Carolyn's Capers... October 16th

Good News: Returning to Gabon!
Praise the Lord and thanks for praying. I have received approval to return to my work in Gabon and the Bongolo Hospital. I’m in the process of making reservations to leave Omaha on December 11^th, arriving in Libreville, Gabon on December 12^th. After a few days in the capital city, I will travel to the hospital which is about 350 miles further south.

What have I been studying?
I have just finished taking a six week, seven session Women’s Bible study at church. I was one of the table leaders.  Here at my apartment complex we finished a weekly study on Acts and tomorrow we will start studying Romans (see photo from apartment study). I am also finishing my second correspondence course for renewal of my Nursing License. This course is entitled, Geriatric Assessment.

Packing and Shipping!
I am getting a couple of cartons of things ready to send UPS to Ohio where they will be put into a container and shipped through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and then on to Gabon. I also ordered a new recliner that will be a good support for my legs. That too will go into the Gabon container.  I do not plan on sending much to Africa this time since I already have plenty of “stuff” over there. In the next two years I need to GET RID OF 35 years of belongings!

Speaking I have done.
September 16.... Ecclesia Adult Sunday school Class September 24th... Alliance Women at Christ Community Church
October 4^th… I spoke about Africa to 30-35 residents from my Apartment Complex.

Thanks for your Gifts!
Thank you for your investment in me and my ministry! The primary investment vehicle to support my work is the Great Commission Fund. Contributions can be made through a local Alliance church, online at The Alliance's official website or by sending a check to the C&MA, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500. You may designate your gift to support me by writing “for the support of Carolyn Thorson” on the memo line.

Physical Status.
I have finished seeing my doctors except for one last check up in December, just before I fly out. I have seen my eye doctor and need new glasses. My dentist filled one very small cavity, one not needing any anesthesia. I had a Post Ovarian cancer check up and all is fine. I went to a Travel Clinic to get my vaccinations up to date.  I no longer go to Physical Therapy but I do go to the Wellness Center and for exercising and swimming. I am still working at better bending my left knee.  Ibuprofen is what relieves my knee pain now. I walk without my cane at times and at other times I use a cane to steady myself.

Vacation Plans:
A friend and I will take a vacation from October 25-28. Su is from my church and we have vacationed together in the past.  We plan to stay close to Omaha and hope to do the vacation on one tank of gas!

Prayer Requests:
1. For the 24 Nursing Students studying at the Bongolo Hospital Nursing School.
2. For Karen Fitch, Terry Newman and Amanda Martin who are teaching the Nursing Students this quarter.
3. That I continue to make improvement at bending my left knee.
4. That I make good use of my time as I finish up many projects that I want to do before returning to Gabon.

GRADUATION plus Rain!

This morning I "graduated" from hospital Physical Therapy. After 38 outpatient trips to the PT department, I have completed all that I will do there. Those 38 trips did not count my 8 weeks of INPATIENT PT and my three weeks of home care all over the past 6 plus months!

My Physical Therapist measured my knee bend. Results:

August 31st.... PT bent my knee 90 degrees. I bent my knee 84 degrees.
Sept 10th... PT bent my knee 91-92 degrees. I bent my knee 80 degrees.
Today.... PT bent my knee 96 degrees. I bent my knee 86 degrees!!!

I'm still making progress, even though I went one entire week between PT appointments. That means that my workouts at the Wellness Center are helping me improve my "BEND"! Praise the Lord!

To celebrate Graduation I went out to eat brunch. It was raining quite hard so I came home rather than go shopping. The sun is now out so perhaps I'll run some errands.

Today's Positives:
1. Today I made good progress in bending my knee.
2. I graduated from PT!
3. Omaha had a good rain to help in this drought we've been in.

Enjoy a cute photo that I call "The Squeeze" I got it in an email from the website:
www.funny-potato.com/

Go HUSKERS!

Nebraska 42, Arkansas St. 13. Go Huskers!!



Actually, this photo was taken two weeks ago but Nebraska won that game as well. My TV could not get the game today so I asked how it went when I saw someone else in the hallway with her Nebraska Tshirt on!! Go HUSKERS!!

