As SPMS tends to do as time went on my disability increased. Directly linked to the increase in disability was an increase with my depression. On top of this my right knee got worse and worse. I finally went to an Orthopedic surgeon and had it looked and much to my dismay I discovered my worst fears came true. Much like my right shoulder the continual falls that MS heaped upon me my worst fear came true. My knee needed to be replaced.
Throughout my depression and problems oftentimes Jess was the only thing that kept me going. We stayed close in touch and usually talk to each other once or twice a week just to be there and support each other. You all need a best friend like I've got in Jes.
The knee came to a head this past summer. I put off thinking about it for a month or so and then scheduled the surgery for the end of August. We went to Atlanta to visit our daughter the weekend before my surgery. And don't you know that on Saturday my family had to rush me to the hospital. As we sat around the kitchen table talking as we finished breakfast. The last coherent thought I had was that I threw up my breakfast and that was it. The family said I was thrashing as in pain and I was speaking incoherent thoughts that rambled on one on top of the others, kind of speaking out of my head . It turns out that I had 2 kidney stones, a UTI, a fever of a 104, a partially collapsed lung, and I had gone septic. They put me in the ICU for 2 days And I wasn't really right in the head until almost day 2. I later found out that I was basically at death 's door and it was lucky that with my MS that I was able to come out of Illness. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital until the blood infection was completely gone. Then I went straight to rehab and spend another 2 weeks in rehab. That Severe of illness set my MS over the Edge and I lay flat on my back for about 3 weeks. I'm still in the process of recovering but in 2 weeks when Thanksgiving comes around I plan to go to my brother-in-law's house using my Walker instead of being in a Wheelchair. That is my goal and I mean to make it happen.
I've been walking a everyday in some parallel bars my oldest son made for me and been working on strengthening my arms and legs with exercises. Then in about a month to 5 weeks I plan to go ahead and have my knee surgery done. If I beat the septic infection the knee should be a lot easier overall. And if I can do the knee before the end of the year it will save me about $5000 because my deductible has already been met for the year due to the illness I had in Atlanta. Call me crazy and I'll completely agree with you but if it wasn't for my spirit and hardheadedness I'd be dead right now. I have no plan to g anywhere for many many years, no matter what MS throws at me. What I do plan is to have a knee that works again without being painful. If I can get the knee back it will improve my gate and my walking. And once that is conquered I can get on the back of a horse and ride. That is my goal and I mean to make it happen! Does anyone here doubt me.....😷🤨😉😄
What I hope everyone takes away from this post is to set yourself goals. Then let nothing stand in your way while you work toward achievachievìng your goals! No matter how far fetch they seem! Rember, oftentimes our own worst enemy is ourselves. If you dream it and work hard to achieve it you can do it!
Fancy59
East Atlanta Support Group
I'm new to this site and would like to talk with others 
Air travel and MS
Underneath the Smile!
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