Week 485-487 - All You Kneed is Love - 12-13-2015

Ellen's Total Knee Replacement

The diagram below is courtesy of PhysioWorks.com. Their website claims "The first Total Knee Replacement (TKR) was pioneered by Leslie Gordon Percival Shiers (FRCS) in 1954. He refused to patent his invention, but rather allow other surgeons to modify and improve on his ideas. " That was 61 years ago.

It seems like Ellen has been waiting that long to find a solution to her knee pain. Because of her pain, we stopped playing Pickleball in 2012. In March of 2015 we obtained medical insurance for the first time in six years. So we tried to schedule a total knee replacement. But, two Central California orthopedic surgeons determined she was not ready. Ellen received a steroid shot to reduce the swelling but that did not help.

The models below show the problem. Osteoarthritis is the deterioration of the knee's cartilage. Normally the cartilage rolls across the meniscus suspended by the synovial fluid. With deteriorated cartilage and loss of the synovial fluid the meniscus gets torn apart. So for Ellen the next treatment was torn meniscus surgery, which again did not reduce the pain.

The last attempt was injection of a synthetic fluid to replace the original fluid that God had made. For the third time, this was no help. At last in October of 2015, we traveled to Rancho Mirage to Eisenhower's Desert Orthopedic Center. An MRI was once again performed and the doctors agreed that total knee replacement was in order.

Ellen's operation was scheduled for December 2nd, 2015 at the Eisenhower Medical Center. They are very thorough. We were required to have seven visits to doctors, labs and video presentations.

Finally operation day has arrived. We were up early to get ready. Ellen needed to prepare and we had a 1 1/2 hour drive. Mandy is a great caretaker and always stays by Ellen's side when she is sick or has surgery. As you can see today is no different. Mandy, this morning, was very concerned.

Ellen preps for the trip to Rancho Mirage.

Mandy put on her best coat.

Our new Pickleball friends Dennis and Jean graciously let us take their only vehicle to the hospital.

Reaching EMC, Ellen took Mandy for her final walk before total knee replacement.

EMC has a flag as huge as this facility. Eisenhower provides valet and shuttle service.

This hospital is magnificent. And not because of the building. All the staff and doctors here were totally amazing, a word we don't use often.

Decorated out with Christmas theme, Ellen waits for her turn to be prepped.

Always smiling, Ellen is hooked up to her instruments and IV.

Dr. DeSantis graciously allowed us to include him in this story. He was a major factor and was willing to autograph Ellen's left knee.

As Ellen slipped away in silence, she began to think what life would be like with a good knee.

The operation in 1954 probably took many hours. With today's technology Ellen was in the operating room about 90 minutes and the doc was engaged for only 45 minutes.

Here is Ellen in the recovery room, still smiling (probably the drugs!). The orderly quickly moved Ellen to her 4th floor room (two beds to a room, no exceptions!).

Our close friend Gordon came right away for a visit. And he brought Karen's walker. Johnnie is a physical therapist newly here from Vermont. Yes, he loves the weather. Just two hours after the operation, Johnnie had her up in her walker just to prove to her that she could start walking right away.

Pete left that evening and drove just two miles to our friends, Clint and Jackie. He just came for a visit, but their hospitality was too much to refuse. He called Dennis and Jean, who insisted he keep the Jeep as long as he needed it. What nice people; RV friends are as good they come.

Pete returned the next day.

Wow! Less than 24 hours and Ellen is propelling her way to the restroom and beyond. On day two, Gordon/Karen and Clint/Jackie come to EMC and brightened her day. Ben/Sid emailed their blessings and encouragement.

On the third day we are home in the MotherShip. Mandy stayed as close as she could be during this whole ordeal. She stayed in the car during the operation and during Pete's visits. The whole ordeal took its toll on Mandy, but she refused to leave Ellen's side.

The knee, outside and in. The staples will be removed on the twelfth day. The rest remains and should be good for a couple of decades.

Ellen quickly progressed from a walker on the first day to a cane and without a cane on the 9th day. It might be that the first patient in 1954 was still in the hospital by the ninth day. God is awesome. How? He created humans with incredible intellect to be able to dream, create and accomplish these amazing tasks.

We are so grateful to Dennis/Jean, Gordon/Karen, Clint/Jackie, Ben/Sid, Melissa and Donnalee for coming to stay and care for Ellen, to our family and praying friends, to Dr. DeSantis, Dave the physician assistant, the hospital staff, the physical therapist and the Lord for his powerful creations.

Blessings to you all,

Love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy the Caretaker

Photos from Dec 2015