Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Just another thing to check off my list...

Yesterday I took a break from the usual list of projects I've got going on around here-- the DIY-organizing-experimenting-creating kind of projects  I tend to get myself into. Instead I checked another item off of a list of sorts I've been working on for a while.  Yesterday I had minor hand surgery to have a piece of glass removed from my hand.  If you know what the past few years have held for me, then you'll be able to guess how it got there!  That little piece of glass has been annoying and irritating me for years now.  Well, surgery was a success!  It wasn't fun.  I won't tell you all the gory and squeamish details, but I will say that I definitely grabbed a much needed coffee at Starbucks on my way out-- thank heavens for Starbucks in hospitals!  I needed a moment, and a coffee, before driving myself home.  I also brought this souvenir home with me for bragging rights.


The picture doesn't really show you how big it is... let's just say it is bigger than the piece removed from my wrist and smaller than the chuck I found in my ear.

The surgery itself was not all that significant.  What is significant about yesterday's step is that I'm now done with accident related surgery-- I've officially informed my surgeons and doctors that I'm calling it quits!  I am currently on a waitlist for ACL reconstructive knee surgery, but that's a totally different story :)  Am I done because I feel and look like I did before the accident four years ago?  Absolutely not.  Nope, I'm done because I've decided that the new me is okay.  I'm comfortable with the new me.  Let me recap the past few years a little bit for you.  A while back I had to  come to terms with the fact that my shoulder will never function or feel the same as it did 4 years ago-- there's no surgery that will fix it.  A few months ago I finally came to the conclusion that no amount of plastic surgery would make my shoulder look like a shoulder... and somewhere along the way I've realized that I'm comfortable with the way I look today.  In fact, I wish I could have felt this comfortable about myself 10 years ago!  Does this mean that I'm going to go out in public wearing a sleeveless top anytime soon?  Nope... probably never.  But it does mean that I'm okay with a few of my new realities.  I'm comfortable with the fact that I will never wear a shoulder-revealing bathing suit at a public pool or beach-- that's why I brought Hawaii to my backyard in the form of an above ground pool-- yeah baby.  I'm comfortable with the fact that my +35 degree weather attire is a tank top paired with a cardigan sweater-- I have a cardi party going on in my closet... let me tell you.  I comfortable with inquisitive children's questions about the scars on my arms and hands-- although I will admit that I have told a few particularly cheeky kids that I got the scars because I disobeyed my momma ;)  There will still be moments of uncomfortable-ness... but that's okay.  So while yesterday wasn't the best of days, it was one more step forward.  And that's a good feeling.


One more step in this journey... done.  Many more to come.

And, I will be taking a few days off from any sewing, painting, crafting projects because quite frankly this is real pain in the hand :)

18 comments:

Rosanna Toews said...

Hero, I love you.

Anonymous said...

Good for you, Elissa. Great attitude.

Bernice

Anonymous said...

Good to hear, Elissa. Thinking of you. Gloria S.

KDees said...

Wow, who knew your body would still be "spitting out" glass almost 4 years later. I love your attitude - it's truly inspiring. The trauma and tragedy of that day has shaped who you are today, but who you are is beautiful, even with the outside scars! Thanks for sharing!

Carol said...

Thanks for sharing - do enjoy a few days of resting from your many projects!

Lyzanne Foth said...

i admire your honesty and boldness in talking about this, and i love that you are comfortable with yourself, its so freeing!

thanks for posting this cousin! :)

kelly ens said...

loved reading this; glad it was removed and amazed by your perspective!

Unknown said...

you have become a woman i admire in many ways...your creative talents with hands and words, the way you are raising your family, your dogged determination to go beyond the medical profession's expectations, your gentle spirit, your Godly example of faith under testing...you continue to be in my prayers and in my heart...thank you for sharing...

Carol@TheDesignPages said...

I just stumbled across your blog and love it. Hope you're recovering well!

Bonnie said...

You're BEAUTIFUL. Inside & out.

Leanne said...

You're amazing. I'm inspired every time I come to this space. So, thank you for blogging.

Kirsten said...

May God continue to saturate you with peace day after day! Thanks for sharing your heart.

GSFALK said...

Oh so beautiful. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Elissa.
Love, A.Shirley

Jamie said...

It's so crazy to think that a piece of the car has been in your body all these years...
Personally, I've seen you come so far since that first year and I, too, have been blessed by your attitude and the joy I've seen in your life. I'm blessed to have you as a sister :)

The Koops said...

loved the former; love the new you...

Amy Smith said...

love to you, my friend.

Melissa said...

Can't believe that glass could be in your hand for that long! Glad that it is now removed! I, too, admire your courage and beauty. Speaking of beauty, perhaps you could one day post on how you curl your hair? I love your loose curls, but don't know how to do it myself!

Elissa said...

That's funny Melissa :) Maybe I should try a post on that... at least it will give my hairdresser a good laugh!