10 K Days!

From one step to 10k in twenty days. I can barely believe it! The day after surgery the PT had me out of bed and putting weight on my newly resurfaced hip. By day three I had traded in my walker for a pair of stylish elbow crutches and I was allowed out of my room to cruise the hallway (albeit slowly). On day seven I was given my walking papers and we left the hospital for a one hour flight and three hour car trip back to the tea plantation in Pandalur. Even though I did very little walking during our trip, it turned out to be too much for my post surgery leg. By the time we reached Pandalur my leg had swollen to twice its already swollen size and I could barely put any weight on it at all. Back to square one. Damn and I had been doing so well.

Over the next two weeks I slowly but surely extended my daily walk from counting steps to counting kilometers. I was thrilled when the total of my five walks in one day was 10k. I have now cut my walks down from five to two each day and am still averaging 10k a day. Pretty amazing for 20 days post surgery! I have started to walk around the house with one crutch (and sometimes none) so soon I will be taking my walks with only one of my trusty elbow crutches and I can’t wait!

Our decision to return to the tea plantation bungalow in Pandalur has turned out to be even better than we had imagined. We knew we would be surrounded by rolling hills covered with lush green tea, air that is clean and cool and a staff that took care of our every need. We also knew that we would be served the best Indian food we have eaten in all of India. What we didn’t realize is what a truly profound luxury it is to be able to concentrate on healing with no distractions or obligations of any kind. I feel truly blessed to be in such a place while I heal from surgery.

Another unexpected gift is the warm welcome we have received from the villagers of Pandalur. Everyone knows about the vela cara (white people) staying at the manager’s bungalow and everyone is more than happy to stop and talk. Our conversations are a combination of broken English, (very) broken Tamil and lots of smiling, nodding and pantomime. Few people here speak English and although Patti and I are learning Tamil we do not know enough of their language to say more that a few basic words or phrases. I never know who or what I will encounter on my daily walks but I always know I will be greeted with smiles and waves and that feels great.

Janet's First Step

The surgery was a success. On ‘day one’ of her recover Janet has already taken her first steps with her new hip. Here’s a storyboard of our India hospital adventure. We arrive at the hospital, bypass general admitting and proceed to the Platinum ward reception where we have no trouble finding a seat and Janet is assigned her personal attendant. We did have to venture out of the ward for a few tests and then Janet was fitted with her new hospital wardrobe, note the stylish mismatched leggings. Some color coding to make sure the doctor goes for the right hip; no I mean the left hip! Next stop is the ‘hip party’ at the operating theater where the crowd has swelled beyond capacity, no room for me, phew! Due to viewer (and patient) discretion some actual events have not been photographed and using your imagination is also not recommended. Fast forward to the next morning as Janet luxuriates in bed, chats with Dr.Bose and takes her first steps. Its thumbs up!

Hip Puja Party

We decided to post some of our favorite dieties and pujas before the big upcoming surgery. We’re inviting all the Gods and Goddesses from Thailand to India to join the ‘hip party’ for Janet in the operating theater at Apollo Hospital on February 11. It’s an open invitation and seating will be tight so I will gladly forgo mine to wait outside.

You Can't Keep a Fish Outa Water

Patti and I went for our first ocean swim the other day and although it wasn’t like Maui water AT ALL, it felt great to be back in the ocean. Here there are cows walking along the beach, fully clothed Indian men playing in the water and small streams of sewage flowing into the ocean. It’s the best beach and the cleanest water we’ve seen so far and we just could resist getting in - once. Good thing we’re heading to the hospital in a few days….