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Praying for a quick and painless recovery! My 92 year old mother just had a full knee replacement and was walking the same day. A good attitude makes all the difference!!

Praying for both Charles and you. May the Lord give you both peace and comfort and may He guide the doctor's hands and give Charles a speedy and non-eventful and successful recovery. 

I've been wondering, has anyone heard from Kieva since the forum reopened?  I see the updates for Jacob thread is closed along with the rest.  Will that one be reopened if there is news?

I hope baby Jacob is doing well, and home with his family by now.  

Hello, Grandma Donna. I will be praying for Charles and yourself. 

That is such a pretty photo of the wash basin with the sunlight.

Best of luck to Charles on his surgery. You are doing everything right for a positive outcome and fast recovery.

Prayin for a seamless surgery and a quick recovery. 

Prayers for an effective surgery with no complications and the easiest possible recovery and therapy.  I know you two will take this seriously and follow the instructions carefully.

This is a coincidence that he goes this week, because a person dating someone in our family goes in this week for a knee replacement, not due to age or arthritis, but because one of his legs was shattered in a wreck and they couldn't save the knee, so he's been stiff-leg walking with plates, screws and cadaver bone keeping his leg together, waiting till it was time for the new knee.  So I'll be praying for both Charles and the friend.

I will suddenly look around and see dirt I have missed, too.  It's as if the scales fall off my eyes, and suddenly I see I've missed that light switch, a dresser handle or a spot on the rug, even though I make it a practice to clean all these things.  I guess I get perfunctory in my cleaning and am not present, as you say, to actually observe what I'm doing and make sure it is truly clean.  And of course, when company comes, I sometimes suddenly spot a few missed places.  It's as though I am looking through my visitors' eyes. 

My late husband had surgery putting stents in his leg and abdomen for increased blood flow, and he had to wash with a special soap the night before and again the day of his surgery, then he put on clean, but not sterile clothes and we immediately drove in our not-sterile car to the hospital, where he was put in a gown and waited almost three hours for his surgery.  I wondered then why they didn't have him take his final shower at the hospital then dress him in the gown he would be wearing into surgery, to wait for his turn on the operating table.  He was spending the next few days at the hospital and already had a room with a shower in it assigned to him.  There may be a good reason for the way they did it, but I don't know what the reasoning is, so I remain puzzled.

GDonna, do you have handrails in the tub or washing up area, and by the toilet?  The VA provided ours and they came in very handy for my husband and also for a few visitors who needed them.  I definitely am leaving them up for me, since I will probably need them at some point.

May God give Charles a healthy and quick healing process and may you be blessed with extra strength during this time, Donna.

Praying for strength and healing for both of you.  It will be a journey but both of you are so aware and willing to follow directions along with experience and common sense, I believe all of it will serve you well.

My "hidden" dirt areas are doors and baseboards. I have pets and the hair just gravitates to the baseboards.

Sending love and light to you and Charles and wishes for a smooth and speedy recovery! My hidden dirt areas are my baseboards! I don't see it until I SEE IT! I also have been driven mad for decades  by a black smudge on the corners of the boards. I kid you not, one day I was reading a cartoon and the husband mentioned the cord of the vacuum rubbing on the baseboard (which he had to clean cause that was the joke) and it hit me right then...I cannot believe it never occurred to me that was causing the marks!!!!! I cannot believe I missed that lol!!  I kept thinking someone was cutting the corners short and their shoes were rubbing on the corners...I normally make it a point once a month to wipe down all the doors and baseboards in a big clean but I have fallen from it a bit when the kids flew the nest and it wasn't as noticeable, but I need to get back to it. Take care of yourself while caring for Charles!!

Dear Donna and Charles,

Praying for both of you for the upcoming surgery.  I am new to the site (this past month) and have read just about all of your articles!  I see so much of my maternal grandmother in you, and now that I have reached my 60th year, myself as well.  You have given me confidence to revisit making sourdough bread again.  I have revived my year old starter that was never very successful.  Thank you.  May God bless you both and guide the surgery and recovery.

Prayers for you and Charles.

My 70 yo friend had her hip replaced and was up and about at home within days. She made sure to walk everyday. It wasn't long before she was back at work.

Matty, your 92 yo mother must be in good health to get a hip replacement. The healthcare in my community is frightening because if you are older and have ongoing health issues they are less likely to offer surgery or certain treatments that would improve your quality of life. Instead, they offer meds to manage conditions and that isn't always as effective and has side effects. 

It is interesting how we can't always see the true condition of our possessions. I learned this lessons years ago and try to keep it in mind. A family member donated a piece of furniture to my church's rummage sale. I never mentioned that they threw it out. It was very worn and honestly not worth restoring. I helped a man in our family go through dozens of casual shirts. He just couldn't see how worn they were but he trusted my opinion. He only saved a few. The rest, sadly, couldn't even be donated.

I will add Charles to this weeks prayer list.  I understand the needed -preparations has I had a hip replacement in July of 2022.  I had been on the wait list for Almost a year so I was very glad when it was finally performed.  The good news is hip is generally considered one of the fastest healing and easiest replacement surgeries to recover from.  I am positive that Charles will do his exercises and be up and doing in no time

So wonderful to read a new post! I was hoping for one before Charles goes for surgery. You both will be in my prayers. My husband had hernia surgery a few weeks ago and I realized that both patient and caregiver need prayers :) I hope all goes smoothly with Charles' recovery.