Today's Positives:
1. Nebraska beat Arkansas State.
2. I have had a great day of cleaning, writing emails and backing up my computer.
3. I'm headed out the door to meet a girlfriend for supper. We're going to plan a short vacation for sometime probably in October.

Have a good evening!!!

Doing "The BEND"!

The Olympics are fun to watch and also inspiring for keeping us motivated. The "sport" that I am learning is, "The Bend"!! Yes, I am learning to BEND my left KNEE!

At the hospital Rehabilitation department my Physical Therapist helps me with my BENDING exercises but having me on the BioDex machine. My ankle and thigh strapped in and then the machine bends my knee to what I can tolerate. I then use a machine where I extend my legs in and out, a Press machine. I don't know the name of it. After than I use the NeStep (spelling?) machine which also helps me bend my knee and strengthen muscles in my quad.

I go up the stairs. I can do that.  But then I go down stairs. I can do a 4 inch stair but most stairs are 7 inches so I am not yet able to go down stairs. I do not know though that I will be able to do 7 inch stairs since I have had problems with stairs since breaking my left ankle almost twenty years ago!

I go to the mat and work at bending my knee. Then my PT bends it for me until I cry out, "STOP". She does so immediately. Then she measures my knee's bend.

Last week I was able to bend my knee 75 degrees and my PT bend my knee 83 degrees. Yesterday I was able to bend my knee 78 degrees and my PT bent my knee 82-83 degrees, essentially the same. I cry "STOP" too soon. I just don't tolerate pain very well, even though I take strong pain pill just before I go to the Rehab department.  My goal for bending that the Doctor would like to see is 100 degrees but he said that I might not be able to get past a 90 degree bend. I've been working on this for over 7 weeks now.

There are certain exercises that I do at my home between Rehab visits. It is hard to keep motivated in doing these and I really depend on my trips to Rehab. These will end in September.

My Rehab will continue to be three times next week but then two times a week for the next three weeks and then only once a week for the remaining three weeks that the insurance will pay. That is even with the 18 extra Physical Therapy sessions that Insurance has awarded me.  My time with the help of my PT is passing quickly but my progress is going slower than she and I would hope for. Two factors are that my knee continues to be quite swollen and also that I continue with pain (although it is lessening).

I would appreciate prayers that my knee would not swell, that my pain would end and that I would be able to bend my knee 90-100 degrees. Thanks.

Today's Positives:
1. Last night Omaha had 5 minutes of hard rain and this morning it is much cooler here. I have the door open to get some fresh air.
2. I'm still enjoying watching the Olympics.
3. This afternoon I will go downstairs to particpate in group exercises. A physical therapist from some rehab department in town comes to our apartment each Thursday to lead exercises for anyone interested.

Have a great day!!

PT Progress + Surprise Visitors!

Wednesday at Physical Therapy I made Progress. Before that I had bent my knee 70 degrees but Wednesday I bent it 75 degrees. Before that the Physical Therapist had bent my knee 75 degrees but Wednesday she bent it 83 degrees!

Just after I had lunch today I got a call from my brother Bill and he and my sister-in-law Shari were in town for Shari's 35th High School reunion. They live in Colorado. I had seen Bill awhile back but I had not seen Shari since last Summer at a family reunion. They came over and we chatted for about an hour. Here are two photos, one of Shari and Bill and the other is of Bill and me.





Today's Positives:
1. I had a good morning session at Physical Therapy. Even got to show the PT that I could walk without the cane. Of course I was walking right next to the paralleled bar, just in case. She gave me suggestions to make my walk more natural. I'll still be using my cane but it felt good knowing that I could walk without it!
2. I had an unexpected visit with my brother Bill and sister-in-law Shari.
3. It's FRIDAY!!

Physical Therapy!

I had a good Physical Therapy session at the hospital this morning. Here are some photos:

Me on the BioDex machine. My ankle and thigh are strapped in and the machine is calibrated and set to the knee bending that I can tolerate. Then the "GO" button is pushed for about a ten minute session.


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My first walk around the PT gym....using a quad cane.


Today's Positives:
1. I was able to tolerate more of a bend with the BioDex machine.
2. I was able to walk around the P.T. gym with a cane.
3. I was able to step onto a 6 inch step with my leg that has the new knee. A normal step is about 7 inches high so I am about ready to climb stairs.

Praise the Lord that I am making progress!