here are photos from my surgery,  my amputation, my new leg,  these photos are my leg when it was good and when I thought it was bad. The Dr's and the Nurses, all said even though it looked like 
it was opening up,  I was told this is normal and there was no infection,  :D  so dont panic when 
things just dont look quite right.  Dont get me wrong, notify your doctor or nurse, whoever is coming
to the house to help you.  They absolutely need to know. You need to take care of it, clean it and do 
what the Dr says. So many people do not listen to the DR then wonder why it isnt healing or why 
things arent going as they should.   


                                                     This photo has a sock on called a stump 
                                                     shrinker. it will help the stump to go from 
                                                    what you see below when it is larger to much
                                                     smaller.

these next few photos are before the stump

shrinker. they will not place the stump shrinker

on until your staples are out and your leg is 

healed. No bleeding, no open wounds.

the next three are the times when I thought everything

was going bad on me. The DRs were not worried and 

told me all was ok. To me I thought my leg looked 

like it was getting infected. Thankfully the DRs said

no infection and it was healing nicely.  :D 

yeahhhhhhhh

this is my arm, I have had enough surgeries and needles 

takeing blood that I know, when it bruises it is not 

because the nurse or drs did anything wrong

the bruising comes from blood leaking from the vein

under the skin.  In this case they had to take out the 

needle because the fluid was filling up under my arm. 

It became really puffy and that looked bad. :D  dont be

afraid to show the drs, the nurses and let them know

any thing you are not sure of,  it is much better to be 

safe than sorry.  

NEW LEG

 Good Morning on the east coast of USA and the west coast of Florida :D
It is now a beautiful start of a new day and one I am Praying I can soon close my 
eyes to :D
     As usual I am not able to sleep.  For what ever reason I have been dealing with
not only sinuses but a torn up stomach.  I am beginning to believe it is due to 
me feeling like I have lost control of things.  
     I am not depressed or complaining.  I have been so overwhelmed with my house
not being in order. Our friend Dee graciously has been to our house to help us 
get organized. It has been so overwhelming for Eric and I.  
      For Eric, he inherited a home that needs lots of TLC,  his mother who passed away 
with breast cancer that spread to her bones, lymph nodes, and brain, was not thinking
clear in the last few years of her life. She became a hoarder.  I was doing great with getting 
the house in order when october 2006, I ripped every cartlidge and ligament in my left knee.
     Medicare didnt kick in until  July of 2007.  By then they were in bad shape.  This put me way
behind needless to say.  From then on it was 4 surgeries in one year, getting farther and 
farther behind in my house.  I have always been meticulous person, you could almost
eat of my floors. ( I wouldnt suggest it :D  we Have four cats whom we love dearly )
       Everything was in it's place.  This is six years later and for the past year and half
my walking kept getting worse by the day it seemed.  It was not life threatening,
but very much debilitating.  
       Now it is May 22nd 2012,  I have had my amputation,  I received my new leg
I am truly happy and excited about this day.  When Eric got home this evening
I showed him my leg, put it on and stood up and hugged him.  He almost cried
seeing me stand and hugged me tight.  It felt good.  I looked at him; smiled and said
"  I feel taller...... he laughed and said " YA THINK?  "   :D   I actually am 
because now with two legs I am able to stand up straight, and evenly. 
I usually write about all the good things and I am normally a very happy person.
I am still happy but today even with my leg, my stomach being so upset all the time 
lately, after a while this just gets old.  For three weeks now I have dealt with my 
sinuses, headaches, drainage, stuffy head.  Not enough sleep. What ever is going 
on gives me heartburn, soooooooo I decided to complain a little bit and get this 
off of my chest. 
      WE are human and every day is not going to be bright, sunny, cheerful,
 and happy.  We have days when things are rough and we have to get over them.  
Our attitude can make all of the differance in the world, on howwe recuperate, 
and deal with the things that life throws at us.  
       I don't care what you are going through, DO NOT GIVE UP, DO NOT BE 
DISCOURAGED,   one of the quotes I use alot is ...........
(  A WINNER NEVER QUITS....... AND A QUITTER NEVER WINS )
 we have all heard this but many times need to be reminded.  I am not a quitter
I am determined, I have ambition, I am tenacious,  I am me, and that is all I can be.
   Hang in there...............  you are allowed to feel down some days, the important thing is
remember to pull your boot straps up, and  keep on going.  Do not let...... your bad suck
you into a hole.  Dig out, climb the mountain, there is always a silver lining, beautiful 
clouds,  the sun is shining.  :D  I pray each of you have a great day and 
allow the best of you to come out each new day. Here is a photo fo my new leg :D I am 
thankful for Gods grace in allowing me the privelage of knowing the valleys as well
as the mountain tops.

Sincerly Candy

Sometimes Life Gets Rough
  My PT ( physical therapist ) came Thursday, we did the excercises, I told him
that Eric asked me to see my DR. because I had cried everyday for three weeks. 
By bedtime I was grabbing the bucket every night.  My Dr knows about my sons' 
passing away in 2010.  From March through June it is very difficult for me. 
He passed away March 8th, was buried on my birthday March 13th,  his 
birthday is April 19th,  May is Memorial Day, the  honoring of all our fallen 
officers and military people.  
   I also expected more out of my self and I push myself  150%, to do what I need 
to do. Learning to walk this time has been difficult.  I am older, My right 
leg has never had the strength like my left leg.  While trying to walk this time It is my 
right leg that I have to walk on.  
    Thursday after my PT ( physical therapist ) left, I was able to walk one step by myself.
I was so excited, I could not wait to tell Eric when he got home.  Once he was home
had eaten and relaxed a bit. :D  I told him to stand right there and watch.  I was 
able to walk five steps then grabbed his hands and told him not to move.  My right 
leg did all it could.  Brian my physcial therapist would always check the strength in 
my right leg and my right hip.  My hip is gaining strength, but my right leg is moving 
along much slower.  I have to keep working at it, kee pushing my self, keep on 
keeping on.  
    It doesnt matter what we are going through, we have to push on, we have to 
keep our confidence,  always believe in ourselves, and NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!
If we give up there it is harder to come back but DO NOT THINK FOR ONE MINUTE
that, this is an option.   
     I get tired, I become exhausted,  I get frustrated,  I also keep pushing myself, 
there is NO ONE else who can help me. I have to help myself.  
If it takes me one year to get get my strength in this right leg to walk then one year it will be
that does not mean I am going to give up nor will I slow down.  
   Life is way too short to be grumpy and way to short to stop trying