A Major Setback

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My semi-bionic knee.

As I had predicted in my last blog post, February was indeed a very busy month but not for the reasons I had thought. My assumption was that the various minor holidays that take place during February would keep me busy creating projects for the members of the Dorchester Senior Citizens Center crafting class. (See the photo below of the Mardi Gras masks we made at our last class.)  Unfortunately that was not the case. You see, while I was up on a ladder decorating the center for Mardi Gras, I fell off and broke my left knee. I was lucky to get away with only a broken knee. It could have been much, much worse. Anyway, the knee required surgical repair. The x-ray image you see here shows the plate and screws used to hold the pieces of my broken knee in place while it heals. I was released from the hospital after a week to continue my recuperation at home and I've been laying in bed most of my time keeping my leg elevated to help alleviate swelling. I can not place any weight whatsoever on my leg for at least two months, maybe longer depending on how well I heal.

My seniors show off their Mardi Gras masks.

On the bright side, I'm slowly getting better and I have a bit more mobility in my knee every day. Three weeks post-surgery follow up determined that I have up to 80% flexion in my knee. I'm getting around a little better each day but that's not to say I'm ready to run. I have to use crutches or a walker to move around. Going up and down stairs is still challenging but I manage. I still have problems standing in one place for any length of time because it places great stress on the one leg that is supporting me. It also places stress on my left hip which must hold the left leg off the floor so as not to place any weight on it. This fatigues me quickly and I feel like a limp noodle. One thing is for sure. When this is all over, I won't be climbing any ladders any time soon.

Anyway, there won't be any craft projects with my seniors for the foreseeable future, something that greatly distresses me but can not be avoided. Hopefully I'll be in a position to do some crafting on my own in the near future which I will share with you. Until then I hope you'll stick around for the next chapter in my crafty life. Many thanks.

- Gitana the Creative Diva