Angela's Blog

Hey there.

Well, the funk has passed. For now at least. I'll take it. Thanks for hanging in there with me through it. And thanks for all your encouraging words too. Really means a lot. And it's helpful to be reminded that I'm not alone in all of this. Other people feel similarly and make it okay. So there's hope.

Good news for today is I got my stitches out yesterday. Awesome! Kinda sore but the nurse only had to give a good tug to 4 or so to get them out. Not bad when you think that there were 19 all together. Other cool thing - I got to bring one home to Josh. Kinda gross but cool nonetheless. And it turns out they were sort of made of fishing line. 100% nylon is what the doc said. Weird. Who knew. That does explain why they kept poking through my shirt and stabbing me in the leg through my jeans when I put my arm down in my lap. He he he. It was pretty funny the day I couldn't figure out the stabbing pain in my leg and then finally realized it was my stitches. But no more. They are gone now. And the incision looks really good. It isn't even all red and puffy. Woo hoo! And they were able to cut right over the old scar when they did the surgery so I'll have no more wounds than before. It is kinda funny though, I feel kinda like Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas.

This whole arm surgery / scar adventure has really hit home how thankful I am for the facial surgeon who worked on me. Man, God sure was looking out for me. To say the least. I can't believe I don't have any scars from that lady putting 2 plates in my face! She was able to go through and do all her work through my gums. What a trip! And a blessing! And she was only a resident I found out when I asked for her information to write her a thank you note. She'll be an awesome surgeon, that's for sure!

Let's see - what else...going back to work is coming up. All my therapists and my vocational counselor agreed that we're aiming for sometime in May. That's next month! That'll be right around the corner. And I talked to my TBI doc yesterday and she is on board too. She just has to fill out and send in the paperwork. Then it's up to Amgen if they want me back. Then I think I'll be the only brain injured scientist at the Helix. But then again, maybe not. Brain injury is definitely not something that leaves lasting marks. Isn't that weird? Who knew there was a way that someone could get hurt so bad and disabled forever with no way to tell by looking at them?!?! I never knew before but I found out that one of our friends got a brain injury when he was little and that my aunt had a brain injury when she was in her teens. And you'd never guess it with either of them. Maybe in a few years I'll be there too. That'll be a trip. I can only imagine telling someone about my accident and having it be a shock to them.

That's about all I've got for now. Have a good one. And if you think of it, throw up a little (or big) prayer for our friends Tom and Lucy. Their first baby is coming any day now. Oh baby Vo-Doodle, we can't wait to meet you.

Talk at ya soon,

Ang