Out of the Splint

Sherry visited the orthopedic surgeon this morning and had the splint and stitches removed. She has quite an incision. Thank goodness that heavy splint is off, and she only has to contend with the sling for now.

Her elbow and shoulder Xrays are looking good, and she begins elbow therapy tomorrow and shoulder therapy in a week. She's still in quite a bit of pain, and is moving not so slow as yesterday.

We appreciate the notes, emails, prayers and well-wishes.

Elbow Repaired

Took Sherry into the Kirby Surgical Center at 5:45 a.m., and they wheeled her into surgery at 7:15. At 8:15, Dr. Gabel came to give me an update. They decided to go with a plate rather than with the wire as they had originally intended. I saw the xray which clearly showed five screws and a metal plate. She may set off alarms at the courthouse. They released her at 10:30, and she's resting and semi-dozing now. She's wearing a soft splint and sling for now. Dr. Gabel hopes to remove the splint in 10-14 days (along with the stitches) and have her only in a sling for the rest of her recovery and rehabilitation.

[No, this isn't her actual xray, but her's looks very similar.]

The Orthopedic

Thanks to PCAC member and fellow Palmer Parishioner, Tana Key, we were able to get Sherry in to see Dr. Gerard Gabel first thing today.

He proposed using wire to repair her broken elbow; in the course of his examination, he noticed extreme tenderness in her shoulder, and he ordered xrays of it. He found two fractures there which he decided not to treat with surgery or cast.

Rather, his explanation is that the wearing of the sling following her elbow surgery will sufficiently protect the shoulder injury and allow it to heal on its own.

Sherry's elbow surgery is set for Friday, October 28, at the Kirby Surgical Center.