I will be praying for both of you.

All of the very best to Charles. I spotted the Colace and that is one of the most important things, for sure! I have been reading you for years and not until a few weeks ago did your advice go from being lovely reading to urgent advice. My husband lost his job a few weeks ago and this has never happened to us in his 30 year career. I have two years until Medicare so I am sweating. Fortunately, I got us out from under our too big house into a beautiful small house with a much smaller monthly payment. I don't have enough ways to say thank you for being here.

Dear grandma Donna, the best of luck on the surgery for Charles and lots of strength for you as caregiver. I hope you will have others that look after you? I will be thinking of you both.

Bless you both. I’m praying for Charles to recover well from the surgery, and for both of you to be blessed with an extended season of good health and joy, Donna. Thank you for every post you write, and the wise and commonsense advice you share

Hugs

Jennifer in Australia 

I will be sending prayers and healing sparkles for Charles and his recovery, and for you as you adjust to the stress and the care giving.

It's true, the things we rely on daily often go unnoticed until they break down.  I'm afraid I often overlook and give less care to the people in my life who should be top of the list.

Thankyou for that thought-provoking post, Grandma Donna.

Wishing you and Charles the best possible outcome at every stage of preparation, the surgery itself, and Charles's recovery and rehab.

May the sun shine through your window every day!

Gdonna and Charles, Prayers for you both. This will go well.  My 70 yo husband had hip replacement last year.  He has a history of MRSA, and I was nervous about the possibility of infection.  He followed all his instructions for showering and prepping for surgery and I was militant with washing sheets, linens and clothing daily.  That makes for a lot of work on the caregiver but was over in a few short weeks. He did beautifully and had no complications or problems. He recovered fully and we do our 3 mile walk together every morning totally pain free. You all are prepared and will be through this shortly. You are in my thoughts and prayers

Hi Everyone, thank you so very much for the well wishes and prayers.  I see that we have some new commenters and a few that have commented a few times, and still a newbie.   It is good to see you here Zendelle B, Nadege A, Sandra C, Lori H and Ann B, happy to see you commenting.

Keep the prayers coming, we are looking forward to getting this done and over with.  There will be four to six weeks of physcial therapy following the surgery so this will keep us quite occupied.  I will need to keep my running shoes on, it will either wear me out or make me better, I will know when everything is settled. 

About the bathroom grab bars and toilet chair etc, yes we have those leftover from caregiving to Charles and my parents.  We left the grab bars up and kept the equipment so we did not have to buy it all over again.  

Thank you all for your prayers.  Hugs Grandma Donna

I'm so glad to know that Charles' surgery is coming up soon.  I will keep both of you in my prayers and look forward to hearing that it has gone smoothly and successfully.  I know that it must be a relief for you to have the waiting time over so that the recovery time can begin. Take care and keep all of us posted on his recovery.  

Sending prayers for a safe operation and healthy healing for Charles, and comfort for you both.  My husband had the surgery at 72 and healed very well.  The bathroom grab bars are very helpful to have as well as an elevated toilet seat.  Best advice is to keep moving and try to get good rest.  You'll both be in our prayers.  

Joining in the chorus of prayers and good wishes for a healthy and rapid recovery.  Your calm home and gentle demeanor I'm sure will create a haven for healing.  Take care, and I'll be keeping both of you in my prayers.  God Bless you both!

Prayers for you both. Looking forward to you saying how well it all went. 

Hoping that all goes well for the surgery - we'll be thinking of you.

Grandma Donna, it is really lovely how you and Charles both take care of and appreciate  each other. I hope that Charles's surgery goes well this week and that he is back at home recovering in a timely manner. It is always a relief to get home after time spent in hospital. Please make sure to take care of yourself as well. It is stressful when a loved one has an operation. Sometimes I think it is harder to watch your loved one being in pain or unwell than being in pain or unwell yourself. Big hugs to you. 

Michelle. 

Sending love and prayers to you and Charles. My dear friend had both hips done in the past 18 months.  Shes 76 and has done so well!  Up and walking right away and virtually no need for narcotics; like the two of you, she has always been active, curious and forward looking in her life.  I feel confident that things will go well. Your nurse is excellent. Did I spy that Charles’s short/pajamas were ironed? ????.

Looking forward to the updates.  ????????????

I've added Charles and you to my prayer list.  Donna, as a caregiver, don't forget to take care of yourself.

Sending bright blessings across the ocean from the UK, hope the operation goes well for Charles with a smooth recovery phase and take care of yourself as well GDonna

Best wishes to you both for Charles surgery. Many of us will be thinking of you both. Thank you for the thoughtful writing and sharing. I find it very grounding and calming.

Sending prayers and well wishes for Charles and you, Grandma Donna.  There is no doubt Charles will be well cared for during his recovery and hopefully you will be back to your industrious selves before you know it.   

I appreciate your posts and insights about making life more manageable. I like that you give thoughtful consideration to future needs. I didn't grow up with that nor did I marry into that so I try to figure put how to apply what you write about knowing that it's only me I can change. 

Your blog  feels like a dear old friend and I look forward to each visit.  We will be praying for your husband as he recovers and for you as you take care of him. 

I will be closing the forum tonight since there is so much to do the next couple of days.  I have been planning meals ahead and getting things ready and putting some meals in the freezer. Giving another good house cleaning tomorrow.  Thank you all for your prayers.  Grandma Donna