Recovery Thread

[RR's pet coyote's cousin]

Originally Posted by Karuna

It's a small town, and I'm largely known as my husband's wife. (He's from a large family and they just know EVERYBODY). I've been overwhelmed by the amount of food, cards, flowers, toys for the kids, offers of babysitting and chauffering, etc. that have come from people I've never met. Made me rethink this town.

I also wonder if part of that is being burned is just a primal fear. We've heard a lot of "I know I've never met your wife, but I can't stop thinking about her. How can we help?" Pretty crazy.

Small town America is great. People in big cities just don't care. Glad you are getting the care you need.

[wat?]

Originally Posted by Karuna

I often feel like an outsider in this community. It's a small town, and I'm largely known as my husband's wife. (He's from a large family and they just know EVERYBODY). I've been overwhelmed by the amount of food, cards, flowers, toys for the kids, offers of babysitting and chauffering, etc. that have come from people I've never met. Made me rethink this town.

I also wonder if part of that is being burned is just a primal fear. We've heard a lot of "I know I've never met your wife, but I can't stop thinking about her. How can we help?" Pretty crazy.

That makes sense, though it's unfortunate that you had to go through such an ordeal for people to open up to you.

But I think it shows the good in people (or at least, those around you) that there is such a public showing of support and assistance. Like you and Serena have said before, good people may have the right intentions in wanting to do SOMETHING ... just that they may not know how to channel that positive, supportive energy.

Sorta similar to here, though we're just words on a screen. I don't know what else to say other than, I hope for your speedy recovery and that things turn out well for you - I have faith it will, with your strong will and the support system you describe.

[Serena]

Originally Posted by Karuna

So funny about the flower boxes...my brother in law stopped by the house one day to let the dog out or something, early on, when my husband was at the hospital all day every day. He tripped on a gravel slope we have leading down from our driveway to the house and was like "OH NO, this is unacceptable, Uma can't come home and have to deal with this kind of danger."

Guys ... gotta love 'em!

I also wonder if part of that is being burned is just a primal fear. We've heard a lot of "I know I've never met your wife, but I can't stop thinking about her. How can we help?" Pretty crazy.

I think it's like wat? said, people who are compassionate feel an empathy and they just want to do something. Not unlike 9/11 when people lined up to give blood. A deep empathy all across the country and people wanted to do something, ANYTHING to feel like they were contributing to the healing process somehow.

When it hits close to home, in your own community or in your own family, the feelings are stronger and the direct needs can be more practically ascertained and met.

[RR's pet coyote's cousin]

Originally Posted by wat?

That makes sense, though it's unfortunate that you had to go through such an ordeal for people to open up to you.

I would not be so hard on those people. I do not think it was an obligation on their part to be supportive to someone who until now obviously did not their support. I'm simply saying there is no need for any negative comments, and prefer that things be viewed as positive. Someone needed help, and the community rallied around the situation to provide help. No need to be negative about what happened when someone did not need help. I do not think the community was hostile, even if a "stranger" did not feel totally part of the community until a situation was created that brought them closer together.

I think it makes sense if the husband grew up in the small town and has lots of family and connections in the community that the wife who did not grow up there was still not as "integrated". Seems natural to me. Not any ill intent, they just didn't know her or have an opportunity to know her.

[wat?]

Originally Posted by RR's pet coyote's cousin

I would not be so hard on those people. I do not think it was an obligation on their part to be supportive to someone who until now obviously did not their support. I'm simply saying there is no need for any negative comments, and prefer that things be viewed as positive. Someone needed help, and the community rallied around the situation to provide help. No need to be negative about what happened when someone did not need help. I do not think the community was hostile, even if a "stranger" did not feel totally part of the community until a situation was created that brought them closer together.

I think it makes sense if the husband grew up in the small town and has lots of family and connections in the community that the wife who did not grow up there was still not as "integrated". Seems natural to me. Not any ill intent, they just didn't know her or have an opportunity to know her.

To be clear, I don't suggest that Karuna's community is hostile or should in any way be held in contempt for only supporting now. What I meant by the "unfortunate" comment was that the end result is good, that the community seems tight-knit - only that I wish for Karuna's sake that this was evident prior to her injuries. That's not to say that the neighbors are at fault in any way for their actions (and that *that* was the unfortunate part). I do think the kind-heartedness is the true representation of the people surrounding Karuna and will continue to believe that. It can only mean good things in the future.

[Jim Luther Davis]

one word:


human...growth...hormone. bro.

[Karuna]

Did a 30 minute "cardio-lates" DVD. I used to do this one when I was pregnant, so I kind of consider it a starter thing I guess.

But, I am actually sweating (which makes everything itch like a m-effer) and my heart rate is elevated. Boy that feels good. Haven't been sweaty and felt nicely tired since the week of the accident.

There is 15 minute mat workout that I skipped. Still not comfortable to sit directly on my butt or lay on my back. Looking forward to working on that.

Tomorrow I'll walk a mile again. Hopefully it will go better than my last attempt.

[Mog]

A good friend of mine worked in a chip factory as a manager for awhile. A few summers ago, he was inspecting one of the machines or some such and his arm was doused with extremely hot chemicals. He suffered second degree burns on the majority of his forearm.

He said it hurt a lot. He whined about it a lot. He fully recovered, with minor scarring.

I have a lot of respect for you. You have a much stronger will than him.

Wishing you the best of luck in your recovery.

[ORLYLOL]

CURSH IT UMA!

[Karuna]

Walked 1.5 miles today. Last week I walked a mile and then felt I probably over did it. Today I think it was the right amount. I figure I'll increase distance .5 miles per week until I get to 3 miles, then start to introduce running back in. Next walk is Friday morning assuming it's not raining (damp clothing makes the graft sites unbearably tender and itchy - yuck).

Also started doing the "Gorilla" app on the iPad - which seems to be some basic stuff but it starts out at "wimp" level and progresses from there. The progression is helpful. First workout was 4 sets of 8 squats, 4 lunges, and 10 modified pushups. 2 months ago I could have done that in my sleep. Today I'm feeling some muscle soreness. Kind of sucks to think about how much ground has been lost.

I'm trying to keep realistic goals...slow progress is frustrating.