March Madness, Mantra: HUMOR
Hello family and friends,
It’s been about a month since my last update to you. My mantra for the upcoming weeks and months is HUMOR. Once you read the following, you will better understand my reasoning for this mantra.
Since my last update to you, much has been going on with the Harmon family, especially over the last week. Let me start off by saying that we will all be fine, we just have some unexpected hurdles to cross. I thought about not sharing this update with you, as the last week seems unbelievable to us. We are digging deep to deal with what has happened and continue to rely on our faith, family, friends and HUMOR to cope.
“YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS UP!”
SUE: As many of you know, we went to Sanibel Island, Florida for our school’s two-week break with family and friends. As you know, I looked forward to this vacation throughout my treatment. It was the goal, the celebration. Before leaving, I was given the green light to step up my exercise and my surgeons even gave me the okay to start light jogging. This was music to my ears since I have been restricted over the last six months due to my surgery and level of fatigue and illness due to chemotherapy. I was fitted for an abdominal support to secure all of my muscles. To be outside and exercising on vacation is what I had looked forward to for the duration of my treatment. Six days after arriving on Sanibel, I was injured by a piece of a shattered ceramic bowl in our kitchen, a two-inch laceration to my rear heel. After five hours in the Ft. Myers, Florida ER, six stitches, X-rays, a nicked Achilles tendon, a full leg cast, crutches, and lots of tears my vacation did not turn out as planned. Dave and my Dad flew down to lend their support and I followed up with a surgical podiatrist in Florida. He confirmed the Achilles injury and suggested that I follow up with an orthopedic surgeon once I returned to New York. Today I met with an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in feet and Achilles tendon injuries. I was put in a permanent, stabilizing cast from my toes to my knee and will be walking with crutches for a total of 6-8 weeks. A follow up MRI will be performed on Friday to measure the damage to the Achilles tendon. The good news at this point is that none of the specialists believe that I will need Achilles tendon surgery. Fingers crossed. Due to this injury, my follow up surgery originally scheduled for this Friday to finalize my reconstruction has been postponed until I am back on my feet with no cast or crutches. Hard to believe, huh!?
KATHRYN: The day before my accident, Kathryn was stung by a stingray in the Gulf while we played on a sand bar. We spent the afternoon at a walk-in clinic on the Island and she was treated with aggressive antibiotics. The day before flying home, Kathryn took a turn and her foot became infected and inflamed. We arrived home this Saturday and Kathryn’s first stop was Northern Westchester Hospital’s ER. Further X-rays and testing proved that there was no barb from the stingray in her foot. She also met with a specialist today and Kathryn is on the mend. Heavy antibiotics will continue and the pain and swelling will subside with time.
DAVE: Just as we think that all is settling down, we get the next piece of bad news. Last Friday, Dave was very unexpectedly “let go” from his new firm. This came as a huge surprise to him and our heads continue to spin. Now we are in search of a good lawyer and a new job for Dave. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
MOLLY: She will be living in a plastic bubble for the next few weeks!
Needless to say, the last week has not been our best, but it has not been our worst. As down as we have been, we continue to rely on our faith, family, friends and HUMOR to get us through. We’ve cried and cursed but we have also laughed. We are grateful for your support and prayers during these trying times.
Thanks to so many of you who have supported me and the RELAY FOR LIFE event at Hackley School. As I will clearly not be able to walk by then, our family will be there to lend our support to Lauren and Tim, the Hackley Seniors, who have put the event together! Thanks for showing your support! A donation of any size is gladly accepted.
In the meantime, the Harmons will keep on truckin’ and look for the goodness in each and every day.
Good health, happiness and prosperity to you and yours…
Love,
Sue