me as a child. I equated being slow with being lazy which was considered a sin in my world. It is hard to slow down in our fast-paced society. It is just about impossible in our fast paced society, especially in our work places and on our busy highways, to take it easy. But rushing out of the car and dashing up the elevated sidewalk got me in this condition. Son Barry always tells me to wait for him to assist me. In the future i will defiantly do that.

I have had a plaque on my wall for years that says "along the way take time to smell the roses" but i didn't pay any attention to it. Now that i am elderly and retire from workplaces, i have no excuse for not slowing down. As the therapist advises, the only time to get in a rush is if your tail is on fire."

I had eagerly awaited spring time here in northwest Georgia where the lush greenness is so beautiful. I am able to enjoy it from my many windows. The birds are still flocking to our feeder and the blue jays send those pesky squirrels fleeing and that amuses me. Barry plans to move the rest of the plants to the patio today. He will re-pot some of them and has already put miracle grow on them. I miss being able to putter with plants but Barry has a green thumb and is doing a good job with them and his tomato plant which is in a large pot.

See you next time.